Feel for you, that's a tough spot. Setting that boundary was really smart, even if it felt awful at the time. Paying the company directly is a perfect solution, it helps without enabling. Good on you for making that change.

Remember the neighbor's groceries story is the best case scenario. At least that food got eaten by someone. The real horror is when the app just ghosts you and the whole order, doubles and all, shows up at your door to rot. Makes you miss the old days of just forgetting your list at home. That was a cheaper mistake.

My spa in Tacoma tried the hot towel thing for a year, and honestly, the feedback was just okay. It felt like an extra step that didn't add much for the price. I get what finley_clark20 is saying, but I've found clients really notice when you spend that extra time on the actual service they booked. A better scalp massage during the shampoo has gotten me more repeat bookings than any add-on.