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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who is BU here? Client or Hairdresser

126 replies

NowWhatUsernameShallIHave · 01/12/2020 18:39

Hairdresser works in husbands salon but also is a mobile hairdresser one and a half days a week. Mobile appointment was arranged for 3rd December back in October.
Due to the current situation hairdresser has messaged client on 1st of December to say that she cannot make the appointment anymore as she will now have to work in the salon. She has given an alternative date the next week.

Client has sent hairdresser a message to say this is unacceptable and that the alternative appointment which is in the middle of the day she cannot make and that the hairdresser should’ve given her more notice.

Hairdresser says that the business is her priority.

Client says she cannot make alternative date at all.

Hairdresser says she has no availability at all now before Christmas

If the Hairdresser is be unreasonable please vote YABU

If client is bU please vote YANBU

OP posts:
Nottherealslimshady · 01/12/2020 20:00

Hairdresser should honour existing bookings.

Thecobwebsarewinning · 01/12/2020 20:02

The hairdresser is being U. Prebooked clients should be given priority. The hairdresser has probably lost that client for good.

OTOH the hairdresser knows that letting someone down like this means losing them permanently. Perhaps this is a client they are happy to let go?

Alethiometrical · 01/12/2020 20:08

Why didn't the hairderesser speak to the client, to find a mutually convenient time/day? I'd be annoyed if my hairdresser was this inflexible - I'd spend my £100 elsewhere

Standrewsschool · 01/12/2020 20:09

Why couldn’t the client have her hair cut in the salon at the appointed time?

I think it’s one of those situations when neither was in the wrong. The hairdresser cancelled - these things happen, and tried to re-arrange the appointment. The client couldn’t make the new time. It’s unfortunate, but nothing more.

MadameButterface · 01/12/2020 20:10

I am prioritising all my existing bookings. I think the hairdresser in this case should have too. OTOH it's been a really bad year for the business, the salon has just had a whole month with zero income but the same outgoings in terms of rent and bills. If it were me I would have phoned the client and asked if we could come up with a suitable work around together. Most people will work with you if you ask nicely and it's for a good reason. However you do get the odd person who is so furious at being rescheduled that nothing you suggest is good enough. My boss once tried to rearrange a client because her (boss's) dh was having surgery to remove a tumour and she wanted to be there when he came round from the anaesthetic, and the client refused.

Eaumyword · 01/12/2020 20:10

Interesting one. I'd expect the hairdresser having let me down to try and find a workable solution.
One would be to honour the original time in the salon at the mobile price.
Another would be to offer to do the mobile session at a time to suit the client (maybe late evening or weekend.)
If the hairdresser values their client, they should do what they can to retain their business and ensure good word of mouth reputation.
I love my hairdresser and look after him with tips, gifts and interest in his life. He rewards me with fab service and always looks after me with appointment convenience etc. It's a mutual working relationship I think.

AliceMck · 01/12/2020 20:12

My hairdresser is part time and goes above and beyond when rearranging appointments. After the last lockdown her and the rest of the team all worked round the clock to catch up on clients who has missed out and are doing the same again.

Maskedcrusader · 01/12/2020 20:19

The stylish should honor pre booked apts. If not she's mobile so I'm sure she could find an after hours time that suits the customer. I book my hair in advance because with work & kids and a sick relative I really need the stars to align to fit my hair in and if it gets changed if cancelled last min that leaves me screwed. I'd be pissed off at this situation and consider finding a new stylist.

TableFlowerss · 01/12/2020 20:22

Why couldn’t she tell the client earlier?

MatildaonaWaltzer · 01/12/2020 20:26

what @TableFlowerss said - two days' notice to rearrange an appointment booked a month ago is very poor. Hairdresser should be making substnatial efforts to accomodate a suitable appointment for client. Client should acknowledge that hairdresser's business has been f*cked all year and hairdresser quite understandably needs to prioritse a full day's work over one appointment in the middle of the day.

NataliaOsipova · 01/12/2020 20:26

Stuff happens - and people have to cancel or rearrange. Hairdresser hadn’t given a lot of notice, but it’s not the end of the world. She should, however, have gone above and beyond to find a solution that worked for the client (eg an evening/early morning) as recompense.

StatisticalSense · 01/12/2020 20:29

YABVU
If your husbands employee already had other clients booked on that date she isn't available to work in the salon and shouldn't have been expected to do so.

StatisticalSense · 01/12/2020 20:32

Those of you supporting the hairdresser are clearly missing that it appears that the OPs husband is the hairdressers salon boss who appears to be basically forcing his employees to prioritise their work with him over pre existing commitments. If the OP and her husband would like more hours from the hairdresser they need to find a mutually convenient time that doesn't impact on her external clients.

nocoolnamesleft · 01/12/2020 20:34

How could the client possibly be the unreasonable one? They've done nothing wrong!

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 01/12/2020 20:36

@StatisticalSense

Those of you supporting the hairdresser are clearly missing that it appears that the OPs husband is the hairdressers salon boss who appears to be basically forcing his employees to prioritise their work with him over pre existing commitments. If the OP and her husband would like more hours from the hairdresser they need to find a mutually convenient time that doesn't impact on her external clients.
I read it as hairdresser works in hairdresser’s husbands salon not the OPs husbands place
Disfordarkchocolate · 01/12/2020 20:36

The hairdresser is being unreasonable. They had a booking and should honour it.

amusedbush · 01/12/2020 20:39

@StatisticalSense

Those of you supporting the hairdresser are clearly missing that it appears that the OPs husband is the hairdressers salon boss who appears to be basically forcing his employees to prioritise their work with him over pre existing commitments. If the OP and her husband would like more hours from the hairdresser they need to find a mutually convenient time that doesn't impact on her external clients.
I didn't read it that way, I thought the OP was saying that the hairdresser works in a salon owned by her (the hairdresser's) husband.
LouiseTrees · 01/12/2020 20:41

@Livinginatree

I think both are unreasonable in a way. The hairdresser definitely for moving the appointment so late when they have know for four weeks when lockdown would end and if they have only offered one alternative appointment. The client is also unreasonable if other appointments have been offered, not just one, and refused to show flexibility if they are able to do so. If they are working an evening appointment may need to be offered or one at the salon on the day in question for the same price as a home one and providing they aren't being told to isolate.
Absolutely this!
bellie710 · 01/12/2020 20:56

Depends, do you mean the hairdresser can't make the appointment because she is no longer allowed to go to peoples houses due to covid rules and is only allowed to work in a salon?

If it's this the client is definitely being unreasonable, if it is just because she has put commitments in the salon above her mobile clients then the hairdresser is in the wrong.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 01/12/2020 20:56

I think the hairdresser is being unreasonable.

My hairdresser went home with a migraine on the day my last appointment was booked in. Reception tried to find me a suitable alternative appointment that worked with my work, couldn’t, and eventually booked me in late on the Saturday, with my hairdresser staying a bit later than he usually would. I love my hairdresser, and really appreciate him being so accommodating. He probably loves me a bit because I go every five weeks.

I think good hairdressers are very, very valuable, but I also think bread and butter regulars are the same.

Lollypopsun · 01/12/2020 21:03

It's a crappy thing to do cancelling the appointment. On the other hand is probably safer for the hairdresser to be in the salon where distancing/cleaning etc can be followed.

ohwhatamiserableyear · 01/12/2020 21:04

hairdresser is being unreasonable; she's had 4 weeks to figure this out.

Client may have been offered various times, but only on a particular day that didn't work by the sounds of it.

Disfordarkchocolate · 01/12/2020 21:06

I think your husbands being a very poor boss. The hairdresser is only employed part time, he can't just force her to miss out on income she earns on the other days.

So, your husband is the unreasonable one.

TiptopJ · 01/12/2020 21:10

The hairdresser should have at least honoured the same time and date but in the salon if she is really needed there.

JinglingHellsBells · 01/12/2020 21:13

I read this as the OP is the wife of the man owning the salon.

The hairdresser ought not to mix employment and freelance if she is letting down her private clients.