What can be said about the Chocolate Day Spa in Costa Mesa, California?… Hmmm…
Run away from this place fast. I mean really fast. Like the fastest you have ever ever run because this place, as many fellow Yelp Reviewers have said, is a hot hot mess

I bought a Living Social deal in December for my husband and I to go on our anniversary.
I called and called since December to book our appointments and would never get a real person.
I would leave messages, no one would call back, and when I finally did get someone on the phone, they told me that all of the 10 dates I gave them were booked. I went online and booked on their website and followed up with a call to make sure that I was confirmed and they told me they did not have that time available. When I told them it was available on the website, they just told me that the website was wrong and that it wasn’t available.

Since the deal was to expire in two weeks I called again this week and again got their voice mail, left a message, but no one called back.
I then called again and was put on hold with this annoying ear piercing beep beep sound. I mean you are a spa for crying out loud — where is the calming on-hold music?
Then I was hung up on.
I called again and was put on hold.
Repeat 3 times.
It was all super fun.

When I finally was connected to a real person, she said that they were booked up past my groupon expiration date.
Now that is fine, it has happened several times with different deals I have purchased at Aveda and other salons and they have always been willing to extend the expiration date no problem. But she said the only way they would extend it is if I paid an extra15 dollars per deal — so 30 dollars extra total for the 2 of us — to have the deal extended 2 months.

WHAT??????

Since when does a salon charge you extra for them being over booked? And if they are so booked, why are they still putting offers on all of the discount sites and then being rude to the people that already have purchased the deals?
When I asked this she was extremely cold and non-responsive and kept repeating the statement she had been told to repeat:
“I am sorry maa’m but you have to understand this is not a normal spa where we take walk ins, we are by appointment only.”" Yeah I get that, and I have tried to make numerous appts.”
“Well maa’m in all fairness you had since December to book.”
“Right, and as I told you I have tried to book since December.”

Repeat 10 times…

The Chocolate Day Spa have done deals on Screamin, Living Social, Groupon, and many others, yet several other reviewers have said they were not honoring the discounts either. Last time I checked, not honoring a discount you sold that is still valid is ILLEGAL, no matter how much business you are currently getting. I don’t remember any disclaimer on the discount sites saying, you only get this discount if the spa is not busy and has time for you.

Add in the fact that this salon is in an office building, the bathrooms are outside down the hall and you need a key like it’s a gas station; walls are thin, appointments are overbooked and guests are told to come back later when they are already there.
Other guests have reported that they arrived for their scheduled appointment and the place was closed.
Living Social customers have been told their deals are not valid on Saturdays and subject to availability (which is NEVER) just proves my point that this place sounds anything but relaxing. This place may be fully booked right now but I doubt much repeat business will be happening.
When I mentioned that they had horrible reviews, she didn’t even care. She just kept saying:

“Maa’m you need to understand we are not a traditional spa, we are by appointment only.”

I stopped her and said, “Yeah, yeah, I know you are an appt. only spa that doesn’t ever have any appointments, doesn’t return phone calls, doesn’t honor discounts offered, and will for sure be getting another bad review from me.”

She made me so angry, there is no way any de-stressing was happening at this place. I needed a massage just to recover from the stress of the phone call.

Run away fast. I mean really fast. Like the fastest you have ever ever run because this place, as many fellow Yelp reviewers have said, is the hottest mess in town.

Check out all the Yelp Reviews for this mess here http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-chocolate-day-spa-costa-mesa