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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that beauticians & hairdressers shouldn’t be hiking prices?

140 replies

Anon778833 · 16/07/2020 11:22

I’m a therapist myself. But we have all felt the pinch of covid 19. Why should clients be expected to make up for the fact that we couldn’t work for 4 months?

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/07/2020 19:18

My mum had hers done this week (cut & colour) it’s gone from £105 to £140 and then they charged her an extra £35 for the PPE

Out of interest, what kind of PPE were they using? Mine has a reusable face visor, solution and wipes to clean all used surfaces and further solution to sterilise equipment

Even if they have fewer clients I wouldn't have thought that averaged out at £35 each, especially when they'd already put another £35 on the styling price

Original poster
Anon778833 · 17/07/2020 19:18

If I asked you to go to shop for me and I gave you £10 but the shopping came to £20 who takes the hit? It's not you is it!!

I don’t understand... are you saying a hair cut now costs double what it did before covid?

OP posts:
Original poster
Anon778833 · 17/07/2020 19:21

Even if they have fewer clients I wouldn't have thought that averaged out at £35 each, especially when they'd already put another £35 on the styling price

No it doesn’t, the reason they are charging this is to try and end up with the same profits as they would have had, had they not had to close due to Covid. Now, of course you can say well otherwise they might have to close. Which may be true in some cases. But you wouldn’t know would you?

OP posts:
islockdownoveryet · 17/07/2020 19:23

An extra £35 for ppe!!! Taking the piss.
Mine hadn't gone up .

ihatelockdown · 17/07/2020 19:31

You don't understand? No I'm not saying it's double. It's an example! But if you don't understand I'm not going to explain it to you 🙄

Original poster
Anon778833 · 17/07/2020 19:34

@ihatelockdown

Well it seems that your argument is, They are charging more because it costs more.

But I don’t think that’s correct actually because some people are charging more to cover the genuinely extra costs and others are asking for much more than that.

OP posts:
ihatelockdown · 17/07/2020 19:37

Omg you clearly don't understand 🤦🏼‍♀️. I really hope you don't ever have your own business as you clearly won't do very well!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/07/2020 19:42

some people are charging more to cover the genuinely extra costs and others are asking for much more than that

That seems to be the crux of it, doesn't it, and TBF in an open market salons can charge whatever they feel they're worth

However the perhaps inconvenient truth is that "what it's worth" is something the clients get to decide, and if salons charge too much and clients vote with their feet they'll probably end up closing anyway

NYMM · 17/07/2020 19:44

I can't wait to see my stylist, she is a wizard with a pair of scissors. Her price has increased from £60 to £62 for a cut and blow dry.

Kazzyhoward · 17/07/2020 19:45

Would you rather they put their prices up or not exist, as that will be the harsh reality for some businesses?

This is the reality. They don't just have to be profitable now and the future, they need money to start paying down the debts they'll have taken on just to survive over the last 3 months when they had costs but no income. There are 3 million small businesses who have received no support, many of whom are beauticians/hairdressers who were sub letting premises/chair renting etc.

Original poster
Anon778833 · 17/07/2020 19:46

@ihatelockdown

Yep, that’s one of the reasons I couldn’t run a business. I’d feel terrible about putting prices up.

OP posts:
ihatelockdown · 17/07/2020 19:48

How do you think businesses work?
I'm out, can't argue with stupid

Pumperthepumper · 17/07/2020 19:52

@Puzzledandpissedoff

some people are charging more to cover the genuinely extra costs and others are asking for much more than that

That seems to be the crux of it, doesn't it, and TBF in an open market salons can charge whatever they feel they're worth

However the perhaps inconvenient truth is that "what it's worth" is something the clients get to decide, and if salons charge too much and clients vote with their feet they'll probably end up closing anyway

How likely is that though? I’ve been to countless hairdressers over the years and found exactly one who can cut my hair the way I like it. It’s a bespoke service - and I suspect the people complaining are the same ones who complain about say, vet prices or mechanics. If you can do it yourself then how lucky are you? If you can find someone else cheaper for the same quality then go there. If not, pay for the service you want.

Absolutely nobody is holding a gun to your head to make you pay for something you don’t want to pay for.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/07/2020 19:53

Would you rather they put their prices up or not exist

I guess that would depend how much they put them up. IME the salons going for the most are the very ones who tried to charge £5 for a dab of conditioner or £8 for a word salad "mask" even pre Covid, and I now avoid them like the plague anyway

Original poster
Anon778833 · 17/07/2020 20:04

@ihatelockdown you’re being unnecessarily nasty.

As others have said it’s about how much is reasonable.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 17/07/2020 20:06

i dont begrudge it at this time. Probably stops them going under

Original poster
Anon778833 · 17/07/2020 20:07

Although all of these businesses will have had rent to pay, remember that most were eligible for the grant offered by the government (£12k, wasn’t it?)

OP posts:
Pumperthepumper · 17/07/2020 20:08

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Would you rather they put their prices up or not exist

I guess that would depend how much they put them up. IME the salons going for the most are the very ones who tried to charge £5 for a dab of conditioner or £8 for a word salad "mask" even pre Covid, and I now avoid them like the plague anyway

No loss to you then! How much do you pay your hairdresser?
Pumperthepumper · 17/07/2020 20:10

[quote SugarbabyMilly]@ihatelockdown you’re being unnecessarily nasty.

As others have said it’s about how much is reasonable.[/quote]
YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY IT! Nobody is forcing you to! Find a new hairdresser!*

*unless you consider your hairdresser the very best person to cut your hair, in which case, pay them to do the job you want done.

Original poster
Anon778833 · 17/07/2020 20:13

I don’t have to pay it, and you don’t have to shout.

I’ve already said I accept that some sort of increase is reasonable, although my own therapists haven’t increased their prices. But maybe some people have been hit by this harder than others. My dp has run several shops. And he says he’s surprised that more places didn’t simply close down.

OP posts:
Pumperthepumper · 17/07/2020 20:16

@SugarbabyMilly

I don’t have to pay it, and you don’t have to shout.

I’ve already said I accept that some sort of increase is reasonable, although my own therapists haven’t increased their prices. But maybe some people have been hit by this harder than others. My dp has run several shops. And he says he’s surprised that more places didn’t simply close down.

Does your husband also think closing a business is better than increasing the prices of your product? Or he is actually competent at running a business?
Original poster
Anon778833 · 17/07/2020 20:17

Fgs read the thread properly

OP posts:
yeOldeTrout · 17/07/2020 20:23

imho, should hike their prices as high as the market will bear. Capitalism plus it's not a true essential service.

Pumperthepumper · 17/07/2020 20:26

[quote SugarbabyMilly]@ihatelockdown

Yep, that’s one of the reasons I couldn’t run a business. I’d feel terrible about putting prices up.[/quote]
Read the thread properly

Sure.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/07/2020 22:45

that’s one of the reasons I couldn’t run a business. I’d feel terrible about putting prices up

It honestly doesn't have to be difficult, Sugarbaby; there are many challenges to running a business but IME this isn't one of them as long as you have a good business model, a decent reputation and remember the value of clarity and communication

Oh, and as long as you're reasonable of course Wink