Hairdresser couldn’t cut toddlers hair but charged full price

[Bubblebather89]

I was recommended a hairdresser in my local area to cut my 22 month olds hair. She has a walk in only salon with one of those sit in car chairs for children. She was highly recommend from a mum whose child has ASD and she said she’s great with kids and makes them feel comfortable, is flexible etc etc. Anyway we visited his hairdresser on a number of occasions and all went well. My son sat better than expected so she was able to cut his hair with no issues.

Then last week I took him and it was particularly busy with it being near Christmas. My son decided he didn’t want to sit in the car so we moved to the chair with him on my lap. But he was particularly fussy and crying. After 5 minutes she said she wasn’t able to cut his hair. She had cut some at the back but literally hardly anything, of course I understood and I was fine with her not carrying on and I said no problem we will come back another time. It wasn’t a good time for my son and she had a line of people waiting I completely understood. As I was getting my son into his pram she said that will be £15 please darling, which was the full price of the hair cut normally. I was taken back because I thought she wouldn’t charge me anything as she literally only cut a small amount at the back and the rest of the time was me trying to hold him down as he tried to wriggle away. His hair looked worse than when we came in. Because there was a full salon of people waiting and looking at me I just paid. If I’d known she was going to charge me the full amount I would have expected her to try abit harder to cut his hair and been more patient with him. The whole appointment took around 5 mins so barely any time at all. Should I have paid full price or should she have discounted it/ let me come back and try again?

OP's child doesn't have ASD.

As someone with autism myself, it does suck when I can't cope with something I've spent good money on, and I have to leave early, but I also understand it's not the businesses fault either, and they shouldn't have to lose out because of me.

No I get it OP .. I have extensions and I had 2 completely slide out of my hair after a week. I was made to go in and assess the issue, then book a further appointment for him to fix what he even admitted was probably his fault. When I finally got them back in he charged me. I was fuming.

It’s not about doing something for free. It’s assessing a situation and finding a resolution that helps both the business and the customer.

Paying for a slot with a reluctant child or child with disability is still a slot of her time. So yes.

That's not the same - of course you shouldn't have been charged in that scenario,

Sorry OP, but I think you are being unreasonable on this one.
You took your toddler to a barbers whom you knew had a 'turn up and wait' policy in the run up to Christmas, knowing it would be busy. That alone would have rung alarm bells that there is likely to be a wait and a tetchy toddler.
You then had time with the barber trying to cut in the toddler chair and then on your lap. You took time with a hairdresser that charges for a service - it's not unreasonable to pay for it. Really, by the time she takes out her pension, tax, leave, NI, sick insurance from your £15 I'd be surprised if she'd made £7 on it.

Ah ace next time any of my bills need paying I will pay with 'good will'.

I paid for a tennis court hire the other day. 30 minutes. My child was cold, grumpy and wouldn’t play ball (literally). We left after 5 minutes. I didn’t get the benefit of the service I paid for, but I took the slot someone else could have used and paid for. I won’t get a refund and don’t expect one.

Your situation is similar and I don’t understand your discontent.

My daughter paid near on £300 to get her hair done. She wasn't happy with how her hair looked and felt she was robbed. She left a bad review and the owner of the salon begged her to remove it and they will sort it out for free. The issue is that there is too many hairdressers and barbers the competition is fierce.

You booked an appointment slot and there's not much competition for people to play tennis. You would have paid before entering the court not after unless you paid privately. If you did pay privately there is not a lot of competition and you don't want to piss off the only tennis teacher in town.

Well your example isn’t the same at all but if we are going by your example then if I took up a slot she shouldn’t have gave up after 5 minutes should she? I’d expect her to keep trying for the FULL 30 minutes because that’s my slot and I’ve paid for it. Going by your example would have been like the owner of the tennis court coming over after 30 mins and saying your child’s not playing Tennis so can you leave and then locking up the court so you couldn’t get back in. But still making you pay full price.

I said similar. not identical.

The OP booked a slot too. Hairdresser is unlikely to book the same slot on the day. Best case, she clears people quicker and heads home 15 minutes earlier than before. Doesn’t pay the bills though does it?

She said it was walk in no appointment needed. Like I said in another post there is too many hairdressers and barbers to fuck about with customers. One bad review can do a lot of damage in a saturated industry.

Disagree.

But not everyone agrees that OP shouldn't have been charged, so a review about it could well boost the hairdressers' profile and create more business for her.

My daughter got her hair fixed for free. The hairdresser took full responsibility after she posted her review.

Yes I admit taking him at a busy time and having to wait 30 mins before hand wasn’t smart and I’ll hold my hands up to that one.
but I think people are forgetting she only spent 5-10 mins MAX with my son. If I had to pay for the full slot then she should have continued to work with me to try and get it done, not give up. I paid for the slot so I shouldn’t have been rushed out.

I think the hairdresser was foolish to charge you the full amount. When my son was tiny, we had a couple of appointments where he cried and wouldn't sit still. The hairdresser was very understanding and just suggested we try another day. He didn't charge a penny. 8 years later we still go to him every few weeks, as does my OH.

I don't blame you for not wanting to go back there OP.

I bet you don't tip either

So? Stop quoting me. You have an opinion I disagree with. Move on.

Normally give her £20 😭
Mainly because she only takes cash and I can’t be bothered to split the 20 but that’s beside the point.

Its obvious OP just wantsca pat on the head and thinks they are reasonable so what's the point. And saying its a toddler ffs. Is there anything less reasonable to deal with on earth than a toddler? A bag of angry cats maybe.

I have paid a double for putting up with the child

Not really people value reviews especially when it comes to their precious hair. My daughter got her hair done by a man who didn't wash his hands after eating she never returned after that experience. She didn't leave the review about his salon. In the beauty industry reputation is important.

I've read negative reviews about Vidal Sassoon and their cuts from their students. I think the reviewers expectation is rather high from a student who is learning. Those types of reviews I take with a pinch of salt. I do read reviews about who I am trusting to do my hair because of the bad cuts I've had in the past.

It's a chat forum don't be so serious. You can find another thread if this one is too much for you. It's only a hair cut.

But it seems like the hairdresser ushered OP and her toddler out and went straight on to the next customer. If OP paid for a "slot" a set amount of time then shouldn't the hairdresser have devoted all of that time to the OP? It seems the hairdresser got £15 for 10 mins work which would have normally took her 30 mins plus? Doesn't seem fair, like OP said the hairdresser should have been more patient with the child for the full amount of time.