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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nail salon no show charge

129 replies

Prettybutdumb · 28/09/2023 14:52

I had a nail appointment recently at a salon that I’ve been frequenting regularly for years. The morning of the appointment my youngest woke up and ran to the loo and poor thing had a bad tummy. I emailed the school, but still had to take the eldest in and it was bad enough that she had an accident on the way to dropping off her sibling.

I messaged the salon as soon as I got back (they weren’t opened yet) to explain what happened and that I won’t be able to make it. This has never happened before. I’ve never been late or had to cancel before. There was no reply and today I saw that my appointment was charged 100% for no show. I completely understand that they have their own employees, costs etc, but isn’t that poor practice? To charge the appointment in full without as much as a conversation or message back when I’ve been a regular customer (I go at least once a month) for so long?

This last minute type of cancellation has happened twice in my life before as I have small children and they can be unpredictable - once with a dentist and a second time with an osteopath. Both said it’s a first occurrence and they won’t charge anything (although their T&C said they would), just offered me another appointment.

I feel pretty miffed and it’s safe to say they’ve lost me as a customer.

OP posts:
ZenNudist · 28/09/2023 17:45

£100 for nails is ridiculous. They are charging it because they can get away with it.

I think businesses should operate on a more personal level and recognise that your goodwill is more important than a one off charge when you are unavoidably detained. Would they rather you'd brought your D&V germs into the salon?

Nail salons are 10 a penny and frankly you are being ripped off anyway. Don't go back. No need to say why in case you want to use them again.

pantypant · 28/09/2023 17:46

What do you have done that isn't fancy but costs £100?

storypushers · 28/09/2023 17:49

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 28/09/2023 16:22

Is no one else shocked that a nail appointment is £100?!

Absolutely, I cut back on mine once they reached £32. £100 seems crazy.

OstrichInPink · 28/09/2023 17:50

Nicknacky · 28/09/2023 16:19

So do you consider her time to be worth less than that of a solicitor?

Oh come on

FOJN · 28/09/2023 17:51

Prettybutdumb · 28/09/2023 16:13

Not at all, just not to be charged the entire over £100 for a weekday morning appointment that I couldn’t make. It’s not a solicitor’s appt.

Show quote history

Wow you've just given yourself away.

You're being a bit coy about what time the appointment was so I'm guessing it was the first appointment of the day which means that the manicurist had absolutely zero chance of filling that slot.

Honestly if it was a £50 manicure as a rare treat and you had a nicer attitude I'd feel sorry for you but you really don't seem to have a lot of respect for your manicurist and you can afford £100 every month for nails so I just think it's tough.

PuddlesPityParty · 28/09/2023 18:09

Why don’t you phone and speak to them?

Beautiful3 · 28/09/2023 18:14

I'd email them and say you were only expecting 50% charge, as you had given notice? Hopefully they'll refund the other half. Sounds like they hadn't checked their messages, and put you down as a no show. So do it before the messages get wiped.

Nicknacky · 28/09/2023 18:41

OstrichInPink · 28/09/2023 17:50

Oh come on

Show quote history

So what else can she mean with that post?

janicegarvey · 28/09/2023 18:53

I am in aesthetics and charge a no show fee but not full

If it was the first time from a regular customer I'd waive it x

Timeforchangeithink · 28/09/2023 19:08

You didn't turn up or cancel,in time so why should you get a discount? The actual materials aren't expensive it's the time of the person doing your nails so no sorry you should pay as they couldn't fill your slot. They were still there, heating and lights on waiting on you. Time is money- solicitor, or nail technician.......

Timeforchangeithink · 28/09/2023 19:10

janicegarvey · 28/09/2023 18:53

I am in aesthetics and charge a no show fee but not full

If it was the first time from a regular customer I'd waive it x

See this would actually put me off coming back to you. I would rather pay what I should have done in the first place.

ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 28/09/2023 19:17

EveryBlinkingDay · 28/09/2023 16:22

FFS 🙄😡

Wow, what an attitude. Maybe they have your number and don't actually want your custom anymore.

Show quote history

This. You may hope they don't see your thread and work out its you. You aren't coming out of this looking well OP.

Lavender14 · 28/09/2023 19:20

Mine charges a 50% deposit on booking which is non refundable if you cancel within 24 hrs which I think is fair. Charging 100% for expensive treatments I think is a bit much tbh. I'd ring and talk to them and see what they say.

Nanny0gg · 28/09/2023 19:30

I have regular treatments at different salons for different things.

I am a long-standing, loyal customer

Sometimes things happen (on both sides)

I would not expect to be charged full price (and I wouldn't be)
If I was, they wouldn't see me again. And that would be a much greater loss of income as things are hard in the beauty business right now.
I would have no problem paying for their time that I hadn't used but on the rare occasion it's happened, they've rebooked me without a quibble

caringcarer · 28/09/2023 20:18

ThatsMeTold · 28/09/2023 14:57

They still have to pay the staff, and would be unlikely to fill a slot at such short notice. Presumably it’s in the T’s &C’s. It’s not their fault your dc is ill and they shouldn’t be expected to lose funds due to your no show. It’s just bad luck.

It's the short notice. They would have no hope of filling the appointment at such short notice. It's just one of those unfortunate things with DC.

Anewest · 28/09/2023 20:27

£100, they really saw you coming! Weird that people happily pay this, I used to pay £30 for gel nails as the place was really good, and even then that was bordering on too expensive.

Anyway, you were a no show, YABU. Can't expect them to just take the financial hit.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 28/09/2023 20:32

Totally reasonable.

I work in this industry although not nails.

Imagine you aren’t paid for a part of your day because a customer didn’t show up. Now imagine this happens twice a day everyday.

This is why people charge. You book the appointment, you don’t turn up or late cancel. That person doesn’t get paid, they then can’t pay their mortgage, put fuel in their car, buy groceries etc.

Paying for her time is the least you can do.

BaybeeTammy · 28/09/2023 20:43

If you can afford over 100 per month for nails- no extensions. I think you will get over it lol

Mumsanetta · 28/09/2023 20:59

More fool them as they have now presumably lost a regular customer. Their policy is counterintuitive as penalising a regular customer for one missed appointment has cost them lots of future appointments.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 28/09/2023 21:15

Mumsanetta · 28/09/2023 20:59

More fool them as they have now presumably lost a regular customer. Their policy is counterintuitive as penalising a regular customer for one missed appointment has cost them lots of future appointments.

Not really.

They will have more clients wanting to have regular appointments. The OP slots will become available to new clients.

Ultimately, the nail salon has rejected a client who was disrespectful of their time. They weren’t paid today so you can do without clients who fail to turn up and pay. Salons who don’t have this system close down.

Sartre · 28/09/2023 21:18

More shocked you pay £100 for what I’m guessing is gel nails if you say no extensions?? Is the polish made from unicorn farts or something? It costs £20 at most salons!

Dobbybigearsdog · 28/09/2023 21:34

It isn’t Kirsty meakin is it by any chance?

OspreyLambo · 28/09/2023 21:39

Have you tried ringing them up?
Their T&C's were clear, looks like your card was automatically charged.
It may not even be anybody who actually knows you just some admin person who marked 'didn't turn up'.

I don't know what you mean by message - was it on their website or FB messenger for instance?

Drfosters · 28/09/2023 22:21

If she charged you 100% surely she is making money off you? No product was used. Is yours the cheapest service they provide? Personally if I was them I would have charged you for the cheapest service she could have provided in that slot. You are being penalised for the type of appointment you booked but if you have booked a cheaper one then you would have only been charged for that.

StarDolphins · 28/09/2023 22:29

i would ring the salon. If they say 100% charge, I would 100% find another salon.