How to make this change without offending?

Question

I don't have much money but I somehow always found a bit of extra cash to get a massage once a month to treat chronic pain. It's been working well and I've been seeing the same girl for about 2 years. She's always given me a lower rate than other places, which is how I was able to afford it, and lives closeby so the transport was good too. Over the years we've become closer and almost friends, and she knows my entire history.

She recently opened a new massage studio at the other end of town and has been trying to get her home clients to take appmts there as much as possible, which I understand. She reduced her appmts at home to one day a week only and now only has a couple slots which makes it very inflexible. She offered me to go to her studio but because it's an hour away from where I live I'm not too keen on this idea.

I can imagine over time she'll try to have as few ppl coming to her home as possible and is probably only allowing me to do that on Wednesdays as a courtesy but she moved recently and her home is not further away, and being that there's only one possibility for my appmt time I started thinking I should maybe meet with a new person who would be closer to where I live.

I feel guilty about this and I don't want her to be offended. I really enjoyed working with her, it's just the circumstances that are really inconvenient for me.

I can imagine she will try to find solutions to keep me as a client and has already offered to drive me home after my appmt if I go to her studio, which is very kind of her, but still means one hour to get there and then the drive back which would be about 30 mins. It's just too much considering that it used to be 20 mins each way in the past and that I would be able to get someone else in my area which would be within 20 mins of my house.

How would you handle this situation? Please give me advice on my decision to switch and on how to tell her about it in a respectful way. Thanks!

Answer 1

A one hour drive for a massage is a bit too much.  I would just let her know that.  She has moved and so she has to understand that not everyone will be able to go that longer distance to see her.  People like convenience.  If this woman is a professional, then she should be able to understand.  She will find more patients along the way.  If she still tries to persuade you to come to her new location, tell her you're just going to look around for a while to see if there is anyone else who can accommodate you and that she should not take it personally.  The price of gas these days has got to be on your mind also having to drive a longer distance.

Answer 2

This is a sticky pickle, but you have to keep in mind, work is work and if the service she provides does not meet up with your scheduling, that's not her issue to be concerned with. If you're only able to schedule one session on Wednesdays, try and make that work if at all possible. it seems like if her services provided are that good and the customer-employee relationship are that strong, she might be able to make an exception or two. But if it becomes completely impossible, you can't change that fact. She as an employee should be able to understand it's not her fault that you seek services from another source, due to scheduling or distance conflicts.

Answer 3

why would you feel guilty? unless she is a jerk she will understand. and you don't want a jerk rubbing up on your smooth creamy delicious skin..mmm