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AIBU?

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Original poster

WIBU to walk out of the hairdressers

44 replies

Allelbowsandtoes · 21/08/2024 18:26

Just that, really. I had a haircut booked for 5.30pm today, usually takes around 45 mins. I needed to be home by 6.30 but I'm only a 5 min cycle away.

It came to 6pm and I was still sat there waiting while my hairdresser was cutting the previous clients hair, no idea how close they were to finishing.

I left at that point, spoke to the receptionist on the way out to explain the situation and ask my hairdresser to call me to rebook. I also said that I hope I won't lose my £35 deposit, but she couldn't give me any reassurance about that.

How long would you wait in the hairdresser? Was I BU?
If I didn't have to get hone for 6.30 sharp I would have waited a bit longer but I still feel it's a bit of a pisstake. Maybe that's a normal wait time in hair salons though, especially for the last appointment of the day....

OP posts:
SauviGone · 21/08/2024 18:44

Sloppy hairdressers like this create their own vicious circle.

The client starts to think what’s the point in turning up on time, she’s always running late anyway.

Or alternatively she’s completely inept and simply doesn’t book out enough time per client in her diary.

I’m a hair loss/extension specialist, I have in my T&C’s that I run my appointment precisely on time, if a client arrives 10 mins late or more they’ve missed their appointment. I personally have never run more than 3-5 minutes late.

Your hairdresser should respect your time as much as you respect theirs.

Chinkeys · 21/08/2024 18:41

OhmygodDont · 21/08/2024 18:39

Is there a terms and conditions on a website of theirs by any chance about your late arrival.

The only ts and cs ive ever seen are that you cant cancel 48 hours before your appt without penalty. I sincerely doubt they're going to hold themselves to account for running late. Ironically in all my years of frequenting different salons its was the dearest ones with the worst running late times. But normally you just suck it up until it becomes so unacceptable you never go back.

maverickfox · 21/08/2024 18:41

I don’t understand why someone didn’t talk to you and ask if you were happy to wait or prefer to rebook. My big bugbear with services in this country is the inability to communicate when things go wrong or delays are experienced. Things happen but just telling the people they affect and apologising goes a very long way to fostering good will and tolerance, in my case at least.

eotchs · 21/08/2024 18:40

Your hairdresser owes you the deposit back.

OhmygodDont · 21/08/2024 18:39

Is there a terms and conditions on a website of theirs by any chance about your late arrival.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 21/08/2024 18:38

If they try to retain your deposit then my question would be how long would the hairdresser be prepared to wait if I were delayed? I would bargain on half an hour being plenty long enough to lose your appointment. I’ve heard appointments being lost if the client is 5 mins late.

Cosyblankets · 21/08/2024 18:38

If you usually wait 15 to 20 mins and it takes 45 mins you were cutting it a bit fine to get home for 630 anyway.
Either way keeping you waiting that long is not on and you shouldn't lose your deposit

Original poster
Allelbowsandtoes · 21/08/2024 18:37

CeffylCoch · 21/08/2024 18:34

Why didn't you ask how much longer it was going to be?

Because at that point there was no way we could have squeezed a 45 min haircut into less than 30 minutes and I couldn't be late home so I had to leave, it was kind of irrelevant really how long it was going to be.

OP posts:
SauviGone · 21/08/2024 18:35

Absolutely disgraceful and totally unprofessional.

I’ll bet if you turned up 30 minutes late you’d be told you were too late for your appointment and you’d lose your deposit.

She should apologise profusely and return your deposit to you immediately.

Spotlightt · 21/08/2024 18:35

This is the second post today about hairdressers keeping people waiting. It's pretty normal, but it shouldn't be. Bad planning, bad communication. Either way, they should be letting customers know when they are running particularly late.

OhmygodDont · 21/08/2024 18:35

Our hairdresser will text if running more than 10 minutes behind and reschedule if required.

CeffylCoch · 21/08/2024 18:34

Why didn't you ask how much longer it was going to be?

OhmygodDont · 21/08/2024 18:34

I think the deposit should be returned to you. Your appointment was at 5:30pm and by 6pm there was still no sign of your bum hitting that seat.

Ponderingwindow · 21/08/2024 18:34

delays happen. They should have addressed a delay of more than 10 minutes proactively.

I would expect a refund. They didn’t show to the appointment.

Original poster
Allelbowsandtoes · 21/08/2024 18:34

Stellisee · 21/08/2024 18:31

Not a typical wait in the salon where I work. We'd usually give a courtesy call to the client if the stylist is running more than 5-10 minutes behind. We certainly wouldn't leave you sat waiting without explanation!
You must insist on being able to use your deposit or have it returned to you - after all you were there for the appointment time.

Thanks, that's really helpful and I love how organised your salon sounds! I am going to call them in the next couple of days to ask about the deposit.

It'd be a shame to stop going there as my hairdresser is actually great and I like the salon generally (and it's really near me)

OP posts:
Original poster
Allelbowsandtoes · 21/08/2024 18:32

Chinkeys · 21/08/2024 18:29

If you hadnt paid a deposit then I'd have said absolutely fine but I'd not be going back there if I'd walked out. Wont your hairdresser be pissed off? I agree its a disgrace though, can't stand anything more than say 15 mins late.

Shit, okay I hadn't even thought about not going back 😬
She might be pissed off but I don't think she has good reason to be. I always end up waiting around 15-20 mins after my appointment time and never complain but today I couldn't wait any longer.

OP posts:
Werweisswohin · 21/08/2024 18:31

You may never see your deposit again, however I'd be frustrated too if a hairdresser was running that late.

Stellisee · 21/08/2024 18:31

Not a typical wait in the salon where I work. We'd usually give a courtesy call to the client if the stylist is running more than 5-10 minutes behind. We certainly wouldn't leave you sat waiting without explanation!
You must insist on being able to use your deposit or have it returned to you - after all you were there for the appointment time.

Chinkeys · 21/08/2024 18:29

If you hadnt paid a deposit then I'd have said absolutely fine but I'd not be going back there if I'd walked out. Wont your hairdresser be pissed off? I agree its a disgrace though, can't stand anything more than say 15 mins late.