Argument in nail bar

[ILikePaperHats]

Who is being unreasonable here?
Went to nail bar today looking forward to a pamper as I don't treat myself to such things very often. The guy that did my nails was really rough when filing one of my nails, and cut the side of my middle finger drawing blood. I let out a loud 'Ow!' cos it really hurt. Not being a baby, it really did hurt and is still throbbing now as I type this. The manager was just next to me doing someone else's nails and must have heard me but nothing was said. The guy who did my nails said sorry and carried on. My finger was really sore so I approached the manager and pointed out my finger had been cut. She was apologetic and asked me to wash my hands. Then I asked her if she would give me a discount. She gave me a look and said it was an accident and they don't do discounts. I said that's not v good customer service. She said it's only a small cut. She then very begrudgingly asked me how much discount I wanted. I said I thought 20% off was reasonable. She point-blank refused that, but ended up giving me 10% off which amounted to just £2.90 off the total. I left thinking there was very bad feeling all round and I didn't want to go back ever again. It's been preying on my mind all evening. I really don't think I was unreasonable.

Good lord. Who are all these people stoically paying full price to be injured? Don’t get me wrong, I’m British, I’d just quietly never go again, but like fuck I’d be worrying about ruining my relationship with a nail technician who sliced me!

This absolutely. You're getting a really hard time, OP. You shouldn't have been asked to pay at all. People who are saying they have a brilliant nail technician who has occasionally cut them do not have good nail technicians.

I used to go to a nail bar and lost count of how many times they hurt me by burning my nails or cutting the sides of them. I don't know why it took me so long to stop going.

My nail technician is excellent. She has rarely cut me, not occasionally. These things happen, she’s human.

I know a woman like you. She'd ask for a discount about the stupidest of things. No idea why, she's not skint and it's embarrassing.

I had this happen to me a few weeks back but with a toe nail, the lady was so rough and dug her nail in to the side of mine to get off excess paint, it was painful, after a few days my toe became red and swollen, she infected it, I just cleaned with salt water, won't be going back there again, didn't think to ask for any discount, and couldn't be bothered to argue

YABU. When I used to get my acrylics on pre-baby, my amazing nail tech accidentally cut me once. Like yours, it was a small cut. She apologised and I thought no more of it. It's an accident and my nails looked great, so why on earth would I start begging for a discount? Over an accident? Which could literally happen to anyone? Are you flawless at your job? Are you meaning to say you've never ever, made a small, totally accidental mistake?

Fair enough if your nails were overly filed down and they hurt, if the nails were crooked, if the paint job was shoddy so they looked shit, etc... but over a tiny cut? Really? And then you come on Mumsnet to complain about such a trivial matter?

You sound like the sort of people who go places and secretly hope things go slightly wrong so you can get some money off.

@gingersausage

I doubt very much that most would just take it without batting an eyelid. Rather I suspect they just like piling in to have a pop at OP.

Cheese I had this same situation two weeks ago. I laughed at my nail tech and said I wanted red shellac to cover the blood. She was embarrassed by it.

You say a "guy" was doing it which immediately puts this place into a certain type. You do get what you pay for .

@Argeles did you just see this or did you also hear it.
The amount of detail I feel you were in there

What an obnoxious comment @TheStuffedPenguin I’ve been to expensive nail bars and the “type” you think the OP is talking about. I’ve been cut at both types. It’s a honest mistake and it happens regardless of what type of establishment you go to. The OP has a mouth, if she thought he was being rough she should have asked him to be more gentle. Just because a place is cheap doesn’t always mean it’s bad 🙄

I’m not compensation culture, however harm arising from a service usually warrants an apology and a free service doesn’t it?

Drawing blood is a bit much.

Goodness me. Maybe pop the news on so you can get something else for your mind to think about.
Bad customer service but it is not reasonable to be still thinking about it hours later.

I think that, if you find the manicurist is as rough as this then they are either not very good at their job, doing something wrong, not trained or working to current industry standards or simply working too fast, all of which could be unsafe. A manicure should be, as you say, an enjoyable and relaxing experience. I'm not surprised you're upset, OP. Vote with your feet, do some research and find a better quality nail salon. It might cost a bit more but it'll be an altogether nicer experience. FWIW, for such a crummy experience, I think you did right to ask for some money back.

@Argeles
No I'm in South Yorkshire, but thanks for your compassion. (That's very unusual on Mumsnet especially AIBU!)
I agree with you and a PP that these accidents must happen a lot as the workers are working quickly under pressure to turnover as many customers as possible.

Jeez this would be hilarious if it wasn't so utterly tragic.

Your finger was accidentally cut in a nail bar. Boo boo. Tears.

But hey look on the bright side, you managed to pull through to type your post.

There's a big wide world out there. Plenty thing to take your mind elsewhere, should you wish. YABU.

Read this thread and now I feel like I am mad.

Cannot work out who is joking and who is serious.

Found myself proper laughing , only to find out these people were being serious.

I need grounding now.

“Thank you for your compassion” bloody hell OP you had a little nick at a nail bar, you didn’t lose a foot.

What did the police and paramedics say when they arrived?

Jeez I’ve had this happen loads over the years with well qualified people. It’s an accident, after having my nails done every 4 weeks for over 10 years, I gather you don’t have your nails done frequently? Build a bridge and get over it.

This thread explains why customer service is so ducking poor in this country!

@TheStuffedPenguin
@Ebonyandivory2
Yes it's one of 'those' nail bars. And it's certainly not cheap. £29 for infills, nearly £40 for full set. So you expect a decent service for that money.

That’s much more than I pay and I go to a proper salon!

I'm a nail tech and unfortunately it can happen - I always file the edges of my files to minimise risk of cuts. I'm glad to say it very very rarely happens - I've been doing nails about 5/6 yrs now and can honestly say it's only happened a handful of times (and if it does, I feel awful). It hurts so much because it's like a paper cut and in a sensitive area (I know because I catch myself when doing my own nails and am usually rushing)!
I don't think asking for a discount was a very reasonable thing to do, as he did apologise - BUT it would depend on the treatment you were given....was he being overly rough, rushing or continued being as rough after cutting you etc?
As others have said though, vote with your feet and don't go back as you were unhappy with the service and left in pain.
It will ease after a day or two, but make sure you put something like savlon or germolene on it - no plaster though, let the air get to it so it heals quicker.
Xxx

I'm missing the point but that's a bit gross, there's a cut on your finger and who knows where the tools have been! Poor practice imo.

@TheStuffedPenguin

You say a "guy" was doing it which immediately puts this place into a certain type. You do get what you pay for

Not at all! Some of the best, top professionals in the nail industry are men .