Ultimate Exposure

Beds are fine and at least it’s quick (though I’d add a higher level stand up), but my big complaint here is the staff. The reviews below that talk about this are spot on. There is one nice guy there, but at least a few of the girls have just been flat out rude. I don’t need to be treated like a queen, but I’d appreciate not being talked down to in such a condescending manner when some tanning salon girl explains to me that I have to wait 24 hours – not 23 hours – between tans. If this place weren’t on my block I would have stopped going a long time ago. You should only go here if it is truly convenient for you.

First impression… I liked it. Friendly and pleasant service. Good location. Adequate equipment.

Right… This place has had so many bad reviews… I think it’s a bit unfair — I’ve given a 3 star rating but I think the sunbeds deserve a 5 — I come out looking very brown each time I use them and it makes me feel very radiant. Also the location for me is fantastic as it’s a 5 min walk from my condo. :) the reason I give a 3 is because of the staff. One girl is abso amazing and deserves a 5 but there are other members of staff that are a liability or just very rude and thts why I lowered my rating. When I walk in any kind of shop or salon I like to be treated well — not like the queen, but well — not like I’m a burden. I worked as a cashier in a bank for 7 years and trust me, I had my bad days but never would I dream of taking it out on customers.
So there you have it — great place but some downfalls. :)

Rating on the services and choices for patrons: I am by no means a frugal person, as much as my husband wishes I were. The options for tanning here were overpriced, hands down. The lowest end beds were $ 30/​month with the next step (of five) priced at $ 50. That is a pretty extensive jump in price for a still mediocre bed. Being that I travel to Chicago from NYC each week, I would have paid the $ 50 without complaint IF they wouldn’t require a minimum of THREE months. No other options except $ 25/​visit… that’s it! Out of principal I won’t allow myself to be forced into an overpriced contract. If you gave better options, you would probably have more business.

$ 30 a month for unlimited tanning in a standard bed is whatever. This place is usually pretty empty when I go (after 5:30 pm on weekdays), so no complaints there. The beds are just fine, the low level beds have facial tanners which is nicer than most salons, but I don’t think the bulbs are replaced as often as they should be.
The aesthetics of this place is hilarious — I almost think it’s a temporary location, because the walls are all thin and cheap. No money went into any design. The walls are bare. It’s so weird.
²⁄₃ of the employees I have encountered thus far are so blatantly rude and awfully unwelcoming and oddly narcissistic it’s amusing. It’s gotten to the point where I just walk out without saying goodbye or thank you. And surprise! No one says anything to me either. Now THAT is some customer service!
On the bright side, this place has convenient locations across the city and suburbs, and I hear these are much better. If you’re cool with just walking in, getting what you need (some faux rays and vitamin D), and leaving, this is your place. Just don’t expect good customer service.

Decent price and easy location but the service there is horrible! I explained my skin sensitivity and that I knew nothing about tanning and haven’t gone in years but just wanted «a little color» before my trip to a warm climate. The girl took that info and decided to fry me in the stand up machine. I was severely burnt for 3 days and had the most uncomfortable long plane flight of my life. You need to recommend the correct things for the customer not burn them to make 2 extra bucks.

Where to begin??? I’ve never put a review on Unilocal before, but this place just drove me to do it. I wrote an email to their «customer service» about my TERRIBLE experiences here, and they didn’t take any action to fix it.
My experience visiting this location on Saturday, July 20^th set me over the edge, which is why I am finally wrote to their customer service. Every time I visit this location, I am very dissatisfied by the customer service, or lack-​there-​of. I usually am «greeted» by the same two girls (one of which I found out is THE DISTRICT MANAGER). They don’t even say hello, look angry that I am even there (as if I don’t even belong there), and say «your last name?». Excuse me? «your last name?» No hello, no «what is your last name» or «can I have your last name»…just «your last name». Unacceptable. I have been nothing but nice to the workers at this company. I walk-​in each time, knowing that I will more than likely be given a dirty face and a rude «hello», with a smile on my face and still say «Hi! How are you?» and I get NOTHING from them in return.
On Saturday, July 20^th, I walked in at 3:50 pm. The door was WIDE open. I walked through and the Asian girl (several people have already complained about her on here) behind the counter was completely livid I was there. She rolled her eyes (I kid you not), exhaled a deep breath as if I bothering her/didn’t belong there, and said «your last name»? No hello, AGAIN (per usual). I gave her my last name, and then she goes «just so you know, for future reference, we close at 4 pm). Okay, great. I get it. The hours are not listed on the front door, and seem to be wrong on their website. I looked at her and said «okay, I understand. I will not be tanning today. I feel that the way you greeted me was in-​polite.» and all she could say was «okay». Really? She was dressed like she was ready to go out and had somewhere better to be. Very poor customer service.
Like I said, I wrote an email to their guest services and spoke to someone on the phone. They are taking NO action whatsoever to fix this for me, and I am very disappointed. DO NOT GO HERE. Take your business elsewhere. This company does not deserve it.

So I walk in and no one is there… no sign, no note, no one… anywhere.
There is an iphone behind the counter. Needless to say, I thought about swiping it and leaving… but I am a good person. Along with a laptop and some other things. I just made myself at home after about 5 minutes. I even called the phone and it just rang and rang.
I waited about 10 minutes. At this point, I was kind of curious where in the heck was the staff? I guess if I loved tanning lotions, I could have taken one of those as well. Alas, I hate smelling like coconut and feeling like a greased monkey.
Ah, finally, walks in a shorter, Asian girl with her Chipotle! The mystery is solved. Sorry I interrupted your lunch. She was crude and rude… I should have swiped her iPhone while I had the chance.
The beds here are OLD, gross and whatever… I mean, do people really go tanning anymore??? Yes, yes I am here to tan… but I bought a groupon for super cheap. I am slightly embarrassed that I went tanning. Somehow I justify the act in my head and get my vitamin D dose a few times after this time. Each time feeling dirty and shady after leaving Ultimate Exposure… kind of like leaving a strip club… hmmm, maybe I will just stick to tan towels.

Don’t even think about setting up a membership here! Or a least, make sure you keep a copy of all or your receipts! I had a spray tan membership deal that was to end May 1, 2012-​which meant stop charging my account. I had signed up for an automatic cancellation which NEVER happened. They have been charging me $ 65.99/mo. since May. Customer service was a joke. They didn’t re-​pay me because they «couldn’t find» a copy of my automatic cancellation. They didn’t even offer me any sort of consolation. Just said they would stop payment from here on out. What kind of customer service doesn’t want to keep your business? I will never step foot into an Ultimate Exposure again. Jergens ladies!

Would not return because the staff’s ignorance:
Tried to get some tan before an event. They would not allow me to use their tanning beds because my lotion for indoor tanning wasn’t bought at their salon and because it contained… OIL. Yes, oil. The guy who works there (and the girl who is the manager!) told me they take classes and are taught what’s allowed on the beds and what’s not. Well, both of them must have failed the courses. I asked them to show me their bottles of tanning lotion, which they did, and each one of them contained OIL. So I emailed their corporate headquarters, and they confirmed that my Indoor Tanning Lotion IS allowed on their beds. Of course, I wouldn’t give any business to ignorance, so I didn’t return. My tanning lotion was accepted at other indoor tanning places.

I’ve only been here once and it was also my first time at an Ultimate Exposure but so far I have nothing but good things to say. The girl behind the counter was quite friendly and showed me around the salon and to each of the beds, explaining exactly how they all worked. I didn’t feel pressured at any point to purchase a package or upgrade but then again I went in with the mindset that I was going to purchase a package regardless. I also didn’t feel any pressure to buy new lotion and she was cool with me using my lotion that I had leftover from my last salon. I am paying a little more than I did on my last package but it’s worth it in my opinion because I’m getting access to every bed in the salon and that’s perfect for me because I need a stronger bed to get a good tan going.
The salon itself is under construction as they are adding new beds and whatnot but I still felt it was clean and orderly, I didn’t even realize construction was going on until she pointed it out to me. The beds and rooms were also very clean and neat and I LOVED the bed I ended up using. Aromatherapy while tanning? Sold!

Their employees lied to get me to upgrade my package. Then once I did, they charged me a month early and refused to refund the money unless I signed another contract. Horrible service experience.

Very close to home, so I am happy to trot over there, very convenient. I always use an upgraded bed, as through experience at almost any place you tan, they are better maintained, and of course faster. I think they do a great job of keeping it clean, which is huge considering they only have one person working per shift and I have seen it absurdly busy, so the demeanor of the staff and the fact that they have that much to do and still are nice makes me rock the thumbs up sign. The manager, Freddie, is absolutely adorable and the nicest person on earth, and knows a ton about lotions, and will very quickly give you an honest opinion. Love him!

Just wanted to write an update saying that the staff has gotten alot more friendly. Give credit where credit is due, right? No change in the parking situation, but it’s close to my work, so I just walk over there at lunch.

Let’s be honest — the Ultra beds are useless.
But with that said, the staff was always really helpful and friendly to me. And although they did ask me about which lotion I was using about half the time, I dont really mind. It’s their job. I’m sure they hate asking just as much as we hate hearing it.
When I lived in Texas, I guess I was spoiled with the tanning salon I used there because it was way more simple than Ultimate Exposure. There was the regular beds and the super beds, unlimited tans with each (in a 24 hour period, of course) and the super beds were slightly more expensive. Simple and easy.
The first day at Ultimate Exposure I was overwhelmed with the thousands of points and dozens of different beds; unlimited plans or points plans; upgrade to this plan and receive a discount on this thing or that. I mean, damn. It was like a pop quiz.
I went to three different locations, which were all conveniently close to either my work or apartment or movie theater, and was pleased with the service I received. There’s one guy who works this Streeterville location, mostly weekday afternoons, who I adore. I dont know his name but he looks like a Brad or a Justin. I want to give him a hug and put him in my pocket — so cute.
My experience is, again, that the Ultrabeds are useless. Try at least the Monster Bronzer. I upgraded to it a few times when the wait for the ultrabeds was excessive. And I actually really liked the bed. Much better results.
I put in my 30 day notice to cancel my membership and will probably see how cheap I can tan my pale ass next summer. But it’ll at least be on the Monster Bronzer bed.

This location is within walking distance for my boyfriend and I, which is good. The bad part? Perhaps bad is too strong of a word but between the raggedy old «Ultrabed» (a leftover from when this place was Tan Bodies?) and the unpleasant Janine Garafalo-​lookalike (who can’t hide her bitterness in her inability to up sell us «Monster» beds and overpriced lotions you can buy cheaper online) manning the front counter, this location gets two stars from me.

I’ll quote Dave Matthews: «So much to Say…» but I’ll keep it to a user-​friendly, bullet-​point list:
CONS:
This location is far from the nicest Ultimate Exposure in town. It has a stark, industrial feel to it, and lately the door alarm has been broken, which means it goes off every 5 seconds continuously. Beyond annoying!
In prime time you will wait up to 20 minutes for an ultra bed, (the only bed available for the cheap promotions) Unlike the other poster, I am not impressed with the quality of the ultra beds, but I just remind myself that you get what you pay for.
The promotions are only available for first time customers. The next package you buy will be considerably more expensive.
Finally, my BIGGEST pet peeve of this place: I am continuously asked: «What lotion are you using today?» You know how I want to answer this question? «None of your $&^%@# business!!» I have lotion now, and I use it. But, A) I had a long day at work, and frankly I don’t feel like hearing the sales pitch about bronzing agents and silicone bases, and B) There is no law that states you have to have lotion on your body to lie in a tanning bed!
I bought lotion on the internet specifically because I didn’t want to buy it at UE and reward this pushy sales pitch. No way.
PROS:
Cheap– You really can’t beat the initial deal.
Clean and fairly efficient, albeit stark and sparse.
Locations– lots of em, which is nice.
So, in the end, you get what you pay for. Executive Tans on Sheffield is better– too bad they’re so far away from me. Now, go buy some lotion on ebay!

Pale skin like mine often needs a little fake baking just to allow for that ‘non-​albino glow’. While the company has multiple locations all over the city (and this is far from the best) it is only 2 blocks from my office. The rooms are tight but serve their purpose, typically there isn’t a long wait & the prices are reasonable (tan all you want for $ 19.99 a month). Most importantly, their beds are clean & the bulbs are fresh & hot. If you prefer to bask in your artificial sunlight while jamming to tunes… pack your ipod, as the radios aren’t very great.