To not have unlocked the door for her?

[thiswaytothemoon]

I had a facial booked and the clinic is always very quiet on a Sunday and only one member of staff there.

The member of staff was downstairs with another client and I was alone upstairs and the entrance was locked. When another woman started knocking on the door to be let in.

I felt very awkward because the door was obviously locked for a security reason and it’s not my business I’m risking by opening it so it shouldn’t be my decision.

I did eventually open the door and the woman was clearly annoyed I’d made her wait.

No you shouldn't have opened it at all, unless you knew who the person knocking was. You're a customer not a member not staff, the door was locked for a reason.

Woman might have been annoyed she couldn't get in ie there was no member of staff there to let her in rather than annoyed at you for not letting her in.

I would have waited a minute for staff to answer the door, if they didn't I would probably let them in myself same as you. Yanbu to not do it straight away. Perhaps covid rules mean less people allowed to wait anyway.

YABU for opening the door at all.

You shouldn't have opened the door. It was locked for a reason - the one member of staff was elsewhere. You didn't know why this other woman wanted to come in, it wasn't your decision to make.

I don't think its a big deal tbh

Agree with others that it's not your place to open it at all but I'm sure nothing bad happened or you would have told us :)

I’ve been to the clinic a few times now and it’s always been locked so I just call the woman’s mobile and she lets me in.

Think it’s a bit odd to do it that way but it’s not my business so whatever.

But yeah it just felt awkward as she was knocking and looking at me like why wasn’t I letting her in. But in my head she genuinely could have been anyone and someone else could have come in with her.

Just felt I was overthinking it and could be in that same position again when I go for my next appointment.

I wonder why they keep it locked...is there a lot of pricey stock around? Seems a funny thing to do and almost not worth opening on a Sunday if they can't staff it properly.

I'd have done the same as you I think. Hesitated and then opened it.

My hairdresser doesn't always have a receptionist there when I go in and they don't lock the door, but I suppose there are other people in the same room usually. I'm sure I've been to salons and just had to let myself in and take a seat. Doesn't seem like a high security type business.

Anyway, I don't think it's a big deal.

Just felt I was overthinking it and could be in that same position again when I go for my next appointment.

Just ask the staff member what she wants you to do if someone knocks again. And if she says not to unlock it and someone comes, just go to the door and tell them you are a customer and the staff member has told you to not let anyone in and the staff member should be up shortly to unlock.

I wouldn’t have opened it. She needs to work out that she needs to call the mobile number, like you did.

What did the owner of the business say? I’d have expected her to be a bit annoyed! If the procedure is clients wait outside to be admitted then the woman knocking needed to wait.

@PricklesAndSpikes

Just felt I was overthinking it and could be in that same position again when I go for my next appointment.

Just ask the staff member what she wants you to do if someone knocks again. And if she says not to unlock it and someone comes, just go to the door and tell them you are a customer and the staff member has told you to not let anyone in and the staff member should be up shortly to unlock.

Why should she?! OP doesn’t work there, it’s not her door. There’s a lot of ‘justs’ in your posts for a paying customer.

At the moment procedures are different with Covid - my hairdresser is wait outside, and it’s clearly signposted. The business needs to make it clear on the door.

Why was she annoyed at you? Why was it YOUR responsibility to open the door? Am I missing something?

I am waiting for the #BEKIND bollux to rear its hideous head. Won't be long now. We have already had one poster saying the OP could JUST have opened the door!

It's definitely inappropriate for you to have unlocked the door in that circumstance. She was unreasonable to be annoyed about it.

If I was having a facial or similar treatment, I'd be very pissed off to have the therapist answering the phone and/or opening the door and doubling up as receptionist during my treatment.
Salon booking procedures should make it very clear not to arrive early and no admittance prior to the appointment time - and a reminder notice on the door or window.
And no, I don't think you should have taken it on yourself to admit random strangers banging on the door.
personally I'd choose a more professional salon. I have used single staff member salons (pre-covid) - but they managed the situation as I've outlined above.

Why should she?! OP doesn’t work there, it’s not her door. There’s a lot of ‘justs’ in your posts for a paying customer.

I didn't say it was her door, or even her responsibility to open it or not! I replied what I did because the OP was saying she was thinking she might be in the same position next time, so I was suggesting that she could ask the staff member what she should do if someone did come to the door to avert her feeling awkward and being undecided as to what she should or shouldn't do. That way the OP would feel confident in saying she couldn't open the door or wouldn't feel bad about opening it in the absence of staff being around.

Honestly? I think you were being unreasonable to open it full stop
You don't work there
And she was probably annoyed at you cos she assumed you were staff cos you opened the door

Op is the salon in a place starting with a L ?

I would have ignored the door. i wouldn't know if they were having to restrict numbers waiting due to Covid.

Where I go the therapist locks the door while she has a client and she's on her own so nobody can come in and pinch stuff from Reception, where there's loads of ££££ beauty products and the till.
Mobile number and a note on the door etc.

@purpleme12

Honestly? I think you were being unreasonable to open it full stop You don't work there And she was probably annoyed at you cos she assumed you were staff cos you opened the door

She didn’t think I was staff. She said “thanks for opening the door” in a slightly sarcastic tone and I just said “thats ok, but I don’t work here” and she said “I know.” Then we sat there in silence and waited.

@Sparklingbrook

I would have ignored the door. i wouldn't know if they were having to restrict numbers waiting due to Covid.

Where I go the therapist locks the door while she has a client and she's on her own so nobody can come in and pinch stuff from Reception, where there's loads of ££££ beauty products and the till.
Mobile number and a note on the door etc.

I think that’s the main reason - the stealing part.

Not sure it has anything to do with Covid if I’m honest.

Ok. I still think it's strange that you opened the door in this situation
But anyway it's done now so just forget about it

@PricklesAndSpikes

Why should she?! OP doesn’t work there, it’s not her door. There’s a lot of ‘justs’ in your posts for a paying customer.

I didn't say it was her door, or even her responsibility to open it or not! I replied what I did because the OP was saying she was thinking she might be in the same position next time, so I was suggesting that she could ask the staff member what she should do if someone did come to the door to avert her feeling awkward and being undecided as to what she should or shouldn't do. That way the OP would feel confident in saying she couldn't open the door or wouldn't feel bad about opening it in the absence of staff being around.

I see that, perhaps I was a bit abrasive, but I don’t think it’s op’s problem to solve.