What would you do?

[FiggieFan]

OP, I would have wanted to say something, but I probably wouldn't have. I always think of the right thing to say 2 days later. But without a doubt, I'd never go back.

Yup, this is me. Then I would obsess on it all day.

 

[Anastasi]

Would you consider calling back to speak to the manager?

Sometimes, stuff can throw us off. You can still call the shop, talk to the manager and tell them what happened and that the business lost a customer because of it.

+3

Call the salon and ask to speak to the manager. Tell them you were so flabbergasted you didn't say anything at the time, but now you want to say something.

The thing that bothers me, even if the stylist did have car trouble and was getting Starbucks next door (cough cough), the receptionist knew this as the stylist had called to get the order.

The receptionist should have let you know the stylist was running very late. It was a complete fail on many accounts.

 

[figment52]

HOW RUDE!!

did she at least bring you a coffee too?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Man that is a tough one.

Generally when I have an appt. I will keep it to the bitter end, esp. if I needed a hair cut and it is before the holidays.

I would have probably done almost the same. Waited, got my haircut and then her tip would have been ZERO.

I would not go back to that salon again ever.

ETA....I would also consider calling the salon manager if it bugged me.

 

[brockash]

I had an appointment for a haircut at 12 noon. I arrived at 1145 and checked in. At 1155 the receptionist picks up a phone call, then walks around to each hair dresser asking if they want anything because "insert my hairdressers name" is stopping at Starbucks. She then composed a long list and gave it over the phone. At 1215 I asked the receptionist if it was going to be much longer, she said just a few minutes. My hairdresser arrives at 12 39 with several trays of coffee. She comes over to get me now 1245 and apologizes for being late, says she had car trouble. You know as if I had not just witnessed the entire thing with my own eyes as it unfolded. I was upset. I really needed a haircut, so I waited. I'm still miffed about the wait and lie. I did not tip well, and will not be going back. I've had her cut my hair twice before. While she does an ok job, it's nothing special I just get a trim. I usually tip 25% today I left only 10%. I am still mad at myself for not speaking up.

I would have and actually have left after 15 mins of waiting and no sign of her. I wouldn't go back, especially in your situation, how incredibly rude, inconsiderate and disrespectful.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

I have no qualms speaking up about bad service. I would not have left a tip, and on the way out I would tell her she just lost a client. The sad thing, she probably would have laughed at you after you left. I see this all the time. So little quality customer service left anywhere.

 

[Kae]

Ex-Stylist here call the owner, sounds like the manager feels this is acceptable. I would have never done that to a client.

Kae

 

[pkondz]

Next time you need a trim.
Call and make an appointment. Let's say it's for 1pm.

At 1pm, call the salon and tell them you're having car trouble but should be there in 5 minutes.
In 10 minutes, call them back and say you're on your way and you'll be there in just a minute.
Five minutes later call and tell them you're stuck in traffic but should only be another minute or two. (Bonus points if they can actually see that there's no traffic.)
10 minutes later, casually saunter into the shop with your recently purchased coffee.
Walk to your stylist's chair and tell her you'll just be a second.
Compose lengthy text. Take your time. Enjoy some coffee too. mmmmm....

Extra bonus points if you then tell her you've changed your mind.

Super bonus points if you see smoke coming out of her ears.

 

[Fueledbycoffee]

I would send a letter to the salon manager. This puts them in the position to reply to you if they choose, allows you to control what you want to say* & puts the complaint in writing if they manager wants to use it in the associate's file.

Edit: silly auto correct

 

[handinpocket]

Next time you need a trim.
Call and make an appointment. Let's say it's for 1pm.

At 1pm, call the salon and tell them you're having car trouble but should be there in 5 minutes.
In 10 minutes, call them back and say you're on your way and you'll be there in just a minute.
Five minutes later call and tell them you're stuck in traffic but should only be another minute or two. (Bonus points if they can actually see that there's no traffic.)
10 minutes later, casually saunter into the shop with your recently purchased coffee.
Walk to your stylist's chair and tell her you'll just be a second.
Compose lengthy text. Take your time. Enjoy some coffee too. mmmmm....

Extra bonus points if you then tell her you've changed your mind.

Super bonus points if you see smoke coming out of her ears.

That is awesome!!!! Best post and I would so do that!!!!

 

[hegsag]

Next time you need a trim.
Call and make an appointment. Let's say it's for 1pm.

At 1pm, call the salon and tell them you're having car trouble but should be there in 5 minutes.
In 10 minutes, call them back and say you're on your way and you'll be there in just a minute.
Five minutes later call and tell them you're stuck in traffic but should only be another minute or two. (Bonus points if they can actually see that there's no traffic.)
10 minutes later, casually saunter into the shop with your recently purchased coffee.
Walk to your stylist's chair and tell her you'll just be a second.
Compose lengthy text. Take your time. Enjoy some coffee too. mmmmm....

Extra bonus points if you then tell her you've changed your mind.

Super bonus points if you see smoke coming out of her ears.

But the big difference here is that she'd be courteous by calling to let the stylist know she is running late. I don't think the stylist even called to say that she was running late due to car trouble and would be there ASAP.

 

[hegsag]

Does the salon have a FB page? If so, I'd leave a comment on there regarding this that way the stylist knows that you know she's an inconsiderate liar!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I would never have waited that long, no matter how bad I need my hair done. I would have asked about having another stylist do my hair when she was 5 minutes late. If I had really waited that long (45 minutes?) I would have informed her that my hourly rate is around $45/hour and asked her how she would like to make that up to me...

I would never have left her a tip and told her why I did not.

I second the poster that suggested writing a letter to the shop manager. They need to know they just lost a client. I'd be sure to tell all of my friends too...

 

[hereyago]

Walk to your stylist's chair and tell her you'll just be a second.
Compose lengthy text. Take your time. Enjoy some coffee too. mmmmm....

Extra bonus points if you then tell her you've changed your mind.

Super bonus points if you see smoke coming out of her ears.

This kind of reminds me of the scene from Pretty Woman and Julia Roberts goes back into the shop with the crappy saleswoman.

 

[diznygirl]

In the stylist's defense, maybe the Starbucks was right next to the place she was getting her car fixed so she ran over there while she was waiting?

Yeah, I am not buying that either!!

Actually, there is a Starbuck's right next to the place my husband always goes. I used to accuse him of making up car troubles so he could stop in!

OP - I would not have waited. I would have probably left around 12:30 since the hairdresser wasn't even in the place. And then I wouldn't have heard the lie - I would only be upset they thought stopping for coffee for the entire place was more important than my haircut. Still bad!

 

[Tinijocaro]

It's not too late to call and let them know how rude it was to make you wait and then to lie about it.

I had to call Olive Garden cause I was too chicken to say something on the spot. The bartender was having a field day picking his nose and eating it-repeatedly! Disgusting.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

This so reminds me of the lady who used to do my hair. I would get there 10 minutes early and she would either be in the middle of working on someone else or smoking outside, or even talking on the phone. I would wait because I liked how she would cut my hair, but it soon got very aggravating because I would wait for more than 30 minutes. A simple cut & color would take more than 3 hours because she was so unorganized.

The last straw was when I waited for a while and then she had the nerve to say that my appointment was for a different day. I was livid! She set up an appointment for me for the following day but I never went back. Just a week or so later she was fired from that salon and she is still not working anywhere. This was a year ago.

 

[powellrj]

grrrr, I hate when that happens. I have left people before for this very thing. I use to have someone I loved do my hair. I was on a very tight time frame and always made my appointments for the first appointment of the day. She always showed up at least a 1/2 hour late without an explanation. It wasn't worth the stress.

 

[Minerva Mouse]

Oh wow. I would have been beyond upset. But probably would have done the exact same thing you did. Waited, got my hair cut, tipped poorly and left. But as I hear myself type that, it's not ok. I would defiantly call back and let the manager know.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If you can express yourself better through a letter, I would go that route. Sometimes I get too flustered/upset to say what I really think, but the salon owner needs to know they messed up. big time. And definitely take your business elsewhere.