Hi
I've just become mobile and had my first client today. All went well, apart from the fact that my couch is sooo heavy! I'll order a lighter one first thing tomorrow. I also bought a new bag with wheels for the couch but it's really bad quality and after using it once two of the wheels fell off! It was such a nightmare trying to get the couch home, I nearly cried :(.
So my question is - how do you transport your couch without tears? I tried a luggage trolley, but really not very good... Can anyone recommend a GOOD QUALITY bag or trolley for the couch? I don't drive and my only option is to go on public transport.
I'd be very happy and grateful for your advice!
Moongirl
how heavy is the couch you bought? anything over 16kg's and you shouldnt use a carry case with wheels. they are notorious for breaking.
with lighter tables you can sometimes get by with luggage trollies from argos, think they are about £10 and know some people who went down this route.
The other option and probably best in the long term unless you get a lighter massage table is to buy a professional trolley. Here is a link to one
M
Hi Moongirl
You poor thing! I know exactly what you mean. I had been using a wooden couch for mobile treatments (with my own transport), it was so heavy that last time I used it I had terrible back pain for a week and had to stop working(the trolley supplied with it was useless, the couch kept falling off it).
For three years I had been lugging this monster around on my shoulder, stupid me:dft005:. How on earth you will manage on public transport I can't imagine, but all power to you!
Anyways, I quickly bought a brandnew lightweight table (off ebay actually, an impulse buy in desperation) and it's fantasic, it came with it's own strong carry case can't find the link sorry. It is under 14kg but I know you can get them lighter than that even. I don't need a trolley, I just put the strap across my body on the opposite shoulder (if you get what I mean) and off I go.
But you are obviously needing to walk from bus stop to client with all your other equipment too:
Maybe go for a parcel trolley rather than a massage table trolley, something like this http://www.sacktruckcity.com/product_info.php?products_id=113? Maybe too much on a bus though.
Do you put everything else (oils, couch roll, paperwork etc) in a backpack? That may be easier to carry than a holdall type bag.
Or thought about including the cost of a taxi in your treatment prices?
Good luck in new venture.
Hi Moongirl,
I feel your pain. I also don't drive and use the bus. I only do 2 home visits and these are exceptions as these clients can't come to me. I use a trolley with a two long elastic straps (but it's not liek the massage warehouse one) I do worry about it causing a dent at the top of the couch.
Recently I've been getting more requests for home visits but I really can't face the journey on public transport as it leaves me so tired and fed up. I've been passing these clients on to other therpists that are mobile.
If I could face doing moble work I was going to say that I would only visit if there were two or more clients in one place.
The lightest couch is the starlight therapy couch but it is also one of the most expensive.
I do hope that you're charging a decent rate for your home visits.
Good luck
OMG! I think I'd die if I had to lug all my equipment on public transport! My couch is 15kg and I have a bag with a shoulder strap. The only problem is that because I'm not very tall (5ft 4ins) and my couch is quite wide, it sometimes scrapes along the ground. Thankfully I only have to lug it from the house to the car and from the car to the client's house and back again.
Just thinking about trying to get around on public transport with my couch, towels, oils and paperwork is bringing me out in a cold sweat! I'm feeling lots of admiration for you right now!!
Thank you all for your replies! My arms are really aching today and I'm cursing my stupidity of going on public transport with a couch weighing 25 kg!!! (my boyfriend thinks I'm completely mad...)
I have just ordered a lightweight couch (13kg) from tarsus as I remember them from a show last year and their couches seem really good.
anything over 16kg's and you shouldnt use a carry case with wheels. they are notorious for breaking.
That's why the bag broke luckyg! However the site where I got the bag from didn't specify this. Their service has been really poorly anyway and I'm just going to ask for a refund.
Thanks cirrus, I'll look into the trolley thing. Yes, I've got a backpack with all my towels, oils etc, so not so bad.
I know what you mean Essence99, going on public transport is awful at the best of times. The good thing that came out of my horrible afternoon (apart from my lovely client) was that so many people asked if I needed help with my couch 🙂
Nefra, I nearly died yesterday! I was seriously reconsidering my plans of mobile work.
Anyway, I've learnt from this experience and I'll try the lightweight option. Tarsus also sell some kind of trolley, so will check that out.
Wish me luck! 🙂 I need a massage myself now....
I stopped lugging round a couch years ago, I just use a single sheet on the bed and cover them with a towel, keeps it simple 🙂
I find working on the floor or the bed nackers my back.
for those who dont drive, why dont you factor in the cost of a taxi to your treatment - again, if you put your back out, you cant go and earn anything
I have just ordered a new couch 11kg apparently so waiting for it to arrive, only ordered it yesterday
Hi hemelgirl
I don't drive, but will have a think about the taxi cost included in treatment. Would definitely be worth it! 🙂
Can I ask you where you bought your couch from? 11kg sounds like heaven!
Hi Moongirl
I got it off ebay for £120 + £19.99 for post and packing
it is the xtra wide light massage/beauty/therapy couch/table
it also comes with the head and arm rest and a carry bag with wheels
pm me for further details if you cant find it on ebay - It is a white one on the menu but when you go into the details they also have it in blue which is the colour I chose - it should arrive tommorrow or Tuesday
I will let you know what it is like
moongirl
it arrived today and is brill, I have sent you a pm