Late to nails appointment

[Cherry346]

• Had a nails appt today with my usual manicurist (of around 4 years). I was running very slightly late (a few minutes) as I'd been held up at my child's nativity. I messaged and said "really sorry I'm going to be slightly late, on my way now" (husband dropping me off). Manicurist replied saying "if you're more than 5 mins late you can't have your appointment". I replied and said I'm just round the corner but I understand if you need to cut the appt short so you're not late for the next client. I ran in, 5-6 mins late, profusely apologised, but all the staff were giving me daggers. Manicurist then lectured me about how busy she is and how she couldn't get behind. I again apologised and said I totally understand and that she could cut the appt short if my allotted time (1hr 15) expired and I'd just accept however far she'd got with my nails (to be honest it usually only takes an hour anyway). I spent the next hour getting the full on silent treatment and monosyllabic answers every time I asked about Xmas plans etc (we usually have a good chat and catch up). She also spent time during my appt sending personal WhatsApps and voice notes, as if trying to make some kind of point. I left feeling really awful and actually quite badly treated. I've never previously been late to an appt and have given the manicurist free professional advice in the past relating to issues she was having with the salon. I don't expect special treatment but surely this was an overreaction? To be clear, I fully understand that people arriving late to appts can be very frustrating for businesses but we were talking a matter of minutes and I'd said I would be happy for the appt to be cut short if the time ran out. I don't feel like I want to return but also feel I need to explain why I'm going to go elsewhere given I'm a longstanding client (average spend £80pm). AIBU?

I hope you didn’t tip her!

I'm not really here to win hearts and minds to be honest, but as it happens I actually give good advice where advice is warranted and have been thanked for it.

This however is a grown adult not being able to make a really simple, no brainer decision without running it by Mumsnet.

Thing is most decent nail places have a 5 min grace period and also take deposits so if op would have said fuck it they’d just keep the deposit and no skin off their nose.

Take your business elsewhere where they aren't right cunts.

Money launderers?

But your reply Judge is an odd one because I don’t know what you aim to achieve with it other than to make an OP feel stupid?

No way that I would return to her or her salon.

Don't feed 'em. Saddos love the attention. 😆

I wouldn't be going back, that's a terrible way to treat customers.

I was given a lecture once when I was told I was late for my dentist's appointment. Oh the joy upon telling the condescending dragon that her clock was fast. 🤣

Yes unreasonable. Go elsewhere. That's no way to treat people and why would you want the ongoing stress. You let her know you were running a bit late, it's not like you rocked up 20 minutes late demanding the full appointment time.

Seems really unreasonable to be so hostile if you are a long standing customer who doesnt abuse the appt system by being regularly late,you called ahead. were only 5 mins late and would have been happy to cut the appt short by 5 mins so as not to inconvenience other customers.
You could let it go and see if normal service resumes, you could explain how the unreasonable hostility made you feel, you could write a review explaining your experience and take your custom elsewhere.
I ve just been to a nail appt this morning.im a regular longstanding customer,when i arrrived the place was busy and the woman sitting waiting next to me said she was a "walk in" and had been waiitng 15 mins,she was served before me and i waited 20 mins after my appt time.
I let it go as they were clearly stressed and busy.

I would just find somewhere else and no need to let them know just don’t book another appointment, or if you have cancel it and don’t rebook

This.

Er... no it's not.

The appointments are an amount of time and if the person is late then a part of the treatment will just get cut short.

The technician would then get paid the same and get an extra 50 minutes free time.

@Cherry346 they were very rude. I would not bother with them again.

to be honest when she said I'm not seeing you if you're any more than 5 minutes late my inclination was to say "ok then" and just forfeit the appt but I'd already paid in advance on treatwell so would have lost the money, about £40 ( which she knew).

Actually I'd made the decision never to go back but wanted to understand whether I was being unreasonable in doing so in the circumstances. I'm quite a sensitive person and felt extremely uncomfortable at being scolded via message (and then in public!) and given the silent treatment for an hour when I'd never intentionally be late to anything, but I wanted to canvas views on whether others consider her behaviour to be reasonable given it's nearly Christmas etc.

Perhaps she was channelling her inner GP. OK for them to keep you waiting but not vice versa.

Go elsewhere.

I think this makes quite a difference OP - she knew she was getting paid whether she did your nails or not. I bet if she knew she was running the risk of having an hour free in her day with no pay she'd have been a lot more conciliatory. (Personally, I wouldn't pay for anything like this upfront - you give away all your bargaining power by doing so.)

OFGS. It's a reasonably interesting situation

So people have responded.

I will never, ever understand why people think they owe businesses like this an explanation if they decide to stop using them. I've seen it before on here. It wouldn't occur to me. I just wouldn't make the next appointment and that would be it.

Honestly op, just go somewhere else next time. She's just shown you exactly what your loyalty was worth to her - fuck all. So why would you think you owe her anything back?

I would have walked out after the attempt at a lecture from the nail technician. I would rather not have my nails done than be spoken to like a 5 year old.

So why are you on this thread at all then? Surely there must be other queries on MN that you feel are worthy of your "good" advice skills?
We don't get to decide if advice is "warranted" or not. We can either comment on a thread if it interests us, or pass it by if it doesn't - just as you should have with this one, rather than posting a snarky comment which doesn't help anyone. 🙄

Busy time of year, nail techs work long hours and probably just an extra stressful day for her.
You dont owe an explanation for not returning though.

Yeah that is out of order. Either she can see you or your appointment is bumped. She can't have it both ways, doing the appointment begrudgingly and being rude throughout. If it was going to inconvenience her that severely she should've stuck to her guns and turned you away.

I had that once where I was admittedly about ten mins late. I called to say so and profusely said sorry. They just kept on and on about it, it's like how many times can I apologise. I actually said, it's fine I'll just leave. But they don't want that so why be an arse once you've decided you are serving someone?