Yesterday I went to a salon to get my hair highlighted and cut. I was given a gift certificate from my mothers boss. I put in over 20 hours of time to create flyers, brochures and a pamphlet for a non for profit organization. I was really excited to go.
This is the first time ive ever been to this salon so I did not know what to expect. On tuesday I called up to make an appt for Sunday. I tell the girl on the phone I have a gift certificate and read it to her. It specifies who colors and who cuts. She proceeds to tell me two different names. THinking nothing of it I go in on sunday and this guy is at the desk. He said he would be doing my hair today. no biggie.
I spend 4 hours at this salon, go to the counter to pay and they tell me they cannot accept my gift certificate. I was flipping out. They point to the names of the people who are to cut and color and I inform them that their receptionist said she would put me in with 2 other people (keep in mind the 2 most expensive stylists). I ask to speak with the manager who wasnt any better. She was condesending and saw that i was in my late 20's and could take advantage of that. she said i can extend the gift certificate to feb but you have to pay for todays services. i was so upset she proceeds to tell me she will give me a discount which came out to 10 off. my bill was 127.00. i was really pissed thought i would go for a nice day of coloring and cut but found that they were playing games. I called up to speak to the manager today but she wont be back till tomorrow. I want my money back. I dont think that some girl who doesnt know how to put an appt in should be the reason I have to pay. They gave me some line that the gift certificate has a zero value since it is for donation. i explained that I dont care if its a $2 value its says cut and i was willing to pay the difference between a junior stylist to a senior but the lady didnt care what I said. Any advise ladies.
DebMaher
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! need advise
Our girsl are so smart: SHAME ON YOU -- fabulous! Absolutely follow Jennie of the Sun's genius advice and send complaint to BBB - they have to respond by law. Keep calling -- they will soon find you are not worth the trouble for what they screwed you out of.
suven
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! need advise
I don't know if pursuing it with Fox 5 will be worth it for you.
I think you said the names on the GC were Deanna and Sarah, but it turned out that a GUY did your hair. I am sure the salon will be very vocal about the fact that you knew the GC had female names, but still let a man do your hair...
I know it sucks, but I don't think you're going to be able to get your money back.
I can almost guarantee that you won't get any more than 1/2 of your money because hair dressers usually work on a 50/50 commission, so your salon already had to give the hairdresser his 1/2 of the money. And, the situation really isn't his fault, so I doubt that he'll give you anything back.
Whenever I get color, or a pedi/manicure, I will always ask upfront what the total will be so that I don't end up in a sticky situation after the work is done...
Kate
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! need advise
Posted by DebMaher
Corinne: I HOPE HOPE HOPE you paid by cc -- call the company immediately and tell them to hold the charge. Call the manager and leave messages every day three times daily and RAISE HOLY HELL. You are totally not allowed to be charged for a change their representative authorized. Read the fine print on the gc -- does it say not transferable to another stylist?
Definitely dispute the charge, and speak with the manager as well. There is no reason they cannot credit your card. And as far as I'm concerned no reason she cannot authorize a refund of your cash either if thats how you paid.
anyhow, I don't understand why they would specify on a GC who you must see? Are you saying that each Stylist charges a different rate?
Russo'sbride
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! need advise
That is horribe. I would have been fuming!!!! I mean fuming. Is there a highr manager than this person you spoke with? Or was this a small business? I would demand to speak w/ someone higher. I would make such a fuss (in a nice way) to the manager. Then if she still wasnt giving in I would tell everyone I knew what a horrible place it was so it gets back to them by word of mouth. What goes around comes around. If they can treat you like that they will have something else coming there way (bad Carma)Hope that helped or take them to court.
oakslady
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! need advise
i wouldnt have paid - you specifically read to them who you had to schedule with if they did something else that is their problem not yours
unfortunately since you paid already i doubt you will get it back unless you make a huge stink - call ing fox 5 is definately a good idea - i doubt the place will want the bad publicity
Maribelle7777
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! need advise
Posted by corinne7477
the gift certificate specifically read highlights with Deanna and cut with Sarah. I read exactly what was writen on the GC to the receptionist and explained I was new and never was at their salon and she puts me in with the two most expensive.
Then it's the receptionist's fault for booking you with two DIFFERENT stylists that were NOT on the GC, even after you told her this.
Did she said it was still OK to use the GC even after you got your hair colored and cut by people not on the GC? If she did then it's her fault, plain and simple. Definitely call Fox 5 (although I think it's ch2 that does the Shame on You segment??)
Maribelle7777
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! need advise
Posted by Kate
Posted by DebMaher
Corinne: I HOPE HOPE HOPE you paid by cc -- call the company immediately and tell them to hold the charge. Call the manager and leave messages every day three times daily and RAISE HOLY HELL. You are totally not allowed to be charged for a change their representative authorized. Read the fine print on the gc -- does it say not transferable to another stylist?
Definitely dispute the charge, and speak with the manager as well. There is no reason they cannot credit your card. And as far as I'm concerned no reason she cannot authorize a refund of your cash either if thats how you paid.
anyhow, I don't understand why they would specify on a GC who you must see? Are you saying that each Stylist charges a different rate?
Yeah normally an experienced stylist can charge more than someone that is new to the styling biz.
corinne7477
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! need advise ** now with an update**
ok heres what happened. the manager called me back, said that she already spoke to me sunday and spoke with the owner. she said that she already gave me a discount of 25% off of the services heres the breakdown 125 for a highlight with a senior stylist 115 with a junior 40 for hair cut with senior 30 with a junior
i explained that i should have only paid the 20 difference and she said the girl that answer the phone said she didnt hear me say the names of the certificate. i then told her what type of customer service is this and she replied my receptionist is trained not to tell the customer they are wrong and she has never slipped up. my coment was maybe she did and why should i pay for it.
So i told her that i am disputing the charge, calling the bbb and spending the best $5 of my life, and contacting a lawyer to take them to small claims court. So told me that is foolish. She asked what I would like done and I said I would be fine with spliting the bill. which at this point $60 is much better than 124. now I am waiting for her to call back.
Kel
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! Updated
That's not your fault if the receptionist couldn't hear you .. she should have politely asked you to repeat yourself .. and maybe she's never made a mistake before .. but everyone makes mistakes, at some point .. SERIOUSLY!!
You should tell this 'manager' that you want to speak directly with the owner.
Make sure you are keeping logs of your phone calls .. including person's name, time, date, discussion, result .. make sure you're prepared and well-documented .. if you should need it.
And by saying your upcoming actions are foolish .. she's basically just called you a 'fool' .. go get 'em!!
By the way .. the receptionist is trained to not tell the customer they are wrong ... but this manager can??!!
ChristineC68
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Re: Had a very bad experience yesterday! Updated
You are getting half your money back?
That doesn't make sense to me - you should be able to apply the entire balance of the gift certificate to the total you were charged - just as you stated to the manager. I wouldn't settle for anything less!
I agree with Kel that you should pursue this with the owner and keep records.
What happens to the gift certificate that they did not take, do you get to keep that?
