08/25/09

Awesome Experience

by Consumer55

I visited the spa before making reservations for my best friends birthday becauase of the reviews I'd read. This is a first class establishment. I toured the facility with no hesitation from the staff and made my reservations for four before I left. My friend who was celebrating her birthday was just as impressed as I was as soon as she walked in the door, as were her sister and friend with us. The parking lot across the way was close and convenient, the treatments we had were excellent, the staff treated us like we were VIP's, but that is the way everyone seemed to be treated. We stayed as long as we wanted, and were never rushed. The only negative is we had to be quiet in the jacuzzi, and try and keep any number of women quiet in a close enviornment. The frozen grapes, cucumber slices and warm towels for our eyes were served to us by staff members as if we were royality. If you want to treat yourself or someone you care a lot about, you have to visit BW in Pasadena. The spa is within walking distance from many restaurants, and we were able to leave the car in the lot, drop off our bags, and walk to lunch. My friend is still thanking me, and asking when are we going to do it again.

• Pros: Staff is at your beck and call
• Cons: We had to be quiet in the jacuzzi

06/10/09

Great Spa but feel sorry for technicians

by sk1975NY

i go to burke williams frequently and i have been to many of their spas because i travel for work. I find it very "non' relaxing when i get a facial to have the esthetician constantly telling me everything they are using on my face..sure thats great if i have a concern but i feel that these estheticians are being pressured into selling to clients because burke williams is not doing well. i just got an email from my friend who lives in Danville, CA and they just shut down that spa...i used to like coming into burke williams when i didn't feel like i had to buy something. i liked to relax. I sat and watched some of the technicians after my service and honestly felt bad for them they run around with their heads cut off some of them. Working for a spa should be relaxing in my opinion but I think because the whole company isn't doing well as a whole their employees are suffering from being forced to sell sell sell. I used to recommend this spa to many of my employees but now feel like I need to find a better one where they can relax and not feel pressured..

• Pros: Awesome Skin care line
• Cons: Feel pressured to buy everytime I go in

05/04/09

Treatment was fine but...

by jackhern

I went to Burke Williams for a facial a few days before my wedding and it was fine. The facial was good but the technician kept talking and trying to push their products during my service. I felt like a wallet rather than a client. Like I said, the facial was fine but the upsell put me off. Too bad. Also, crowded.

• Pros: Nice facial
• Cons: Crowded, loud, talkative upselling esthetician

04/14/09

horrible employers - shame on Burke

by iago

Well... I'm a former employee of Burke Williams and when I started there approximately 3 years ago, it was a well respected spa... But I left a year ago after they had given it's employees a raise and then a few months later took back the raise while increasing it's fees for services... Not only are they taking away from the employees but thay are scalping the customers as well...

Believe me, when they increase the fees, not a penny goes to the therapists whose hard work and training is the primary basis for its return clientele...

Since then, they have cut the therapists pay twice...

When I started, the base pay was $15.00 an hour plus incentives.. Went up to $20.00 and is now down to about $11.00 per service... Plus incentives... Sounds like borderline slave labor considering the traing that we all had to take to become an employee of this 'fine establishment'... So what's been happening is that any high quality, skilled, intuitive therapist with any self respect is not going to continue to work there... I didn't and as you see the prices go up, you will see quality go down... Wouldn't surprise me to see Burke close it's doors before the end of the year...

Boo Hoo...

• Pros: used to be great
• Cons: overpriced

03/01/09

Excellent amenities but PRICEY

by bbb333

We like Burke Williams for our quarterly re-energizing weekends. The fruited waters, iced towels and tranquil environment really works wonders. Our only concern is that they have raised their prices almost yearly and the service from the staff has changed as new staff is hired. Long story short, not the same return on our investment for quality of care recieved.

• Pros: Amenities, atmosphere
• Cons: parking, staff not as personable as in the past

01/06/09

Great place for a relaxing massage!

by MNS

Burke Williams is a great day spa located in the heart of old town Pasadena. Locals know where to find the spa, but visitors might find it a bit hard to locate as it is nestled in an alleyway...the last place you'd think to find a spa! The service is always great and your appointments are on-time. The spa area is a nice place to relax, but can sometimes get crowded and a little loud (especially on the weekends). Overall, a great place to relax and rejuvenate.

• Pros: Great staff and services
• Cons: Fee to park at adjoining parking lot

12/16/08

BUYER BEWARE!!!

by NunYa9876

In the process of purchasing a gift certificate at Burke Williams official website, the application crashed. I immediately called customer service, explained what happened. I said my account was charged and emailed screen shots of the errors. They insisted my account was not charged (with attitude) and said that they were aware of problems with the site.

It took 5 days, many emails and over 2 hours on the phone to resolve the issue. To make matters worse, the manager's solution was to RECHARGE my card and credit it back later IF the original charge was confirmed. The only compensation they offered for the stress and inconvenience was free shipping which would not have been necessary if they had listened to me to begin with. Buyer beware!

• Pros: None come to mind
• Cons: Horrible Customer Service

03/14/08

Not Male-Friendly

by codemancmc

I first went to Burke Williams of Pasadena for a birthday present from my wife, and I was incredibly impressed by their service and beautiful facilities.

Then, when I wanted to schedule a return visit during the day on Saturdays, I was prevented to do so due to a "Women's Only" policy that includes taking over the Men's spa.

Thinking it was only a once-in-a-while happening, I tried again a few weeks later, only to discover that it is a regular policy to prevent men from using any of the facilities between 9am and 6pm on Saturdays. What's more, they refuse a price break for the man in pain wishing a treatment but being forced to change in a public bathroom without access to any of the "spa" facilities.

In my opinion, this policy is utterly ridiculous and completely prevents me and my golf buddies from going for a massage because we work during the week.

Why would Saturday be a women-only day? Do men never feel back pain or stress on Saturdays?

Please men, for the priniple of it, do not use their services until they change this unfortunately policy.

• Pros: Beautiful facilities, great staff
• Cons: Terrible anit-men policies

12/26/07

Inexperienced aesthetician

by llknyc

If you want to spend money to come to a teaching spa, this is it. The young lady who was my aesthetician was very unsure of herself and kept asking me for direction. The experience was strange and uneventful.

• Pros: Neighborhood
• Cons: Skill

11/19/07

Decent overall.

by epicureanf

Disappointed with the facial. (I do not care for spa service people who take longer than necessary to start the treatment and she took her time returning to the room.) She also spent a lot of time doing extractions and said hardly anything. (Most other estheticians I've seen have given various and helpful feedback about the condition of my skin, what I can do to improve it, etc.)

I walked out disappointed because the esthetician's attitude was as if BW was a factory and I was just another customer (which, I guess I am, but, after reading the other glowing reviews, I feel gypped because I was treated by someone who has lost passion for her job or couldn't wait for quitting hour).

I am giving 3 stars because of the facility. As for the person who gave me my facial, I'd definitely give her 2 stars.

• Pros: Nice facility