Who is the CF, me or the beauty salon?

Doesn’t absolve them of their responsibility to do a pre treatment consultation to check there are no health issues which would preclude the client. And the fact that they deleted the WhatsApp messages is concerning. Seems to suggest they know they’re in the wrong, so I’d just threaten them with small claims court.

Oh sorry , you probably work in middle management somewhere in 2015...so yeah it does mean that.

No it doesn't 😂

Who are you to define "pointless" for others.

Women in their 70s haven't all given up on their appearance.

No, it doesn’t. The implication of “reaching out” is something more; like after an argument, offering an olive branch, asking for something big etc.

Then corporate speak took over and instead of saying “contact X” people started saying “reach out to X.” It’s ridiculous. You “reach out” over something serious or after a fight. You don’t “reach out” when you’re making an appointment.

She contacted them.

Why are people clutching pearls about £200 on brows ? If that's why she wants to do then so bloody what .

Reaching out just means contacting though

tthey should be asking for medcial history an do a test first-tell them you screen shot their message an will be taking it further

Some people are being very rude about OP's mother wanted ombre brows. As someone with alopecia and no eyebrow hair to speak of, they're the difference between whether I can set foot outside or not. I wouldn't be giving this place my money though, they sound dodgy - there's no way a tattoo parlour would ever recommend someone on thinners to get a tat

You lost me at "reached out" and I think you've lost your money as well.

Could you have major moved the appointment to a week later?

I don't think they should have to refund you. That's the point of a deposit. There was another thread recently where a woman cancelled a party and complained the deposit had not been said to be non-refundable but that's what a deposit is?!

I think it would be U to refuse to move it to a later date and keep the deposit but not U to refuse to refund.

I agree with others that this should have been made clear before the booking fee was taken.

No website with the info, nothing said when Op booked.

That's terrible.

after a bit of google searching, we realised she needed at least a week off the thinners before she could safely have her eyebrows done.

Surely that's only with the Dr's approval though?

I would assume that any deposit is non refundable. Yes it would be nice of them to refund as there was only a short time between you booking and cancelling, but it was your/your DM's mistake.

Please don’t tell her doctor that she is willing to come off her blood thinners for a week to have her eyebrows done. Presumably she is on them because she has issues with her heart, it really isn’t worth risking having a stroke just to have ombré eyebrows, whatever they are.

That's what booking fees are for - I can't think of an example I've seen where you can get this back when you cancel (whatever the reason).

Sorry but I think it's one of those life lessons.

PS completely understand why she wants them done - I love mine. Age doesn't matter, why would it.

you said "£200 for eyebrows?!? That costs twice as much as getting the same done to my hair"

Do you get your hair tattooed?
Its like saying well I only pay £2.50 for chips, why does it cost £10 for fish?

Spot on

I agree.
Blood thinning medication isn't given for fun. Whatever she takes it for may well recur if she stops it for a week. This is done for essential things like dental extractions, but it seems excessively risky for a cosmetic procedure.

You're not able to get a refund. That's the whole point. Just move the appointment to a week later when your mum has been off the blood thinners.

That's a hefty booking fee! I paid a £5 booking fee to a salon yesterday, and I usually pay £1.50 to my hair salon for a £120 colour and cut. Unfortunately I don't think you'll ever get that back so will just have to chalk it up to experience and not use book with them again.

I really don't want to judge (and I know this will sound judgy) but there's no way I'd come off blood thinners just to get my eyebrows done when there are so many other ways to get them done that don't involve risking your life.

Unfortunately I think you’re in the wrong here, and I definitely don’t think the salon are being CF. It’s annoying for you that the booking fee was so expensive and you’ve now lost it… but surely you realise the whole purpose of a booking fee is exactly this? Why would they refund it? It’s the same as a deposit. Why did you think you were paying it in the first place? It’s like how some restaurants charge a £10pp booking fee/deposit when you book, it’s so that if you cancel last minute or are a no show, then they haven’t lost out, as someone else could’ve had that table. Just like how someone else could’ve had your appointment slot at the salon etc. The reason they take a booking fee/deposit is so they don’t get let down by time wasters. And I know you haven’t just been a no show, you’ve cancelled in advance, but it still stands that that’s the reason these things exist.

Exactly this!

My MIL is 72 and is considering it! I'm on my third top up (I've gone every 2 years for a top up, though they've never been in desperate need of topping up tbh).
The place I go to has lots of before and afters of older women - the difference is incredible, some of them look as though they've had a face lift!

In terms of cost it is a lot of money but I had a half hour consultation where she went through medical history, did a patch test, talked about what I wanted.
Then when I had them done, I was there for 2 hours as she drew the shape, we looked at shades and then she did the brows -constantly stopping to check.
Then there is the top up appointment- and can go as many times as needed til the shape and colour are correct.
This is a lot of time for a professional to be spending on 1 client, plus insurance costs and equipment etc.
It's lasts for at least a year so personally don't think the cost is extravagant! Plus they look amazing and save me so much time instead of drawing them on every day!

people have a choice to pay what they want for stuff, My mother in law pays 300e every 6 months for her eyebrows, she has none, she hates that she has to pencil in her eyebrows every day. Until you have none you dont realise how much a difference they do make to your face aswell as her confidence. She is 82 by the way and not one bit high maintenance, but loves the boost getting her eyebrows done after so long of not having any