Sun Tan City is a popular tanning salon chain with over 300 locations across the United States. They offer memberships that provide unlimited tanning for a monthly fee. A common question for members is whether their membership works at all Sun Tan City locations or only at certain ones. This article will examine the policies around Sun Tan City memberships and provide insight into which locations accept them.
Types of Sun Tan City Memberships
Sun Tan City offers three main tiers of memberships:
| Membership Type | Features |
|---|---|
| Basic | Unlimited tanning at your home salon |
| Elite | Unlimited tanning at your home salon plus 4 premium upgrades per month |
| Platinum | Unlimited tanning at your home salon, 4 premium upgrades per month, and tanning at any Sun Tan City location |
The Platinum membership is the only one that allows tanning at any Sun Tan City location. The Basic and Elite memberships are limited to the “home salon” chosen at sign-up. This means that Platinum is the only truly nationwide membership.
Using a Membership at Other Locations
For Basic and Elite members, tanning at other Sun Tan City salons besides your designated home location generally requires paying a single-session rate. However, some franchises may allow visiting members to tan for free or at a reduced “guest rate.” This can vary by location.
Platinum members can tan for free at any company-owned corporate location across the U.S. However, franchised locations have more flexibility in deciding whether to accept Platinum memberships. Many do honor Platinum memberships as a courtesy to customers, but some may not.
It’s a good idea to call ahead if you have Platinum membership and plan to visit a Sun Tan City you haven’t been to before. Confirm that they accept your membership and any terms around it.
You can identify corporate vs franchised locations by looking at Sun Tan City’s studio finder tool. Corporate locations will be listed as “Sun Tan City” while franchises show the owner’s name.
Upgrades at Other Locations
Upgrades let you use premium tanning beds and add-ons like facials or Bronzage spray tan. Upgrades are included with Elite and Platinum memberships. However, the upgrade perks only apply at your home salon, not other locations.
For example, if you have an Elite membership in Nashville, you could get 4 upgrades per month at that Nashville studio. But if you tan at a Sun Tan City in Miami with your Elite membership, you wouldn’t be able to redeem upgrades there.
Platinum members can use upgrades when visiting corporate-owned studios, but not necessarily franchises. It depends on the policies of that individual franchise.
Booking Appointments at Other Locations
Booking appointments at salons other than your home studio varies as well. Some locations allow you to book in advance while others require walking in.
With a Basic membership, you’ll generally need to call each studio individually to check their policy for booking as a visiting member. The process is similar for Platinum members at franchised locations.
At corporate salons, Platinum members can book appointments through the Sun Tan City mobile app. This allows you to remotely schedule sessions at any company-owned location.
Changing Your Home Salon
For Basic and Elite memberships, your home salon is set when you first sign-up. But it is possible to change if you move or have a new Sun Tan City location open closer to home.
The process requires going to your new preferred location and speaking with the staff there. You’ll fill out a Home Salon Transfer Form. This cancelling your membership at the old studio and reactivating it at the new one.
Keep in mind you can only change home salons once per calendar year with Basic and Elite memberships. So make sure the new location is convenient for the long-term.
With a Platinum membership, you don’t need to worry about a home salon. You can tan freely at all corporate-owned studios.
Pausing or Canceling Memberships
Need time off tanning for vacation or other reasons? Sun Tan City allows memberships to be paused for up to 3 months per calendar year. You can pause by filling out a temporary cancellation form at your home location.
To fully cancel, you must do so in person at your home salon as well. Cancellations are effective immediately. Any remaining membership fees you pre-paid for months past the current date will be refunded to the original payment method.
Membership Terms to Know
Here are some key terms from Sun Tan City’s membership agreement to understand:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Home Salon | The single location where Basic and Elite memberships can be used |
| Franchise | Independently owned salon that may have different rules than corporate |
| Corporate Salon | Sun Tan City owned and all Platinum rules apply |
| Upgrades | Premium tanning and add-ons like spray tan or facials |
| Premium Beds | Advanced tanning beds like high pressure beds |
Conclusion
In summary, Sun Tan City membership policies depend on membership type and whether a location is corporate-owned or a franchise. Here are the key takeaways:
– Basic membership only works at your designated home salon
– Elite membership works at your home salon plus 4 upgrades per month there
– Platinum membership allows tanning at all corporate locations
– Upgrades only redeemable at your home salon, even for Platinum
– Booking policies vary by location – call ahead to confirm
– Changing home salon is allowed once per year for Basic/Elite
– Pausing or canceling requires written notice at home salon
So while membership perks may vary, Sun Tan City does aim to provide flexibility for members to tan at multiple locations. Call ahead, know the policies, and maximize the benefits you can get from your chosen membership level. With 300+ studios nationwide, you can tan virtually anywhere with Sun Tan City!