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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:
DiscoDiva70 · 25/08/2017 13:37

Am I right in thinking that she'll still only be 8 minutes late at the end of the day even if each customer is late?

Customer A is late which makes hairdresser finish 8 mins later. But customer B is 8mins late anyway (and so on) so the last customer will still be finished 8 minutes later than expected. Not 40.

Note : Maths was never my strong point

Notreallyarsed · 25/08/2017 13:38

I was assuming there were other clients who were on time in the middle of it tbh.

RaspberryOverload · 25/08/2017 13:43

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

How many times does OP have to explain she was driving and therefore couldn't phone?

Roomster101 · 25/08/2017 13:53

Am I right in thinking that she'll still only be 8 minutes late at the end of the day even if each customer is late?

You are correct! She may even not be running late at all by the end of the day haircuts e.g. mine take a lot less than 45 minutes.

candy1986 · 25/08/2017 14:00

clients like this annoy me! It has a roll on effect on the rest of our clients! Your fault for being late im afraid 😳

BabybeansAndGiantPandas · 25/08/2017 14:04

Sorry but if a professional hairdresser can't work around an 8 min delay - they're not worth their salt! YANBU. Sh*t happens and a little flexibility on the part of everyone in general would go a long way to making life easier. One day youre the one that needs it, one day you're the one giving it. Life is not black and white. People should just relax a little and be a little less self-righteous in general.

Framboise18 · 25/08/2017 14:13

8mins late seriously ? Op how dare you be so late GrinHmm imagine if you asked to go to the loo... Would they get the stopwatch out ? You should email the owner and tell them to pay for the inconvenience caused to you travelling and having to rearrange appointments elsewhere. The fact that you even tried to bargain and still rejected your very reasonable offer is a piss take

carefreeeee · 25/08/2017 14:18

Whether or not it was unreasonable, you'd be mad to leave a bad review. If you do, please be honest so that others will know it was because you were late and not because of anything about the salon.

Having the attitude that you can be late and someone refusing to keep your appointment is such a bad response that you would leave a bad review rather than taking it on the chin, suggests a really bad attitude on your part

Chestervase1 · 25/08/2017 14:31

Ladywithlapdog someone with asthma is perfectly capable of being punctual. Obviously you have never had asthma if you think it so minor. Try not being able to breathe. Trust me not just the practice nurse would be involved.

kevstep · 25/08/2017 14:55

If more folk were late due to the accident/traffic hold up then the salon must be keen to lose money and have an early closing day because of all their imposed cancellations of appointments! If it was my business i would plough on regardless rather than risk losing money and clients' future business. Shooting themselves in the financial foot!

Sunbeam18 · 25/08/2017 14:58

I'd have phoned to let them know I was running late

IloveBanff · 25/08/2017 15:04

Sunbeam18 the OP has explained several times that she couldn't phone as she was driving and that trying to find somewhere she could park in order to phone would have delayed her much longer.

LadyWithLapdog · 25/08/2017 15:06

Chestervase - I wasn't thinking of someone in an asthma attack but for review. Same for diabetes, pill checks, hypertension etc.

purplecorkheart · 25/08/2017 15:28

I can see both sides of the argument. I think the fact that you were a new client went against you.

However I do.understand from the salon's point of view too. The salon I go to are super strict regarding time keeping. They are very busy and normally you have to book five to six weeks in advance so they run their appointments back to back. They actually use there strict time keeping as part of their advertising. You can be in and out for a wash cut and blowdry in your lunch hour.

WhatALoadOfOldBollocks · 25/08/2017 16:31

YANBU. They could've compromised, cut your hair dry or just damped it down with water spray, or only given it 1 shampoo rather than faffing about with the usual 2 plus a head massage, then rough dried it rather than styled it properly, and they wouldn't have run over time with the next client. They could still have charged you the same as if you'd had a wet cut and proper blow dry so not even out of pocket. So because of a lack of compromise they've lost a potential regular client worth maybe hundreds each year to them. Bit silly for 8 minutes I think. I hate lateness but if I'd turned away any of my late clients I would be considerably out of pocket.

Only children get dry cuts it's a horrible way to cut hair
Funny as the manager of the salon I used to go to prefered to cut mine dry even though she could've charged more for doing it wet. Suited me brilliantly as I absolutely hate the faffy "salon experience" like the over shampooing/massaging, the fussing and the awful "styling" afterwards. Just in and out as quick as possible is my preference. Now I have a mobile stylist who is in and out in 30 minutes and that's including the catch-up chat.

jade9390 · 25/08/2017 22:13

I cannot believe you people have children when all stories on here are worse than teenagers complaining

Beadieeye · 25/08/2017 22:37

The manager's explanation/apology was really unprofessional Shock

StrangeLookingParasite · 26/08/2017 00:00

I cannot believe you people have children when all stories on here are worse than teenagers complaining

Yet here you are...?

ShowMePotatoSalad · 26/08/2017 02:48

Dry cuts are not as polished and precise as wet cuts.

And I completely understand why she wouldn't want people leaving her salon with wet hair - it would look shit.

She may well have a policy of not keeping customers who arrive on time waiting. It's not fair on the next customer really is it? Especially if the hairdresser has to leave at a particular time for whatever reason.

BoffinMum · 26/08/2017 03:47

What disco said ... so all the 'hairdresser will have to work 40 minutes longer' crowd can go back in their boxes now, Hairdresser might have to work 8 minutes late at the end of the day occasionally, That is so normal it's not worth commenting on, it's called having a job.

Firefries · 26/08/2017 04:00

I had the same thing happen to me OP, about 20 years ago now. It was rude and unfortunate (and no mobile to phone ahead). Sometimes things happen and you are a little late. No biggie if you ask for something to fit around them, it should be ok. Some people are just like that. I've been to so many different appointments and waited and gone in late because that just happens. I'm ok when it happens because that's life. It's unfortunate but you probably got a strange hairdresser, or someone having a bad day.

BradleyPooper · 26/08/2017 04:22

You could have called to say you were running late.... Equally they could have called you to ask if you were on your way.

DiscoDiva70 · 26/08/2017 08:04

BradleyPooper

You're clearly another one who doesn't read the thread.

Tell us, just HOW could the OP have used her phone whilst driving?

Just how many more times will people mention the bloody phoning issue! ............. And breathe ...........

ForalltheSaints · 26/08/2017 08:09

Whilst thinking this is a business practice that will not just upset you, I wish it were the normal one. The OPs case seems to be one of the few that was not avoidable. Apart from Southern trains customers, most lateness I see is avoidable simply by recognising and allowing a reasonable amount of time for a journey.

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 26/08/2017 08:54

And I completely understand why she wouldn't want people leaving her salon with wet hair - it would look shit.

But then where does that leave those of us whose hair looks shit after a blow dry?

And should we have to pay for an add-on that's being done because the hairdresser wants it, when I'd much prefer to have a towel rub and let my hair do the rest itself?