Darque Tan

Only one word to describe this place — janky. I decided to try this place after being a loyal customer of Palm Beach Tan for years because none of their locations are close to my new home. I’m not only pissed I spent $ 50 in total starting a new membership that only costs $ 28 (why is it $ 25 more dollars to just start a membership??) but now I have to keep going to this stupid place for the month until my membership is over — I’m definitely canceling it.
The interior is dated and dirty. The beds are old and have not been maintained. There is a kids playroom at the front but after seeing how the beds are maintained — there’s no telling what’s crawling around in there.
Also — Palm Beach provides real, clean goggles — not stickers to put over your eyes. PB Tan also has spray deodorant, hand wipes, extra pony tails etc for its members to freshen up. None of that happens at Darque Tan.
Last but not least — the girl at the front desk knew zero information about the products or the beds. She didn’t even try to do a good job BS-​ing her way through my questions.
If only I could get my money and wasted time back…

The girls working there are nice, beds are awesome, and don’t usually have to wait. Here’s my problem with them though, it’s become a constant struggle with the customer service. Probably more to do with corporate than them. Customer service is pointless and useless. I know rules are rules but I work in hospitality and know what good customer service is. We do what we can to help a customer out instead of nickel and diming them. I already had issues a time before but I thought maybe it was a fluke, so decided to come back but I had issues again. After reading some other reviews, I realize this is just a consistent thing for them. I won’t be coming back. I’d rather take the extra drive and go to Palm Beach Tan.

Darque Tan is a COMPLETE rip off!!!
I just wanted to get a base tan so I didnt completely burn on my vacation. In order to get a reasonable price you have to sign up for 2 months. They will trick you in to spending well over 80/​month because they say the Level 1 beds aren’t sufficient, and «you will LOVE the color you get from the Level 4 bed».
I have red hair, blue eyes, and the fairest skin you can imagine. I don’tneed that but they insisted I did. So, under pressure I signed. Right about the time you give in (and the sales person is ready to cash teir fat comission check) they will then tell you that the tanning beds won’t be effective without a good tanning lotion. Guess what… it’s also $ 100.00. But don’t worry, when you scoff at the outrageousprice, it will suddenly be on special for 50% off. Itwill seem like a good deal at the time, but then. when you get home to look on Amazon, you will realize you could have gotten the exact same bottle (from the manufacturer for 18.00 and free shipping.
Their most expensive ($ 160.00) bottle of tanning lotion… also sells for $ 20.00 online.
Before you know it, you’ll have committed to 2 months (because that’s the only way to get your monies worth, and will have spent over 300.00 after the administrative fees, products and tanning memebership, and you will still need a moisturizer, and a face lotion that they swear you will need BUT DO NOT.
What happened to the free week of tanning, and 35.00/month for a regular tanning bed?! I used to work at Palm Beach Tan when I was in college so I know the tricks. I haven’t tanned in probably 10 years, so I know the technology has changed, but still… I was conned.
Their beds are fancy, but completely uneccessary! Don’t fall for it. Go to another tanning salon (even if you have to drive a little further). They won’t bend you over like Darque tan. (At least not as hard)

This place is shady. I purchased a Groupon for two mystic tans for $ 10. I went to this location and the girl informed me they don’t have Mystic tan there, (only the Burnet location which would have taken me an hour in traffic to get to after just came from north.) The girl offered me some spray tan I could pay $ 16 for. I wasn’t feeling that, and asked why they are advertising it on Groupon if they don’t even have that particular mister in their store. She said that she didn’t know, it’s a corporate issue and she couldn’t do anything about it. She said she could offer me was a Versa tan for $ 10. Ok, fine, I’m getting one less spray tan but I was in a crunch and figured I can just use the Groupon credit since it was the same price. She asked me for payment, and I questioned why I couldn’t just use Groupon credit. No, she said, it doesn’t work that way. I have to pay now, then write groupon and get my money back. She’s like, «Oh, it’s super easy, lots of people do that when this happens.» Sounds like this is a pattern with this place. I paid, and went back for the versa spray tan. Another girl shows and explains how the mister to me 10 minutes, never says anything about not using the after spray lotion provided on the table. I spray tan, then started to put the after spray tan lotion from the table and it smudges away the spray tan on one half of my face. (I didn’t know the lotion would rub off the spray tan — nothing was said about this.) I went home and washed my face because the spray tan was now uneven and looked terrible. (Sprayed my face with my self tanner at home and came out way better.) Why is this after spray lotion provided on the table when it just rubs away the spray tan??? Why are you selling Groupons for Mystic tans when only one store in the Austin area offers Mystic and it’s not specified as such on the Groupon? Why couldn’t I have used the $ 10 voucher for my tan, as it specifies on the Groupon? It says «this amount never expires.» Anyway, this was a frustrating experience and the biggest waste of time and money. And the Groupon seems like a scam just to upsell.

I never tan, but I had terrible tan lines and wanted to get rid of them, so last night I went in. The guy working the front desk (Kenlen?) was so nice and helpful. He didn’t push when I said I was just in for a short, one time tan with a basic bed, but he still told me the features about the other ones. If I AM tanning again, it’ll be here.

Catch the special discount sales — $ 5 Mystic and $ 5 or $ 10 Versa sessions — they use Norvell products, which work super well with skin. No orange! :))

Their Mystic Tan machine mysteriously just broke that day and I was unable to tan. I understand that shit happens, but it was an unfortunate first experience.

This is the first place I have tanned at ever, and I am really glad I started with this company at this location. Please note, I am only doing the UV light tanning and not the spray tanning.
Ever since I walked in the door, I was given helpful advice and have always been treated with respect and care. And trust me, I walked in knowing absolutely nothing, and each employee was patient in explaining things every time I have come in. In the beginning I was a little overwhelmed with all of the package options and lotions and other unknowns. But I settled on the Level 3 option (includes the first 2 beds and the standup). I also bought two lotions — a body and facial lotion. These lotions may seem expensive at first ($ 70+) but I checked the ingredients (at least with the BoTANica brand, which I got) and they are made with high quality natural ingredients. Also, my skin is sensitive, and is not irritated by them at all. So I am glad the sales associate recommended them for me when I mentioned I have sensitive skin.
Selling points: Always clean and the beds are ready to go. They have a «freeze» option you can place on your plan, if you travel for work like me. Always have some sort of discount on products or plan upgrades to take advantage of. Super easy check-​in process with a key-​chain-​card. Have always just walked in and been able to tan (have never had to wait, though I have seen 1 person who had to — I think it was for the spray option though).
Overall:
Experience: ⁵⁄₅ (plus I am addicted!)
Staff: ⁵⁄₅ (they all have good points to give you)
Cleanliness: ⁵⁄₅
Parking: ⁵⁄₅
Personal advice: Be smart and be safe. Invest in the good lotions that will *nourish* and moisturize your skin. And apply every time (right before you tan, and anytime you see your skin get dry, like after the shower). If you get pink or red during a session, don’t advance up to the next time level the next time. Stay at that time. Burning can put your skin health at risk in the future, and can result in you peeling now. I followed these tips and am tanning every other day, and have built a healthy tan with no peeling or tanning, just within 1.5 weeks.

I have been here twice. I am usually outside a lot. I feel uncomfortable with the sales approach. I found it difficult to be persuaded over and over and over to buy expensive bottles of lotion when I do not tan often. And when I was shown the lotion I was told over and over not to sample bottles. I was told how to hold the bottle so they didn’t leak. The 20 minute presentation of lotions and the rude instruction on not sampling bottles was very uncomfortable. I am not sure who buys 100.00 bottles of lotion you cannot sample? And I am not sure who has time for long presentations on five types of beds and 10 bottles of lotion? I went there for a quick tan. 5 people came in while I was at the desk to be scanned in to tan. Each time I was told to wait till she took care of these customers. I already had purchased my sessions. I just do not need to understand everything about their beds and lotions. I have three kids and I went there to relax. It was so uncomfortable

I wish I still lived close to this one! I have a monthly membership but I recently moved so now I have to go to the Darque Tan on William Cannon. But this store was great. The staff here is so much better to deal with then the one on William Cannon.
I tan very frequently. They have AMAZING specials thats really the number one reason I am a member. This store will get you in and out quickly. I rarely had to wait.
Its also very clean and if you ask which bed has the newest lights the person at the front will actually know the answer which is awesome!
Miss this store a lot. Maybe they can get the William Cannon store running like this one.

I came in here once before with a groupon, everything went smoothly even though even though I felt as if I was being judge? I guess you cant just throw some clothes on to go tanning. LOL Whatev, anyways. came back again the other day. NOTE: I had only been here once to spray tan. I had bought another lovely groupon it was a 2 spray tans at the price of $ 20 and was told once I tried to use my groupon that it was only for new customers. You should put that in the title of the groupon, right?. He (her?) also talked to me like I was completely dumb, I asked since I had only been here once and I asked if I could just use one of my tans and just forget about the other? He said «no, everyone has this problem».so that is your excuse? «Everyone has this problem». Horrible customer service and excuse if you ask me. Any who, will not be returning.

So… I’ve lived in Austin for almost a year now, and during that time, I’ve put a hold on my tanning. For good reason… I’m always outside in this awesome sun and I haven’t really needed to go. But today, I woke up late, and I didn’t feel like rushing to the pool, or sweating next to the pool, but my tan has been faaaading.
So I looked up Darque Tan, since it’s the only tanning salon I’ve seen around town more than once, and I think some of the girls I work with go there.
I went in expecting to be rail-​roaded into buying some monthly package that I probably won’t use, and badgered into buying a $ 60 bottle of lotion. But I met the girl at the front desk, and I told her I was really just wanting to tan today, and maybe I would come back again.
No problem!
I couldn’t believe it. She was so honest and nice and didn’t treat me like I was less important than the people who have the highest-​paying memberships and go there every day. She told me the truth– that I probably shouldn’t get a membership (shocking for a salesperson to say!) even understood why I was hesitant to get back into it.
I don’t know if I’ll go back, but if I decide to be a tanning-​type person again, this is where I’ll go!

I’d put off going to a tanning salon since moving here because I so loved my place in Orlando and didn’t think I’d find something to make me happy. I was wrong.
Ashley (completely cool chick) was extremely helpful. I walked in adamant that I didn’t want a package since I do that all the time and then come up with 10 different reasons not to go. Well here, you can do $ 25, $ 50, etc ‘packages’ which do NOT EXPIRE and you’re not on any contract. Okay, that is not how any other tanning salon I’ve been to before does it. This is perfect as I would only want to be in a Level 1 bed to get the base then I go can anywhere from a Level 1 to a Level 5. The prices are all clearly spelled out on the wall. Very cool.
The bed I was in was in was brand new and all the beds looked new. I have my eye on the «red one» and the «Star Trek» one. (the names ‘red one’ and ‘Star Trek’ one are what I’m coining them)
If you hate crowds, I recommend going at 8 a.m. Sunday as I did. I had the place to myself. I love the hours too. If I’m not mistaken, they are 7am-​11pm and 8am-​8pm on Sundays. (you probably want to call first in case I’m incorrect.