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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:
NellieBuff · 23/08/2017 07:30

You were late - they chose not to take you. Hardly a hanging offence by either party. You won't go back - they probably don't want you back so no harm done.

kath6144 · 23/08/2017 07:31

Op - a look at it from a different perspective.

My last hair appt in early July was made for late afternoon, having done my last day at work before a 3 week long haul holiday. I was kept waiting for over 30mins, it turns out because the previous lady was late.

The hairdresser was v apologetic, but I had loads to do that evening, as you can imagine (4 of us going US, taxi coming at 8am).

Had I not have been desperate for a cut and blow for holiday, I would have walked out. Ironically It was probably the best cut she has ever done (moved there a year ago, my previous hairdresser of 15+ yrs sold her business and I didn't like the new owner).

I will go back, as I like the hairdresser and that last cut was great, but I will probably aim for an early appointment, so as not to suffer the knock on effects of late arrivals if I go late afternoon.

60sname · 23/08/2017 07:36

Yes, I am close to leaving a good hairdresser because they have kept me waiting 20 mins to half an hour on the three occasions I've been there.

I suspect they book appointments very tightly so there's no wiggle room in case of delays.

diddl · 23/08/2017 07:50

Was she really as rude in her responses as your post suggests, Op?

She was probably annoyed that you hadn't phoned in advance so that she could tell you not to bother.

That said, it doesn't excuse rudeness & it's odd that she didn't try to offer another appointment.

No dry cuts, not wet cuts, must be blow dried-no wonder I don't go to a hair dresser!

Summerisdone · 23/08/2017 07:52

YANBU you were less than 10 minutes late, not a huge deal.

If they are booking in customers on such a tight schedule then they need to rethink their business model, because it means that as soon as they run over on time with an appointment then they're going to screw themselves up by not having enough time for the next customer, or end up rushing to finish someone's hair which would also be very bad.

Tbh I don't think I've ever been to a hairdressers and had my hair started at the exact time arranged, unless I was the first customer of the day. Usually I'm waiting for at least 5-10 minutes, and that's in many different salons.

TickedOff · 23/08/2017 07:58

I've never been late for a hairdresser apt but I've been kept waiting multiple times.

Doesn't bother me, my hairdresser is lovely, I get given drinks, biscuits and chocs while I'm waiting. It's never too long, maybe 10-15 mins max.

I think if you were really only 8 mins late she was being very harsh.

Neutrogena · 23/08/2017 08:00

OP - you were late. You caused this issue.
You may think they are being inflexible, but the fact is you were late and their response is because you were late.
Blame yourself.

RockyTop · 23/08/2017 08:03

I think YABU, you were late, likely one of the last appointments, and for whatever reason they felt they couldn't reasonably fit you in.

It wasn't necessarily your fault that you were late, but shit happens and sometimes that has consequences. In the same way that if you'd been heading for a train or something you'd have missed it.

Hairdressers always cut my hair again once it's dry. I have very thick, wavy hair that doesn't fall as you'd expect. It takes new hairdressers by surprise usually but the dry finishing is certainly needed in my case.

Pigface1 · 23/08/2017 08:08

You were late. BUT I have some sympathy on the wet cut issue. Years ago hairdressers used to offer wet cuts and dry trims for less than the price of a full cut and blow. Dry trims in particular were great if you had long hair, which I always had. Now it's a cut and blow dry for £60 or nothing. So I end up going much less frequently.

And I don't believe all this 'we need to do a cut and blow dry to see the finished cut'... bollocks, you manage to cut men's hair without the full cut and blow. It's just women who get charged an extortionate amount for a cut and blow dry!

PowerPantsRule · 23/08/2017 08:08

I would be REALLY pissed off with the salon. OK, you were late, but the fact that they would not give you a wet cut is just ridiculous.

ZenNudist · 23/08/2017 08:12

YANBU. Were you really 8 minutes late or was it 10? I have had appointments cancelled for being 10 minutes late, although in that case the hairdresser used to squeeze in her friends. Im betting she ditched you for lame reason to fit in another client she liked more. Either that or she CBA.

Definitely complain, and if you want leave a review, but be honest about the quality of the salon.

If i read a review that said "this place has cut my hair well for 7 years but the stylist i use has left and i am annoyed at one off crappy customer service." It wouldnt change my decision to go there.

PandorasXbox · 23/08/2017 08:14

8 mins late? I've been kept waiting ONE hour by my hairdresser because the previous client was so late. I just sat drinking coffee and people watching. Fine for me as I had nowhere to rush to but can imagine it very frustrating if someone had.

Oncewaswho · 23/08/2017 08:17

I've never encountered a refusal to do wet cuts. I never blowdry my hair, so I certainly don't want to pay someone else to do it, as for it being the only way to tell if the cut is right or not, well no, I can tell perfectly well when it's still slightly damp and so can my stylist.

Brittbugs80 · 23/08/2017 08:18

How would you even post a review that doesn't make it obvious the reason your appointment was cancelled was because of you?

My hairdressers cancels appointments if you are late. I've had it happen once. I phoned them but because of appointments, I couldn't be fitted in.

When they book, they don't just do you for 45 minutes, you are a new client so I'm guessing 15 minutes to get you in, hang your coat, gown you up, chat about what you want then wash you then cut. You've taken 7 of those minutes already. What you may not be aware of is that those 45 minutes are in-between someone else's appointment who may have just finished having a colour on which stays on for 40 mins then it needs to come off and then cut straight after you. You being late then has s knock on effect to everyone else after you.

And that's why hairdressers sometimes run late because someone rocked up 5 mins late.

JacquesHammer · 23/08/2017 08:22

You're cutting hair for local people who are paying for a bit of niceness and understanding

Ah the perpetual late brigade. I'm a "local person". I am paying for my hair to be done at the time it is booked, not later than that because people can't keep time.

My hairdresser is now very strict. It's brilliant and she's thriving

llhj · 23/08/2017 08:25

Leebee11

you wouldn't offer someone a second appointment who's 8 minutes late for a first. Hmm

What a total idiot you sound. You're a hairdresser love, same gig as the rest of us, paying bills and doing the best we can. You're not saving lives, you're not doing back to back cataract ops in remote Sudan.

Liiinoo · 23/08/2017 08:25

I can see why you are annoyed but I would rather they declined to cut it than rushed it and did a crap job.

Sparkletastic · 23/08/2017 08:26

Going to see my hairdresser is a joy and a pleasure. Sometimes she's running a bit late, other times I've had to spend precious minutes driving round town trying to find a parking space. Since neither of us have sticks up our arses this is not a problem. Sounds like the new place is much more the ticket OP.

Frazzled2207 · 23/08/2017 08:26

Can see both sides of the argument here.
It's a different scenario but my (regular) hairdresser often keeps me waiting a bit and although I've never done it if I was a bit late I would expect her to sort something out eg get a junior to dry it.
It's different if you and the hairdresser don't know each other and she wasn't entirely unreasonable though 8 minutes isn't much. It may have been that her 5pm was her last client and she had somewhere to rush off to afterwards.

I probably wouldn't go back but I wouldn't leave a horrid review either.

SandyDenny · 23/08/2017 08:28

Are the I'm never late perfect brigade lucky enough to live within walking distance of ever service they ever need or do they live somewhere where no roads never need to be fixed with no notice and no one ever has an accident?

I'm calling BS on someone with a job and children who says they've never been late for anything

Pleasefindmyreallife · 23/08/2017 08:28

I agree with the people that say you don't need a blow dry. She was just being arsey. Probably looking for a chance for a break.
I would leave a review so people know not to turn up late. As everyone has said plenty of places let you turn up a little bit late.

heartstornastray · 23/08/2017 08:39

,There's been loads of times when i've been kept waiting at the hairdressers because they were running late because of previous clients. I just thinks it's the norm, why should it be acceptable for them but not the other way round.

ArcheryAnnie · 23/08/2017 08:45

It's totally understandable that you were late, but it's also totally understandable that they cancelled. I have been going to the same hairdresser for 20 years, and if I am going to be so much as a minute late I always call ahead and warn him. He's got a business to run and other clients to see, and it's only fair.

I don't think you were a good fit for each other, and it's probably just as well you both find about it now, at this stage.

BanyanTree · 23/08/2017 08:48

I understand. A few weeks ago I called up a restaurant and asked if they had a table. They said yes and I said we'd drive straight over. This restaurant is in the countryside so everyone has to drive there. We arrived 10 mins after the call and they told me we arrived too late.

I will never go there again!

BakedBeans47 · 23/08/2017 08:49

I think for the sake of less than 10 mins it's pretty shoddy, although OP you maybe should have rang to let them know.

What do they do if someone's hair takes 8 minutes longer than anticipated? Chuck them out into the street with their hair half done? Grin I find it hard to believe there's no wriggle room.