Salon increased price of service since I booked and paid deposit

[shinytartlet]

A couple of months ago I booked and paid a 10% deposit at a hair salon. Regular customer. Been there a year+ and already had around 10 appointments. Generally happy with the service.

When I booked I paid a £6.50 deposit as usual for my £65 cut and blow dry.

I've now been sent a reminder for my appointment and the price of the appointment is now apparently £75. I assumed the reminder email was wrong, but I checked the website and the price of a cut and blow dry has indeed increased to £75.

I wasn't notified of this above 10% price increase, and there were no comms on the salon's social media channels. To be honest it's not an increase I can really afford given how regularly I go (short unruly hair!), and I'll likely look for another salon.

Am I being unreasonable to ask not to pay the increased price when I go for my appointment next week? I have the original booking confirmation stating the original price of £65.

It’s worth asking, my salon increased their prices a few times in the last few years but they always honour the previous prices for any appointments already booked x

Not unreasonable at all. I'd be ringing the salon and making sure you'll only pay the £65. You paid your deposit on the proviso that the treatment would be £65. You might not have booked if you'd have known it was £75.

I think you have a contract for £65 but check their website and Ts and C's for the details. They may say they reserve the right to amend prices, in which case you should be able to get your deposit back, for example if the increase meant you couldn't then afford it/didn't want to pay a higher price.

Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

The super annoying thing is that I actually have 2 upcoming appointments booked with them as I always book in advance. For both I have booking emails confirming the £65 price.

Take the emails with you. Surely they will have to honour the £65 price if you have it in writing.

I don’t disagree with the sentiment, but I suppose how much do you want to ‘win’ here. I would argue with it if you are willing to risk being dropped as a client. Is that new price out of kilter with others where you live? Could you go somewhere much cheaper.
mine costs me £75 ish including a full head colour.

It’s actually nearer 15% increase which is a bit steep.
I’d check with them before you go so you can relax and enjoy your appointment.

I'd be outraged if they 'dropped' me as I client if I pulled them up on their questionable approach to price increases. After these outstanding bookings, I'll be looking elsewhere regardless of whether they honour their original pricing or not. They're definitely now top-end when it comes to salon prices in the area. Unfortunately now out of my reach, I've got to draw a line with prices somewhere.

Yes I thought it was very steep too.

I understand and sympathise that their costs have gone up. However I wouldn't have expected more than 10% and I would definitely have expected them to honour the original price and notify me of the increase at the point of my next booking.

I would think if you have original emails confirming a price of £65, and that is what your deposit was based on, then you have both agreed that price. It is not acceptable for them to try to increase their price, after that agreement. In fact, I would be tempted to take the balance in cash.

This. I'd expect it to be honoured for any appointments I had booked.

Edit: posted too soon. If they weren't prepared to honour both I'd accept them honouring one but taking £13 off - i.e. both the deposits I had paid.

@shinytartlet I'd expect them to honour the price for all booked appointments where the email says £65.

I'd just phone them to check and if they insist on £75 I'd cancel and get your deposit back.

That's quite a hefty price increase.

I think it might simply be an error with their booking system automatically reminding people using the new price regardless of when they booked. If you have emails confirming the booked price, just go along and pay the £65 amount, as you have a written contract for that price.

Does Tesco notify you when they put their prices up?

No, but they don't ask for a deposit.

That’s hardly comparable.

They should be honouring their original price . I’m sure they wouldn’t want to lose you as a client over it either .

No but I don't pre-book and pay deposit with Tesco. Completely different situation.

I hope they honour the first price.

My cut and blow dry recently went up from 45.00 to 53.00 which I feel is a big jump. Just means I can't go as often :(

Go in and speak to the salon owner to ask them to honour the £65 for the appointments you've already booked.

If you have emails confirming the price they are legally obligated to honour that, unless there is small print in the email. In contract law - you’ve offered to buy a service, they accepted that offer by booking you in, you offered consideration in the form of a 10% booking fee and the nature of these actions demonstrated an ‘intention to create legal relations’. Basic GCSE law stuff.

I would point it out to them, say that it is worth them understanding that if they are doing this to other customers, they are in breach of contract and at risk of damaging good-will with existing loyal customers.

The only way they can get around this is by cancelling bookings and refunding the booking deposit, on grounds of lack of staff for example as this will be in their T&Cs, and then offering to rebook at the new higher feel.

most salons use a third party booking system and it’s likely it just automates the emails, so before getting all bolshy about it - just give them a call and check.

£75 for a cut and blow dry does sound on the pricy side - especially if you go often so maybe it’s time to look at another salon (or I hate to say it - but a cheaper to maintain style).

Take cash to pay and if they try to charge you £75 then refuse and pay them £65 less the 2 booking fees.

I suspect it might be an oversight though with the automated reminders.

BLOODY HELL!
£75 for a haircut these days!

I don’t like these random price increases. Our gardener (mows 2 small lawns front and back) has just increased from £15 to £17.50 (16%) window cleaner from £4 to £5 (20%), hairdresser added10% across all treatments. Irks me but there’s little I can do about it.