Corbu Spa & Salon

How is it this place gets 4 stars? Isn't the overall star rating supposed to be the average stars based on the reviews? Well, I did some of my own calculating and I'm afraid that there is some illicit rigging going on here. Let's do the math together, shall we? 9 reviewers gave 1 star = 9 1 reviewer gave 3 stars = 3 1 reviewer gave 4 stars = 4 1 reviewer gave 5 stars = 5 That's a total of 21 stars between 12 people. Now let's calculate the average. 21 divided by 12 = 1.75. So the total of stars this place should get (rounded off to the nearest star) is 2. 2 stars. So, for the life of me, why does this place show 4 stars?! Unless there is some kind of hidden hackery going on. Unfortunately, this lowers the CitySearch credibility factor. I'm afraid I will not be coming to this site for any advice on pretty much anything. Because of this, I give CitySearch 1 star. more

I agree entirely with the review below mine. I have never felt so strongly to go out and register for citysearch just to share how appalling my experience was. A spa experience is suppose to be relaxing, especially one that is so expensive. Yet, my time at le pli was frustrating and irritating. I am a college student and was given a gift certificate for my birthday and I was barely treated as a customer. They made no efforts to secure me as a regular customer, like they could care less about whether or not I enjoyed my experience. The woman I interacted with was incredibly rude and bossed me around. If it hadn't been a gift certificate (the fee was already paid) I would have cancelled my treatment before it even began. The massage was nothing special and the overwhelming lack of customer service and respect made it impossible for me to relax and enjoy it. Needless to say I do not recommend Le Pli, it is not worth the money certainly, and makes for a poor spa experience. Cons: service more

I was given gift certificates to Le Pli, so booked two pedicures for my sister and me. I had been to Le Pli before for a haircut and manicure and had ok experiences, but never anything great. I have had a lot of pedicures and these were really mediocre pedicures--no leg massage, little scrubbing / exfoliating, too little work on cuticles, etc. The polish was done pretty well, but that's about it. It is also worth mentioning that you sit on an uncomfortable bench while your feet soak in a sink of water--no whirlpool and certainly no fragrances or flower petals. More problematic, however, was the absolutely atrocious service. My sister arrived 10 minutes before I did and was told she had to start first. Then, the moment they finished her feet, they said "get up, you're done". Clearly, they were trying to get us out of the salon to make room for their next regular customers--a huge mistake if they ever wanted to make us be regular customers. Throughout the experience, the women were unfriendly and cold. For $40 a pedicure, I would rather take myself to Aveda or get a mani and pedi at one of the small local nail salons in H Square. I've never before felt so strongly as to register on citysearch to write a terrible review, but the service was truly remarkable--and not in a good way. more

I have given this spa the benefit of the doubt too many times. The first time I went I had the worst massage in my life, I would have been better off saving my $100 and buying a new outfit. The second time I had a french manicure and pedicure, the woman pricked my finger and had no idea how to get a straight white line. I had to go to the local nail salon around the corner to have my nails fixed. I also went one more time to get a brazilian waxing, when I was done the woman left the room immediately so I looked at m results and there were patches of hair left!!!! My husband bought me a spa package certificate foe Le Pli back in February because he heard it was under new management, dont let this fool you! I called to try and make an appointment the other day and they put me on hold for 15 minutes, once someone finally picked up the phone they were so rude and annoyed with me for wanting to schedule an appointment that they said they would have to call me back later. I gave them my name and phone number and asked if they would be calling back soon and the woman said yes. By 7:30 that night I decided to call them back because I waited for 4 hours, no one answered the phone though they are open until 8pm. I called back the next day and was pretty much reprimanded for seeing if my appointment was valid. The woman on the phone told me that they did call back and no one answered, though I was home all day. I dont know what to do with my $250 certificate because I refuse to ever step foot in that salon for the rest of my life. This is the perfect place to go if you would like to fell unimportant and unrelaxed. I would not recomend this salon to my worst enemy! If you are looking for a excellent salon in the square SASHA on the outskirts of the square on you way toward central square is the best. Every time I call to schedule an appointment they are very helpful and pleasant and when you walk in the door you are greeted by a happy smiling face,its excellent. Cons: Everything more

i just went back to le pli da spa and had a much better experience. i felt that my aesthetician really put in a lot of effort to make my facial experience a pleasant one. and as mentioned before, their series (sixth facial free) is hard to beat! and this time i wasn't offered bunch of services that cost extra. i guess a lot has changed since at le pli day spa since i went there last fall! (may 30th, 2008) -- (read on for review from fall 2007) i went to le pli day spa twice. one reason for going was because my old spa is on newbury street and didn't want to deal with parking. i also just wanted to try something new. i have two things to say. parking on harvard square can be worse than finding parking on newbury street (bella sante), oddly enough. and it's hard to tell whether the facials really help my skin or not. i definitely think people at le pli are personable. but my old spa had better facilities. and i'm big on spacious, newly modeled spas. also, the first time i went to le pli i wasn't told by the esthetician hardly anything about how i could improve my skin. only by the second time, she said that i needed to moisturize more. i prefer it when i am told/advised about how i can prefer my skin condition. one thing i don't like about my facial experience at le pli day spa is that i am always told about special add on features to my facial that i am told would be really great for my skin. well, if it makes that much of a difference, why don't they just offer that in their facial in the first place? so i usually end up spending 20 dollars more for the featured special add ons to the facial. anywa the spa is decent. i am not sure i would keep going there except that on my first visit i purchased the series of facials that they offer (which makes their facials a great value!). so if you really like your facial at le pli day spa, definitely ask about the facial series that you can buy (you pay for five up front but get six facials!). Pros: on this side of the river Cons: your average facial (changed my mind) - personalized experience! more

I have patronized this spa regularly for several years. While the quality of services is good, the customer service is very bad and unprofessional. Twice, I scheduled an aromatherapy massage, and TWICE the massage therapist did not perform the aromatherapy massage, but simply performed a regular massage. I complained the first time it happened, and they apologized and told me that they had no explanation for why it happened. The service desk told me that the manager would call me. The manager never called me, and I figured that the mishap was a simple mistake. Much to my unhappiness, a year later the exact same thing happened to me again! Again, I complained, and again they apologized and told me that the manager would call me. Again, she never called me to apologize or provide an explanation. Shame on me for going back after the first mishap! But such uprofessional disorganization and lack of customer service is reprehensible. Definitely, I will not go back for a third. Cons: If you go, make sure that your aesthetician/therapist knows exactly what service you signed up for. more

I had gone in a few times prior and was pleased with the cut, even though it was pricey. I justified it by thinking that I was getting high-end service. I decided to have them give me a perm. I specified that I just wanted A BIT of body, NOT tight curls, in my medium-length bob. However, I emerged with what can only be described as a poodle perm. Seriously, if I just ran my fingers through my hair, it would stand straight out horizontally, it was so curly. I attribute this result to the fact that my stylist went in the back to eat his lunch while I was processing, and failed to stop it in time. In fact, he actually seemed quite put out that he even had to do my hair at all. Either he was having a bad day or they were having scheduling problems. My bad luck! I was mortified with my hair and subsequently bought every type of curl control product in an attempt to avoid looking like a head of broccoli. Nothing worked. I went in a month later for a trim and to see if there was anything they could do to relax the curl. Foolish me! The stylist (a different one this time) said, no, I would just have to wait to let it grow out and poo pooed my concerns. In retrospect, I should have raised a fuss, but instead, I'll just NEVER go back and discourage anyone I know from gambling with their appearance like I did. more

I've gotten bikini waxes occasionally at Le Pli for years. I went recently and was disappointed to find the aesthetician bizarrely prudish and uncomfortable with her task. More irritating still was the fact that they charged me more than the stated rate for the service I'd ordered. Apparently they have some odd ideas there about what constitutes a "regular bikini wax." I won't go back: it's too expensive and there are too many other good options in Cambridge. more

I have gone to Le Pli a few times and had no problem. I always had the same waxing done and was always charged the same price. This last time I was there, I asked a girl to take care of a small, easy, extra patch, which ended up costing me an extra $40. I thought it was outrageous and questioned this arbitrary charge. Both the receptionist and the waxer started giving me a breakdown that did not make sense. Apparently they didn't charge me the extra $40 for the patch, but had raised the rate to what i usually get done there by $20. When i asked why my basic service was raised, they started giving me illogical and unreasonable explanations. To help argue my point (which they were completely evading) I took the rate card off the counter and showed them that the rates they were charging me was way above what the rate card had even shown. The receptionist proceeded to tell me that that rate list was 5 years old (which seemed like a made up story because according to my rate two weeks before, the cards were pretty up to date). I pleaded with them to not charge me so much as i felt this was a total arbitrary price for something that was not worth the service. But all i got was the run around and a big attitude. DO NOT GO HERE. THEY ARE RUDE AND COMPLETLEY UNPROFFESSIONAL. THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO TREAT REGULAR CUSTOMERS. more

i recently went to le pli after moving back into the boston area from manhattan. i read the reviews on citysearch and still decided that i should give le pli a shot, just because it is really convenient and close to work. i dont know what everyone is complaining about because i had the best facial and hair cut that i have ever had. the front desk was super nice, were really knowledgable and i felt like they knew me the way they were talking to me. i will say that the interior does need a little work, but they could do these services in a cardboard box for all i care, my skin looked and felt amazing (i got the 'alphabeta peel' and it changed my life!) and my stylist rivaled my nyc one (though ill never tell him i traded sides). people need to lighten up. le pli rocked my socks and i will HIGHLY reccomend this place to anyone who needs to feel like a million bucks. Pros: amazing service, super nice staff, convenient Cons: interior needs work more

This "spa" clearly only has one type of customer: unsuspecting midwestern tourists. I doubt they have much repeat business. Available hair appointments on the day of should make you run away fast. But I didn't - desperate and not able to get an appointment at the Carriage House in Harvard Square, I went to Le Pli. The ambiance is drab and dated, there is no enthusiasm in the air - I should have known then. But, I stayed and endured SLOW service - the person who washes your hair kept me in the chair while she went in and out doing this and that and kept the water cold, despite my request to make it warmer. The hair cutter (for lack of a better word) was equally as disinterested in service and gave me a dated 1980's do that will take months to grow out. This place is in desperate need of a make over. You'd think it would be worth the investment since they have little competition in the Square. Pros: None - very dated Cons: Dated and bland more

I recently moved to the Boston area and was going to go to Le Pli as my first local spa experience. I scheduled the appointment a week in advance and specifically asked if they offered the services I was asking for. I was called moments before my appointment and informed that the person they had scheduled me with could not perform all of the services I had requested. For the prices they ask, I was expecting stellar service, but they couldn't even handle getting the appointment right. Bottom line, I had to re-arrange my schedule to get an appointment and then was told immediately prior to my appointment that they couldn't meet my needs. Definitely avoiding any business with. more

Incompetence by the receptionists and even some staff are sadly becoming a headache at this spa. I have been going here for the last several years and it is longer a place you can feel relax.The receptionists are very unprofessional, my most recent appointment was changed without my notice when I arrived and there was no phone call or even an apology.The staff vary widely in quality some are good but it many good therapists no longer work there. The interior has aged and is hardly close to its proclaimed status as a 'premier spa'. You pay for quality at this spa, but unfortunately you rarely get it. Pros: once had good service Cons: rude staff, below average appearance of spa more