Can hairdresser do this

[HPmagic]

Booked to get a haircut and blowdry, salon staying are taking full payment few days in advance. Are they allowed to do this.
I have said no but I will pay a small deposit but not full payment.

Of course they are allowed, lots of businesses take payments in advance.

I've heard of deposits, especially for long appointments for colours, but not full payment in advance.

Maybe they've had a lot of no shows and are fed up with it.

They are having to operate with reduced capacity, so if they are getting no shows I can see why they may have decided to do this.

Mine is taking a 50% deposit but I'd be happy to pay in advance.

Mine takes 25%. My beauty salon has been taking full payment too which I don’t mind.

Mine took £25 deposit on a £200 cut and colour.

Good for them. I'm guessing they've been bitten by no shows and are taking strict action.

Pay it or don't, they can make up any rule they like and you don't have to go there.

It’s a pretty shitty time to run a business so I think it’s understandable. I’m surprised they are asking for full amount rather than just a deposit though. I would only do it if I trusted the hairdresser. But that said if trusted then I would expect them to trust me to pay on the day!

Of course they can.
You are choosing the service and can go elsewhere if it bothers you that much.
That’s the risk they take.
As others have said they clearly need to guarantee that you’ll turn up and not flake out leaving them out of pocket.

There are lots of things we pay for in advance - theatres, concerts, holidays etc so I don't see why not.

I had to pay £19 deposit, so half.
Yes, they can do what they like.

Yep, totally normal. my salon does this now as a Covid safety measure. No need to go to the desk and handle cards/cash.

I get an email with an invoice and a link to pay online a few days before my appointment.

If it’s a hairdresser I trust and go to regularly I’d do it. But otherwise I’d be on the fence. What if they fuck up your hair? Usually you could withhold full payment, but if they’ve already got your money there’s not much you could do.

Slightly different but I booked my child's hair appt online and paid in full. I could get a full refund up to 2 hrs before the appointment so I guess it's maybe down to the cancellation policy if you would be happy to pay in full.

In a way it might be good. There has been a few posts on here recently about extra charges at the till in hairdressers. One was the other day with someone having £50 added for toner!

I require full payment in advance for my image consulting business (personal style, personal shopping, colour analysis, wardrobe edits, makeup, professional dress advice, etc.).

If the client cannot make the date for whatever reason, I retain 25% cancellation fee. If I cannot make the date for whatever reason, I offer 25% discount.

It is not unprofessional for your hairdresser to require payment in advance, but I would certainly expect some form of leeway depending on reasons.

I once went to a salon for a service and—through my own idiocy—took a motorway that sent me 30 minutes off course. The business managed to squeeze me in for a lesser service but I insisted on paying the full rate, because it was my fault and it was the right thing to do.

I believe some of this is to do with not valuing certain services, and with some (women, often) not valuing their services.

It can also depend on the difference between a long-term and reliable client vs someone who regularly puts their reasons/schedules above yours.

‘At our discretion’...as long as it’s legal, it’s a good phrase to have in your business.

@ShagMeRiggins if you can not make it you should let them cancel and get a refund.

I pay a deposit £20 and the cut/colour is usually about £70. But I'm not sure I would be happy to pay upfront for the whole thing, although I can't really put my finger on why...

[quote brondary]@ShagMeRiggins if you can not make it you should let them cancel and get a refund.[/quote]
I appreciate that and the option is there. Forgive me for not having mentioned it. I do offer a full refund. To date, all of my clients have chosen to book another date with the discounted price. (For the record, I’ve cancelled two times on clients, so less than once a year.)

If you think about it, though, it’s the business owner who is out of pocket.

I get sick—or something more important needs to be addressed—you get all your money back (usually last-minute so no opportunity for me to regain that income).

You get sick—or something more important needs to be addressed—and book another date, I get 75% of my money. (A loss for the business owner.)

The business owner is one person, the clients are many. Lots of opportunities for loss.

Back to OP, I’m not surprised and it’s fine. Pay in advance (unless you were planning on having the money on a payday, in which case I’m hopeful your hairdresser will understand basic budgeting and finance and will make an exception).

Mostly I hope people will stop making appointments they are “iffy” about and recognise that everyone who runs a business is trying to serve you and ensure their own financial survival.