Not a Fan of Fastan

[TylerWelch]

For those of us that fully understand that UV rays are bad but like to soak up some fake sun before going on vacation pay special attention when signing up for those “specials” at Fastan.

Here’s what happened to me:

Between 8/14/2006 and 12/7/2006 I purchased Tanning sessions from Fastan on Fauntleroy. I went into the store today (12/27/2007)for a session and was told that my credits had expired. Like rubbing salt in an open wound I was then told that if I wanted to sign up for an additional package, I would be credited the expired tans. I remember thinking, “so let me get this straight, I didn’t use all the tans I previously purchased, but if I buy more tans that I probably won’t use, then you’ll do me a favor and give me back what I already paid for.”

I expressed my disappointment in their policy with hope of some good explanation by the sales representative but only got what appeared to be a well rehearsed response of “we tell all of our customers that they expire

While I was in the store, I noticed that none of the advertised specials that were prominently displayed mentioned that the credits would expire after any set period of time. When I inquired as to why there was no written disclaimer, the sales representative told me they verbally tell customers at point of sale and that it is stated in the contract that is signed. I asked to see an example of this contract where it was stated in writing that my tans would expire and wanted to see where I signed acknowledging this, and they could not produce one for me. If I wanted a copy I was then told that I would have to get it from their corporate office. What is most confusing is that some of my tanning credits are set to expire in 1 year while others last two years. At no point in time do I recall this being explained to me, as I would have been reluctant to purchase as many credits as I did. I’m not really into tanning but go before vacation so I don’t burn on the first day when exposed to sun.

In the end I asked for the regional manager and was only given a first name and a phone number which I later learned was their Burien location. When I asked for the managers last name, i was told that she didn’t know it. Seriously, who doesn’t know their boss\managers last name. Anyways, I’m done with Fastan, they may have gotten my unused tanning credits but lost a customer.

Anyone have a good recomendation on where I should go for fake sun?

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[BobLoblaw]

Does Allstar Fitness have tanning? My club on the Eastside does and they charge a lot less because it’s not a huge money maker, just a nice service for clients. Just a suggestion.

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[TylerWelch]

Funny you should mention it, my wife and I were discussing the same thing last night. We’ll have to look into it.

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[CMP]

I’ve only been to Fastan in West Seattle, but I do recall seeing tanning beds at All Star Fitness. If you choose that option, I’d bring my own spray bottle since their lazy employees probably don’t clean the beds often. There’s a tanning place on California between the Alaska and Admiral Junction (north of Charleston, I think) that looks reputable, but I’ve never been. I went to a great place in Bellevue growing up that would keep my pre-purchased tans on record for years. In fact, I bet I still have some over there, which is pretty cool and what you would expect from all tanning salons.

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[andrea]

I am not a fan of Fastan either. I went there a few times and the service was poor and the people behind the counter acted as if they had better things to do than wait on me. And regarding what CMP said above, the tanning salon north of Charleston is Island Tan, and they are great! The place is clean, breezy, and they have good package deals.

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[beachdrivegirl]

I agree about fasttan. I just went in there yesterday and was upset to find out that my tans that I bought in August had already expired! I had bought 10 tans right before going to the Bahamas and was planning on using half before and then the other 5 right now before going on another trip…unforutaly for me I had to buy tans twice. I guess I will have to look into Island Tan b/c my pocket book can not keep up with FastTans sleazy ways.

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[AnneT]

Oh my…a place to finally vent on Fast Tans

I just moved here from the Eastside, and it it truely important to me to “BUY LOCAL”

I have switched my dentist, doctor, nails, etc..and my tanning to WSEA even though I work on the eastside and everything is close to my office, I am a big believer of local commerce.

This has to be the worst place to go to.

I bought a rather expensive package with add on’s for a whopping $325.

The staff seems too bothered to help you, the doors to the rooms have broken locks, two of the machines have broken fans set to the highest speed so your googles fly off in the wind tunnel.

I also have a spray on package, that I went to use the day before my wedding, made my appointment in advance planned my day around it and when I get there “oops we forgot to order the spray lotion…like were sorry…for sure”

I am counting the seesion until I am DONE, because it is too much $ to walk away from.

Ill be looking for a new place here in West Seattle if anyone has any recomondations:)

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[SA]

I had a good experience using Rain Tanning in Westwood Village in preparation for a vacation to California last Spring. More info on their website: http://www.raintanningsalonandspa.com

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[Wes]

I just wait for the sun to come out in the spring/summertime and expose that “Seattle skin”! Hey, it’s free!

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[Erik]

That gave me a flashback to last June on the beach in Jamaica. A middle aged bloke on his first day of holiday plops down on a chaise lounge not far from me and lathers up his whole body with SPF 1000 sunscreen to protect his very white english skin. Fortunately I left the next morning so I didn’t have to see if it worked.

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[Wes]

Erik, that’s funny. I always think of that old Almost Live! skit with all the white men taking off their shirts and blinding everyone. They used a mirror to exxagerate the relection in peoples eyes. Hilarious! Tanning too much is bad though to. I was in Sarasota, Florida last year and the amount of elderly people with very brown, wrinkly skin was unbelievable. It was really disturbing and tanning taken too far. It really does harm the skin.

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[JanS]

gee, I’m getting used to being so white I’m almost translucent…it’s a Pacific NW look , for sure ;-)

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[Lola]

I can see I’m late to the party but wanted to chime in and let you all know I think things have changed at Fast Tan. The girl that helped me was super professional and thorough. It was my first time spray tanning and she walked me in the booth and talked me through everything. She was a little keen to upsell but just doing her job.Overall, I was impressed.

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[Cait]

I can’t STAND that place. Their beds are crap. Every time I tanned there they didn’t advise me well about the timing and I got burned. Not to mention that everyone I know that tans there gets an uneven tan from the space between the bulbs. I have the pictures to prove it.

…Allstar is great for tanning. I bought tanning minutes there three years ago and they still haven’t expired.

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[SEG]

It is against the law for gift certificates to expire in this state. I would think tans would fall under the same law. It is shadey of them.

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[Keith]

Fasttan is the worst. We had similar experiences with bad equipment, bad advice (got burned), and being sold a package of tans that disappeared due to a ‘computer problem’ that we were not credited for. The people working there are either completely clueless or just playing dumb in order to rip people off. Stay far, far away.

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[mom2soren]

sounds very, very illegal. call the BBB.

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[TeacherAmy]

It’s May 2010. I bought a 5 tan package for $25 at the Burien location in February and about one week later went to get a tan and the Burien location was closed! Why did they sell me a package when they knew they were going to close a week later??

I have a credit with Emerald City tans now in W. Seattle which is a lot farther from my house than the Burien location was, and I am moving to NY in a few weeks so I won’t get to use them.

I WANT MY MONEY BACK !

FAST TANS is TERRIBLE- what a bad business! And yes, the girls were always rude and had very poor customer service skills at the Burien location.

The BBB needs to know about FAST TANS !

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[westcoastdeb]

Tanning places. Oh tanning places. Sun Tan is the single handed best tanning place I have ever been to, though my schedule has changed and I dont know that I will get to use the rest of my minutes. Bev (owner, single employee, all around awesome) has such a great personality, the bulbs are changed VERY frequently, and prices are great. They do not have the newest CD players (in fact, the beds still have cassette players…) nor is it the prettiest tanning salon, but for the money and the time, its well worth it. Give em a shot!

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[Diane]

what is/where is Sun Tan? never heard of it

~

any contact info with your rave would be helpful

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[westcoastdeb]

I really must have been out of it when I typed that — Its Sun Times. Here’s their info:

6413 Fauntleroy Way SW

Seattle, WA 98136

Neighborhood: West Seattle

(206) 937-1016

Deb

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[Diane]

thanks; though I never heard of Sun Times either; appreciate all the contact info

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[Diane]

I live in Admiral, and similar to long time neighborhood salon described by Deb, Island Tan on California near Hinds is fabulous; yeh, older machines, but decorated very cute, clean, nice; total opposite of typical corporate salons

~

also unique to Island Tan, you buy packages of minutes, instead of # of tans; so if you want to build up slowly without getting burned, you can use any amount of mins each time you go in (ie, 1st day 5mins, then 7mins, then 10mins, etc.)

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[manolita]

I got a “COUPON” for the brand new Desert Sun. Two weeks free. Yeah right. I came in, the receptionist looked at me like I was speaking in Chinese, showed me around the facility and offer a $350 package. I declined and said I wanted to give the silver level (from the coupon) a try. She called her manager and s/he came and informed you needed to buy the package in order to redeem the coupon -?!?!?!?

I hate false advertising, or advertising with the legend “see store for details” because once you are in, they can say whatever they want.

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