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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shocked that hairdresser cancelled my appt because I was late!

343 replies

Adnerb95 · 22/08/2017 22:51

1st time at a new hairdressers this afternoon. Appointment was at 4:15pm for a cut and blow dry. I work 20 mins away, left in plenty of time but there had been an accident and so major traffic delays. I ended up arriving at the salon 8 mins late to be told by the stylist that she wouldn't be able to do my hair now, because she had another client at 5pm"and the turnaround is very tight".

I was almost speechless - never had that response before on the (rare!) occasions over the years when I have been a few minutes late.

It got worse. I was desperate to have a haircut so suggested that we forget the blowdry and I just have a dry cut. "We don't do that" . "Well, why not do a wet cut? That way, there is still plenty of time, since you won't be blow drying my hair, before your next client"

"We don't do that"

.??????????????.

I think this is not only ridiculous but completely unreasonable or is it me?

I have emailed the owner in advance of posting a public review to give her a chance of responding. In the meantime, I have now booked with another salon for a couple of days time (checked their policy - "we wouldn't cancel an appointment unless a client was at least 15 mins late")

Not only do the first salon have a very disgruntled customer who will certainly not recommend them, but they have lost my business for the next 4/5 years, probably. I was looking for a replacement for my lovely hairdresser of the last 7 years who has left for Scotland. So pretty naff commercial decision as well.

OP posts:
HorridHenryrule · 25/08/2017 07:17

Reading comprehension is not taught in schools. Another poster thinks you should be ringing the salon while driving.

ChristopherWren · 25/08/2017 07:19

I don't really get why it was such a big deal. If I was late I'd hope they would still see me, but if they said no then that would be fine. It was me that was late so I'd just accept I couldn't be seen and make another appointment.

grommy · 25/08/2017 07:41

your fault ,don't be late.
i am a practice nurse, if you are late don't expect to be seen, we only usually run late because of late patients. Ask yourself, will a train/ plane wait if you are late,
allow plenty of time ,accept if you are late you will have to rebook and even may have to pay a penalty,

fishfingersz · 25/08/2017 07:48

I think a review saying because you were 8 mins late your app got cancelled is actually quite helpful to others and not nasty. I am often a little late for my hair appointments and it's never been cancelled. A review like that would really help me make sure I don't book an appointment there as with my dc I am often held back from one reason or another. I do always call though to say I'll be there. That might be a good idea to ring in in future as your not turning up at the correct time may have suggested you're not coming at all, most likely a highly frustrating part of being a hairdresser.
I'm not a hairdresser but if my clients are late I have to find a compromise to fit them in before the next client. I think the treatment you received here was very much you're late therefore you're no longer welcome.

LadyWithLapdog · 25/08/2017 07:51

Hey, OP, get off MN or you'll be late for your replacement appointment (whatever that means to you).

Ktown · 25/08/2017 07:53

Well I assume she can call the salon when she gets out of her car.
Is there a rule to spend ages reading all the thread before commenting?

Tweez · 25/08/2017 07:53

Hairdressers do run to a tight schedule. They are also very lowly paid ( my son us a hairdresser) if you arrived late it will mess up the entire day. You should have called them to at least let them know you would be a little late. It might have helped. Time is money and as I say, it would have messed up timing on next clients.

Notreallyarsed · 25/08/2017 07:56

My friend owns a high end salon and the amount of money they lose from no shows and latecomers is unreal. They've now had to start taking deposits from clients in order to deter people from mucking them about. 8 minutes is a long time to keep the next client waiting, so I see their point.

Original poster
Adnerb95 · 25/08/2017 08:19

Lady hahaha, very good. Grin

I am amazed at posters who suggest breaking the law and endangering life by phoning whilst driving!

As for those who suggest phoning once parked ...Confused

(And, as already explained to those who RTFT I would have to divert to stop and phone on this route, thus making me later)

OP posts:
weewheely · 25/08/2017 08:30

I hate it when people are late to appointments, at my hairdressers it means a knock on for the people who have an appointment next and why should they be held up because of someone else??

JanKind · 25/08/2017 08:33

You were late and didn't have the courtesy to call. Their call. A lesson to be learned here. Don't write a bad review you will look silly

JanKind · 25/08/2017 08:42

Plus if you are only going to take notice of posters who agree with you why ask in the firs place?

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 25/08/2017 08:44

I really don't get this bit about salons insisting on a blow dry. I agree in most cases blow dried hair looks better. Mine doesn't, it looks bloody awful and falls much better if it dries naturally.

This. My hair only really looks good after a towel rub & being left to dry naturally. Last time someone insisted on blow drying it (& using straighteners so they could "check the cut", FFS) it looked so sad & flat that I went straight home & washed it again. Then I could appreciate the cut.

I love the hair wash & head massage so it's a shame from that point of view, but now I only go to a salon that will give me a wet cut.

DiscoDiva70 · 25/08/2017 09:10

THE REASON WHY THE OP COULDNT CALL AHEAD TO SAY SHE WAS RUNNING LATE!

She was bloody DRIVING and its a CRIMINAL offence to use a mobile phone behind the wheel! And she didn't know she would run late until she ran into traffic problems! ... FFS

Do those of you who say she should have called illegally use phones behind the wheel? Or are you not using common sense? SHE COULD NOT CALL

A poster commented that she should have phoned when she got out the car.
Imagine it, OP steps out the car (which is likely parked outside/extremely near to the salon) and wastes time phoning the hairdresser to say she's about to step in the door .... seriously?

I wonder how many more people will come along stating that she should have called!
Either read the thread or use common sense... PLEASE

Hillingdon · 25/08/2017 10:00

I like the PP (not!) who says she is often late due to kids issues but calls ahead anyway to say she is definitely coming! I suspect she is also the sort of person who complains that her hair didn't look that great because it was rushed!

StrangeLookingParasite · 25/08/2017 10:11

You were late and didn't have the courtesy to call.

God's teeth, another one.

Roomster101 · 25/08/2017 10:11

I really don't get this bit about salons insisting on a blow dry. I agree in most cases blow dried hair looks better. Mine doesn't, it looks bloody awful and falls much better if it dries naturally.

I am the same and I have never met known a single hairdresser to insist on drying my hair. Most also charge a lower price if they don't blow dry. I wonder if those who say that they won't do a wet cut have ever tried asking for one! I suspect any that do refuse are not that good at cutting hair.

Chestervase1 · 25/08/2017 10:18

To the practice nurse may be you should re think your career. You are, after all, dealing with sick people.

Chestervase1 · 25/08/2017 10:25

I have had hairdressers spend 5 to 10 mins actually cutting my hair. I don't think anyone had actually spent 45 mins with me. You are sent of to juniors for hair wash, treatments etc.

Chestervase1 · 25/08/2017 10:27

I totally believe in courtesy and good manners however hairdressing is a service industry and I think you should be amenable to your clients.

LadyWithLapdog · 25/08/2017 11:44

That's a bit tough on the practice nurse. Someone with asthma or hypertension or diabetes is perfectly capable of being punctual.

flumpybear · 25/08/2017 11:53

Did you phone and explain? I usually phone if treaffic is bad that I may be a few mins late - they may have taken a walk in if you didn't show and didn't phone

mumindoghouse · 25/08/2017 13:10

I was late cos I got the wrong time in my head. My salon managed to fit me in with someone else once they called me. I am a regular though, but this is why. YANBU

DiscoDiva70 · 25/08/2017 13:23

flumpybear

Am I write in thinking that you
A) Haven't read the countless comments re phoning beforehand?

B) You yourself think its ok to use a mobile phone whilst driving?

I give up Confused

Notreallyarsed · 25/08/2017 13:27

Ok look at it another way. Hairdresser works 9-5 (as an example, I'm well aware it's usually a longer day). Say 5 clients are 8 minutes late, that's 40 minutes added on to the hairdresser's day, time that is wasted. Now do they seem so unfair? No, they don't.