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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

10 minutes late for hairdressers...

103 replies

Loveshinealight332 · 04/05/2018 12:09

I had an appointment booked for 10 and I didn’t arrive till 10.10.
I rang at 10.05 to say I would be there at 10.05.
She had a massive attitude saying well you know you should be here on time etc we are fully booked
Surely 10 mins wouldn’t harm anyone?

OP posts:
EleanorHooverbelt · 04/05/2018 13:07

What outcome are you looking for from this, OP?

You will get some people agreeing with you here, but I doubt the hairdresser will ever see it your way.

RideOn · 04/05/2018 13:10

It doesn't harm anyone no, but it makes the hairdresser late, who will finish late and all appointments after yours late.

I would have offered not to have hair blow dried, but accepted if they still said they can't take me despite this.

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 04/05/2018 13:14

If you couldn't help being late, then they should accept that. I can see why it would be annoying for them but if they want to keep their customers and keep their business running maybe they should lose the rudeness.
There are other hairdressers after all and easy for you to take your custom elsewhere.

Original poster
Loveshinealight332 · 04/05/2018 13:17

I did leave earlier but didn’t see myself sat on slip road for 30 mins to get on the motorway !!

OP posts:
PotTheRed · 04/05/2018 13:27

That's a nuisance that you got held up. What were you having done? If I'd arrived late I'd apologise and offer to have a rough dry rather than a blow dry... but that only works if you are having a blow dry.

roseblossom75 · 04/05/2018 13:32

It's just one of those things.
You obviously weren't late on purpose. Things happen that are beyond our control.
Even with the best of intentions to arrive on time and setting off early no-one can control the traffic or anticipate any unexpected delays.
Even the most punctual and reliable people are late occasionally.
Yes it's frustrating for the hairdresser but things happen.
I'm sure you're not the first person to arrive 10 minutes late.
We all have bad days.
Snapping doesn't help the situation. Just adds to it.

Smeddum · 04/05/2018 13:35

I'm sure you're not the first person to arrive 10 minutes late

I’m sure she wasn’t, probably why the person on the phone wasn’t full of goodwill!

adaline · 04/05/2018 13:35

It’s a hair cut, not open heart surgery. Do your best to be on time, but if they can’t cope with lateness, they’re in the wrong job.

What, so they should work late (or have to cancel their final clients) because people don't turn up on time?

What if they have childcare they need to get to, or what if the salon itself shuts at 6pm? Are they expected to just work late (for free, and to incur additional childcare costs), or cancel a later client to accommodate someone's lateness?

PoisonousSmurf · 04/05/2018 13:36

Don't most hairdressers have two or three clients on the go at the same time? Mine always seems to be cutting or colouring others whilst I'm waiting for colour to set.

howabout · 04/05/2018 13:36

Amazed at all the comments suggesting the possibility of making the time up. Shock
It is usually the junior who does the washing not the stylist. They usually also offer me a cup of tea while I am waiting staring at myself in the mirror with my less than flattering wet locks. This means that there is always wiggle room. They hardly ever take me on time (ditto the dentist) so wouldn't notice 10 minutes.
In my innocent youth I did phone ahead to say I may be running 10 minutes late and was met by the frosty receptionist explaining the impossibilty of the salon accommodating this. I took my business elsewhere.

Bettiedraper · 04/05/2018 13:37

I work in a dental practice and if a pt comes in 10 mins late we run 10 mins late then the next patient is waiting 10 mins huffing and puffing thinking its our fault.

So you know exactly how long each appointment is going to take before the patients even come in?
Dubious.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 04/05/2018 13:43

I did leave earlier but didn’t see myself sat on slip road for 30 mins to get on the motorway !!

OK, so it's not your fault. Thing is, it's not the salon's fault, or the fault of subsequent customers. The stylist could perhaps have been more professional but as other posters have said upthread, where were they supposed to 'make up' the time? Your appointment? Someone else's appointment? Staff breaks?

Smeddum · 04/05/2018 13:46

In my innocent youth I did phone ahead to say I may be running 10 minutes late and was met by the frosty receptionist explaining the impossibilty of the salon accommodating this. I took my business elsewhere

Statements like this always seem sniffy and as if the staff would be upset somehow. They’re probably relieved!

CaptainCabinets · 04/05/2018 13:48

You were late for your appointment and you’re annoyed that she was annoyed? Hmm

My hairdresser often runs behind for reasons I’m sure are out of his control but I don’t mind because he’s a fantastic hairdresser and I’m happy to wait for him.

If, however, I was late to my appointment and hadn’t let him know in advance, I’d offer to compromise by skipping a blow dry, for example, or just accept that he can no longer fit me in and that this is entirely my fault!

As for sitting in traffic for 30 mins, why didn’t you include that in your OP? And if it’s true, have you heard of ‘traffic updates’? The Google Maps app runs in real time and takes into account live traffic conditions and is readily installed on most smartphones. No excuse.

adaline · 04/05/2018 13:50

If you were sat on a slip-road for 30 minutes, could you not switch off your engine and make a quick phone call to let them know?

MrsRonBurgundy · 04/05/2018 13:50

If she’s back to back it’ll throw her day off so that’s why she’s frustrated.
When I’ve been unavoidably late for an appt before I just asked my stylist to blast my hair dry after my colour instead of my usual lovely blow dry so she could make some time back which she was fine with. I have a good relationship with her though, I don’t want to annoy a good colourist as she squeezes me in whenever she can when I’m last minute looking for an appt. Could you have done something similar?

MadisonAvenue · 04/05/2018 13:51

TheStoic How does that work then? The next client might not be in for another hour, maybe more depending on what the OP is booked in for.

FluffyWhiteTowels · 04/05/2018 13:58

Shit happens aka traffic. But why should others suffer ? Agree it's annoying for you but don't pass that on.

Your panic shouldn't be someone else's problem. You're not entitled or above anyone. Otherwise book salon for 2 hours more than you need

gillybeanz · 04/05/2018 14:04

If you were late it was on purpose.
Things can happen to delay you, so you factor in a contingency.
You failed to do this, not the end of the world, but if you don't take responsibility then you won't learn a vital lesson.
I wouldn't want time taken off my appointment because you weren't there on time.
YABU because you don't get it, seem like you refuse to take responsibility, YANBU for being late, it's the attitude.

MaMisled · 04/05/2018 14:04

This happened to me recently. My watch had stopped and I was 7 mins late. They refused to do my hair and made me feel like a fool and I told them so. I won't go back.

PotTheRed · 04/05/2018 14:04

If you were sat on a slip-road for 30 minutes, could you not switch off your engine and make a quick phone call to let them know?

That would still leave the OP liable to points and or a fine. You have to be ‘safely parked’

chocorabbit · 04/05/2018 14:15

Couldn't she have served another customer and done you later?

TheStoic · 04/05/2018 14:18

Statements like this always seem sniffy and as if the staff would be upset somehow. They’re probably relieved!

If you’re relieved at losing customers, running a business is also probably not for you.

TheWernethWife · 04/05/2018 14:26

I've been with my hairdresser for nearly 10 years and it is her salon. I totally missed an appointment and rang her in a panic saying I was in Manchester and couldn't get back for a couple of hours. She was brilliant about it and said not to worry, I took her a bottle of vodka and some M & S biscuits as a peace offering.

Smeddum · 04/05/2018 14:43

If you’re relieved at losing customers, running a business is also probably not for you

Funny you should say that because I thought that losing customers who can’t get their shit together and then expect you to dance to their tune doesn’t sound much fun.

Reading threads on here makes me even more in awe of anyone who manages to work in a customer facing role without battering some customers!