Hairdresser cancelled appointment at my appointment time

[TheAfterthought]

I'll try and keep this as concise as possible!

I had an appointment with my hairdresser today. I arrived at the salon and messaged her upon my arrival (Salon is on the first floor building and door is number coded for access). I waited a couple of minutes expecting the door to be open and greeted by my hairdresser. Instead, I receive a text message from her informing me she's unwell and been unwell all week and not in work today and that she's really sorry and will offer me a discount next time if I want to rebook.

Being unwell is one thing and I hope she feels much better soon. That said, texting me AFTER I confirm my arrival for my appointment is what's pissed me off. I arranged my day around this appointment. She says she's been ill all week so I would have thought she knows herself enough to know she had no plans on going into work while still feeling poorly and would have had the courtesy to message me much sooner (without prompting).

She works in a salon with other hairdressers. If she was so ill surely she could have asked one of them to call me and let me know, apologise for the inconvenience and rebook me in at a later date? Or offer to book me in with someone else the same day or later date as no idea how long she will be off sick for? Even as options that would have been appreciated to have been asked. Peter of thise options were offered.

I haven't replied to her message yet because I'm pissed off and I don't want to say anything mean to her because she's unwell. I don't think I can hide a sarcastic tone at the moment.

If this illness was an emergency then I would have understood, emergencies just happen. But she's been ill for a week and not had the thought or if she did, she didn't action the thought to contact me.

I'm unsure whether to give the hairdresser the benefit of the doubt. She's done a good job with my hair cuts previously. I'm a fairly new customer so only been to her twice before but I have been happy with her work. Or, should I find another hairdresser and take my business elsewhere?

I'm geared towards not replying and going elsewhere. Customers shouldn't be treated as an afterthought. It's not a way to run a business. Having worked in customer service for too many years lol 😆 I know how I don't like to be treated and I wouldn't treat a customer that way no matter how long they were a customer for.

I'm interested in outside opinions about this because I'm fed up and long term don't want to act in haste without considering further input.

YABU: Give the hairdresser the benefit of the doubt and rebook the appointment and make use of the discount.
YANBU: Find another hairdresser and take your business elsewhere.

Thanks for reading 😊

She’s unreliable . I would just go elsewhere.

What's their cancellation policy the other way round? Would you have been charged if you cancelled, especially last minute? And yes I would be mad, somebody else from the salon should have called you to let you know in plenty of time.

It happened, it shouldn't have, but no one died and life goes on. Either except her apology and discount or go somewhere else.

I'd respond asking why the devil didn't you inform me before now when you've been ill all week. And her response would determine whether I'd be back or not.

I’d not respond and go elsewhere.

I’d go elsewhere. The annoyance would pass but I wouldn’t trust it not to happen again.

Me too. Life is too short.

She’s unprofessional and unreliable. Sadly not uncommon. I don’t give people chance to do this sort of thing twice (and they always will if you stick with them). See if there are walk in’s or cancellations anywhere else today, and if not, book elsewhere for another day.

I used to go to a Beautician who could be unreliable. She worked from home. Once she was late but arrived about ten minutes after me. I didn't take much notice of that. The second time she was out and had forgotten we had an appointment. The third time I arrived to discover she was out I never went back. In the case outlined by the OP someone else from the salon could have phoned to say the appointment would have to be rescheduled. Very poor form to let her get there on time and then cancel

I would find another hairdresser, but I wouldn’t ignore her message. I would respond telling her exactly why I was taking my business elsewhere.

I would take the discount. Then find another hairdresser. And once you have used your discount leave a honest review.

I hate unprofessional people. Personally I would go elsewhere.

That's so rude and dismissive! Surely she could have messaged given you notice or got a colleague to
I would go somewhere else
Perhaps ask friends for a recommendation?

Just simply ask her why she didn't let you know. It's not very professional.id be annoyed too.
There are loads of hairdressers around.

Did she say how much discount? If she didn’t go elsewhere as she doesn’t respect your time.

if she provided a healthy discount amount then she may be sincere.

Also is she actually sick or did she double book ?!? If she’s not shop front how are you to know

I was on the bus going to my hairdresser appointment, and received a call saying she could not do my hair due to an emergency. I found another one.

Ah is it good weather where you are today and she wants a long weekend?

I'd just go somewhere else.
Or to a different hairdresser at the same salon.

I guess that she was hoping she’d be well enough to do your hair even after having been ill all week. But unless your appointment was at 8:30 am it’s rude not to have let you know sooner.

That’s out of order, I’d be going elsewhere personally

Yeah find another hairdresser. That is a shitty way to treat a customer. Don't even respond to her.

Your discount amount should correspond with their cancellation fee. Get another appointment , get your discount then bugger off elsewhere

Was she clear in her wording that she’d been off work all week, or just unwell all week and not working just today? I’d give her the benefit of the doubt if she’s struggled on all week and flaked out today, but if she’s been off work all week and not told you’d, I’d ditch and find someone else.

Sounds like she might have forgotten you were coming, as she had nothing to gain by not telling you in plenty of time. Still a sign she's unreliable though.

I'm gearing towards YABU only because we have no idea what goes in people's life's and therefore (if this is completely out of character) then your hairdresser may have a very reasonably reason behind last minute cancellation. Her work maybe the last thing she is thinking about and therefore placing herself first. This my seem selfish but we are allowed to be selfish when needs must.

I turned up for an appointment one time and something similar happened, only I didn't get a text and the shop was shut. It turned out something really personal had happened. Which I heard through (nosey) people gossiping.