Everyone is entitled to their own opinions based on their own experiences.
Mine at LSM have been good. The shop is secondary, the providers primary, but the good shops have the good providers, IME.
While "cheaper" is an absolute, "better" is relative.
If you're talking about
room rates, seems most shops have gone to $80/hour. Myself, I just can't get all that upset of a $5 increase - Maccies loss, no fries, which is better for me. If you're talking about
service charges, I just haven't seen any that were OTT.
Better is up to the individual; see below.
For the
climes that offer BG's or BFL's, I'll go with targets of opportunity, but in SYD, I always have a primary target.
OK, I can understand not posting an AR for a subpar experience. But 9 posts in over a year... perhaps you don't get out much. Or can't be bothered to take the time, make the effort, to post any good AR's. Maybe I blinked, but I don't see any (of any sort). Or maybe just gate-keeping (I would certainly hope so because, otherwise, your batting average is abysmal).
As I said, I've never had an OTT request at LSM, but perhaps it's because I don't look like a mark. Besides, I ALWAYS consider those "it doesn't hurt to ask", and I know how to say "No thank you" (in several languages).
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I like LSM.
- Their roster photos are accurate (certainly those taken in the shop).
- Their roster is accurate and kept to (as much as any can be).
- Booking requests are handled promptly.
- Clean rooms, upstairs have character. And even the Harry Potter room has its advantages.
- Upstairs shower convenient. Easy to pop-in for a hose-off before (certainly appreciated by the ladies in the summer), and a quick rinse after.
- Candy, mamasan, cares about customer satisfaction. First time I was there, she asked if I could make it up the stairs (OK, perhaps concerned about her liability with a medical emergency). She always asks me how the session was. And she always walks me to the door (OK, again, maybe to make sure I'm off the property before any heart attack, again concerned about liability). She sometimes might seem a bit brusque, but she's BUSY running a business, making sure it runs smoothly. When LSM gets busy, and it does get busy, she makes sure things keep moving (AND keeps you informed).
- When there's been a change, I've been notified (full disclosure: I'm a regular, Candy knows me). Most often a schedule adjustment ("she's free now" or "Don't rush, wait 5,10 minutes").
- There's a discreet rear entrance.
- Bonus: if using the rear entrance, far door on the left, back yard, is a toilet. So convenient for that pre-assignation pit-stop (don't get old).
- While the trains to Burwood from Central are express, quicker, my shops there are either a bus ride or a healthy walk from the station. In Croydon, while it's a local train from Central, it's just a 100 m walk to the shop.
Nice shop, well run, good staff. That plus realistic expectations... winning.
YMMV