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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have demanded my money back?

18 replies

Syd35 · 19/04/2012 11:18

I got a voucher from the local salon in December for a massage for DH as part of his Xmas present. It is valid for 6 months from December but he hasn't round to using it as he's been away with work etc.

I popped in last week to book to find the salon is under new management. As DH works long hours the best day for him is a Saturday. The salon don't have a massage therapist on site but have a lady who comes in to help them out. The lady is busy for the next month on Saturdays so they offered for me to have a treatment instead. I refused this as it was meant to be a pressie for DH so asked for my money back and they won't give it back. The new owner said it's nothing to do with her as she didn't sell me the voucher.

Surely it should be honoured or a refund offered if they cannot give me an appointment? What kind of a salon advertises massages yet you cannot book one on a Saturday. I am fuming as I have just been in and fell out with them and I am not normally confrontational. Do I have a point or AIBU?

OP posts:

Bambino81 · 19/04/2012 11:21

Has the name of the salon changed. Or asme company but just a diff manager?

Bambino81 · 19/04/2012 11:22

*same

Original poster

Syd35 · 19/04/2012 11:22

The name is still the same but different owners I think.

OP posts:

AgentProvocateur · 19/04/2012 11:24

I need to book my hair dresser about a month in advance if I want a Saturday appointment, so I think that's quite normal. I wouldn't e oect them to give you your money back, because you knew when you bought it that it was only valid for six months. As a gesture of goodwill, they may extend the validity for you.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 19/04/2012 11:28

YABU - they CAN give you an appointment. A voucher is a voucher, they dont care its a present for your DH - it's valid for 6 months and that is that! I have to book my hairdresser up months in advance for a saturday appointment as that is her busy day.

Maybe if you ask nicely they will give you extra time.

IAmBooyhoo · 19/04/2012 11:29

even if you bought it on the first of december that still gives you until the end of may to use it. if the therapist is booked up for the next month that leaves just under 2 weeks at the end of may in which it can be used. i think YWBU not to book it for one of those days.

leftmysociallifeatthedoor · 19/04/2012 11:30

I think yabu sorry. Also why are you getting so wound up? It really isn't all that big a deal.

Shakey1500 · 19/04/2012 11:33

I agree YABU. They can offer you an appointment, it's not their fault if the appointments they can offer, can't be met. Also, they have suggested making use of the voucher another way i.e. you have the massage. I unserstand where you're coming from but they are not obliged to give a refund and have been reasonable in suggesting alternative use.

SuchProspects · 19/04/2012 11:46

I think expiry dates on vouchers that cost face value ought to be banned, so on that basis YANBU.

But I think expecting to be fitted in on the four highest demand days at the end of 6 months is a bit U of you (well your DH - it's his voucher he should be sorting it).

Original poster

Syd35 · 19/04/2012 11:51

Yeah maybe I'm over-reacting but I've spent a lot of money in that salon in the past and getting fed up repeatedly calling to get an appointment. They don't bother to call back so I end up popping in. Just seems frustrating they cannot get back to me with an appointment time. It never used to be a problem getting a Saturday appointment.

Based on the responses I will take a chill pill :)

OP posts:

MyDogShitsShoes · 19/04/2012 11:59

Tbh if it's completely new owners they're not even obliged to honour the voucher at all so I'd just make the best of what you can get.

A bit crappy I know but just one of those things.

Original poster

Syd35 · 19/04/2012 12:16

Thanks MyDog Funny set up as the old owner still works in the salon from time to time and I think it was bad form of the previous owners to sell me a gift voucher knowing they were selling the salon the following month.

OP posts:

MyDogShitsShoes · 19/04/2012 13:11

Absolutely, similar thing happened to me with a clothes shop. They offered me an exchange as "goodwill". Bought the bleeding thing 2 days before it changed hands!

Didn't even know it'd changed hands til they told me!

5inabed · 19/04/2012 14:10

I think it is worth another word with them. My sil and bil were given a voucher for a posh restaurant as a wedding present and missed the expiry date, when they went in to ask about it the manager said they were honour bound to accept it regardless of the date on it. I have also used out of date vouchers at the beauticians after phoning first and explaining I had missed the date.

maddening · 19/04/2012 14:17

I would think that if they bought a business they also bought it's obligations inc your voucher.

as for the appt if there is no date for your dh def use the voucher and get dh something to replace it - and on the way out let them know their lack of goodwill cost them future custom and you will not recommend them to family or friends. Good business practice would be to extend the expiry date

knowitallstrikesagain · 19/04/2012 14:23

YABU as you have had 6 months and also you say you knew in advance how difficult it was to arrange an appointment there so you should have known to book it up ages ago.

If they won't give you your money back, either take one of the appointments offered towards the end of May, or use the voucher yourself. But DON'T buy any more vouchers from them!

Peppin · 19/04/2012 15:47

The reason that gift vouchers have expiry dates is because the business selling the voucher can only account for the sale once the goods/services have been delivered. They do not want to have turnover that they cannot put through their books indefinitely, hence the expiry dates.

However, they do have to replace the gift voucher for you with another one, provided that you ask for the replacement before the current one expires. I am a lawyer and just yesterday had some training on company accounts and this was one of the things that came up.

So I would get a replacement for another 6 months and try and use it at your leisure. Obviously, they are under no obligations to provide a massage therapist unless the voucher was sold as a voucher for a massage.

Original poster

Syd35 · 19/04/2012 16:27

Thanks Peppin. The voucher does state deep tissue massage on it which is what I requested when I bought it. I've never had a problem booking them for him previously which is so infuriating. The salon sate the therapist is so busy as she's freelance and has other work.

The other problem is that we're moving out of the area for good in July so extending the voucher / getting a new one is pointless.

I could get a treatment up to the value for myself but it seems unfair as I got it as a gift for DH.

OP posts:

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