To think hairdresser is taking advantage of Covid?

[wildraisins]

I contacted my hairdresser a couple of days ago to book an appointment for a cut and toner.

This would be £73 in normal times but they want to charge me £85 as they have put a £6 "Covid Charge" on EVERY service. This means I need to pay an extra £6 for the cut and an extra £6 for the toner.

An extra £12 just seems a lot to me - I don't mind a small charge but this is about a sixth of my appointment cost! - am I being unreasonable? Would you complain? I really like this hairdresser btw and they always do a good job so I don't want to sour the relationship!

Charging twice is inappropriate.

One charge per visit is reasonable.

I think you’re being unreasonable. Not only will they have to pay for PPE/cleaning supplies, they may have had to put in screens etc. And may be having to leave more time between appointments for cleaning, so are able to have fewer appointments per day, especially if they’ve had to “lose” chairs for social distancing/greater spacing. If a salon used to have 5 chairs with 6 appointments per day each that would be 30 appointments per day, if due to SD, they’ve now went down to 20 appointments per day for example, I think it’s only reasonable to expect to pay a premium.

My hairdresser said they are much less busy now as 1) nobody is having blow dries for events 2) more people started getting into a habit of home colouring 3) people are leaving longer times between appointments as nobody is noticing roots etc as easily on Zoom 4) people want to visit less for safety reasons so if they can stretch it out another week or two they are doing. So, it’s incredibly unlikely you are paying for £12 of ‘COVID equipment’ and very likely that you are subsidising the shortfall from other people not going.

Thanks - I do understand all that - I just think it seems to be more than other places are charging

The toner itself actually costs £24 so a £6 premium on that is a quarter of the price! It seems a lot?

I know hairdressers etc have been hit hard by COVID but this is taking the piss out of their customers. Totally unnecessary and it would put me right off that particular salon.

In this situation if you don't like it find somewhere cheaper. Mine has from £51 to £60 for a cut and finish.

@lurker101 I agree with you for the reasons you list - EXCEPT I think it should be one covid charge per visit. Knowing how much toner costs and the little amount of time it adds to a salon visit, adding an additional £6 is taking the piss.

Op. In this instance, I wouldn’t leave a tip or a greatly reduced tip. Bear in mind, they would’ve already had the 80% furlough from the government and may well have had business rates furlough too.

I’m all for supporting local business through this and have been happy to pay an extra charge to my hairdresser - and have done so as well as for other treatments during this pandemic such as for physio, pedicures/manicure, dentist and hygienist but I have been charged per visit not per treatment so am stating my opinion from experience.

@lurker101 You completely missed the OP's point.

wild, I wouldn't say that they're taking advantage, more that they've not thought it through. It might be reasonable to charge a higher covid fee for someone having both a cut and a colour, as you're there for longer and it involves more resources, but the fee for the toner is just silly. Mention it if you feel comfortable to, it might be an oversight and they'll be grateful you've pointed it out. If they're not receptive, then I change my view and they are taking advantage.

I use an excellent social enterprise salon, so choose what I pay, no covid surcharges - but I did contribute to their crowdfunding in lockdown, and have increased what I pay.
I know moving can be hard when you've found a hairdresser that you like, but if you sit there with gritted teeth thinking that you're being ripped off (I think you are!), and will probably not enjoy your recently styled hair as much because of it, probably time to find a new hairdresser.

YABU. The charges will be necessary for all the reasons stated above.

If other places are charging less you are free to go there instead.

To be honest before the OP’s update I didn’t know the price of toner, but I do still think it’s fair to charge per service,I.e. if I was at the beautician I wouldn’t mind an additional fee for both brows and upper lip. But I guess those are separate treatments whereas a toner could potentially be classed as an “add-on” but if it does take additional time, I think they’re justified in their additional cost, and would pay it.