Reply #5 chaudement's post
You have raised this point several times already. I guess you must be very frustrated. But before you assume these massage girls are all lazy, stupid and greedy, I'd like to tell you a slightly different opinion, that the prices in these massage parlours are exactly right for their markets.
First, please understand that these HJ massage parlours are illegal in Hong Kong. So, unlike solo practices reviewed here, what you are paying for in these "spas" is not just their services but also the huge financial and personal risks they are taking. And since it is illegal, the business model of "grab the money and run" is exactly right! Building a long lasting brand with great reputation may sound romantic, but is a waste of time.
Next, you have to understand the logic behind the pricing. For this kind of massage parlours, the biggest asset is the number of rooms. If a "spa" has 4 rooms, there is meaningless to have 10 customers at once. Imagine this: if they charge $900 and attract 6 customers at the same time, they will make $3600 in their 4 rooms and turn back 2 guys. It is therefore far better to charge $1200. It's true that 3 of the 6 guys will turn away in disgust, but they still make the same amount of money in 3 rooms, with an extra room free and ready for any customer who might turn up unexpectedly. Also, people who can afford $1200 tend to be more classy, tip better and better behaved. I, for one, am willing to pay the extra $300 just to avoid those flashy signed premises.
Therefore, the prices you see on their menu are not randomly determined, but are a result of years of experience and experiments, as well as some very sharp minds at work.
About decimating all competitions, please understand that the girls in this business all know each other. Of course, each premise strives to do a good job, but there is absolutely no incentive for any of them to compete and drive down the price. Instead, it is far better to have a wide variety of spas in a neighbourhood, but each setting its price in a different, strategic way. This is a bit like the pricing of wine in a supermarket.
Even if one spa is able to kill all the competitions, there is no way this spa can handle all the business in the district (see above re room number). So, why would they do that? If one spa drives out their competitions but is unable to absorb the rest of the market, an inevitable outcome is that a new competitor will move in and copy the market leader's business model. The last thing these girls want is to enter an arms race, especially for a market that is illegal.
I have been patronising these massage parlours in Hong Kong for more than a decade, and all I have for these girls is the deepest respect. They are some of the most brilliant minds I have encountered anywhere. If you think a particular provider is overpriced, just don't go there. Hong Kong has a wide spectrum of massage venues with different price ranges. Please remember, no one wants to jerk off strange men as their lifelong career. You are absolutely right: these girls grab the money, invest in other places such as real estate, and run away from the scene as soon as their savings can sustain them. On this journey, there are a lot of fun to be had. Masseuses are human beings. Treat them with gratitude and respect, they will respond accordingly. | |
