Pelage Spa & Skin Ctr

I continuew to be an enthusisastic supporter of this business. I went in to Pelage for some more services this weeek and was pleased to see a brand new brochure with updated prices and some GREAT deals on packages. I have read other reviews on CItySearch that have complained about confusion on prices and packages, so I see these new brochurees as a proactive way of clearing up that confusion. (although I have never had that problem). I also have a friend who is having the SOMA (some sort of deep tissue massage) and is LOVING it. My friend claims to be seeing near real-time results and is very enthusiastic about finishing the program. I am thinking about trying it myself.

I purchased the Pelage Beauty Card (for $150.00) in late 2007. The card includes 15 brow treatments (priced at $15.00 per treatment), 10% off of all other services and 15% off all products. I found this to be a great deal. However, upon my last visit (in April), my technician indicated that my Beauty Card only included 12 brown treatments. Either I was misinformed, or my waxer was uninformed.

I have mixed feelings about the atmosphere of the spa. I have found both the waxing rooms and the facial room to meet my expectations for a spa experience. Both rooms have been clean and relaxing and I have not been able to hear outside conversations or noise while having a facial. However, I do find the lobby to be claustrophobic. It is filled with products (as expected), but also with trinkets, jewelry and other miscellaneous items. The staff has always been accommodating and friendly. I have never been kept waiting beyond my appointment time.

As with most businesses, (remember, spas are businesses), I have felt pressured to purchase products. I have also felt pressured by my brow waxer to sign up for her facial treatments. I do enjoy her facials, but would rather not have her ask when Im planning on making my next appointment.

Pelage does carry a select group of products, including Phytomer. This brand is difficult to locate (even online) and their in-store prices are very similar to all online prices. Plus, with the 15% discount offered with Beauty Card members, the products are a good deal.

Ultimately, I do enjoy the spa. I live in Issaquah, so it is convenient for me to arrange my appointments. The treatments are what you would expect and they do have a nice variety of beauty products. I also like the fact that Im supporting an independent local-based company and not some massive corporation (i.e. Gene Juarez). I would prefer to feel less pressured to try products and additional services.

Pelage is TRULY the worst place ever. I won't even call it a spa. They dare to call it a spa yet it is the most un-spa place I have ever seen. They seem more interested in selling you over-priced hand lotion and jewelry in their lobby than providing a relaxing "spa" experience.

The owner Joanne is appalling. She has an "I'm better than you" approach and is extremely offensive. She pretends to be knowledgeable but she has a bad reputation and is known around the area for providing pseudo-science treatments, weight loss programs based on supplements she and her employees sell, and substandard overpriced treatments she dares to call "spa treatments".

All their services are of the poorest quality yet their prices are exorbitant! I've had several treatments and disappointing massages. Their beauty treatments including laser hair removal don't work. Their massage areas are noisy and the rooms make you feel claustorphobic. I will take my business elsewhere and never recommend them!

If you want relaxation and a spa-like experience, Pelage isn't the place to go.

I had a nice experience or two at Pelage. But I also had two really negative experiences.

The last straw was when I showed up for a massage I had been planning on for a week. I had the best massage of my life (really) from a woman named Leslie, who I specifically requested when I made my next appointment. Well, Pelage called twice to get me to try to reschedule the time for my appoinment. I accomodated. When I arrived, they told me that Leslie was no longer with the company, and that I would be with someone else-- I believe the salon owner-- but that she wsa running behind. For what I was going to pay I was really irritated they would try to switch the therapist, however decided to wait. TWENTY MINUTES LATER I just got up and walked out. Yes, I agree with the last posted review-- "the service was snotty". They didn't apologize, or even look at me the entire time I was waiting to keep me updated.

The other negative instance I had was with a manicurist who, though friendly, spent the entire 45 minutes telling me her life story and how she was going to school so she could find a job where she'd get paid enough to live on!! I can empathize, but save it for your girlfriends, you know? I paid at least $50 for a relaxing experience.

I was a bit leary about going to Pelage after reading the various reviews of it in Citysearch, but I decided to give it a chance ... OK, so I was proven wrong! Citysearch's negative reviews were totally on-the-money. While it has a nice facade and seemed suitably elegant from the outside, the service was snooty, the treatment I got was waaaaaay less than average, and I just didn't feel comfortable or at home. Add to that, the prices were WAY too high and the value-for-the-money way too low--must be the overhead of Gilman Village and that they have to charge way too much so that they can make the rent. It's painfully obvious that the owner or staff are writing all of the positive reviews, IMHO. Just read the "editorial" review in their description ... does that sound objective to you? Beware of Pelage!!

I gave it a good shot, but it didn't make the cut.