Should I leave a review about this? Unprofessional hairdresser

[TealSqueal]

I think it was unprofessional, anyway. I've attached a pic but it might take a while to upload so I'll explain it quickly. If the image looks a little funky it's because I had to splice the texts together.

I booked a new client appointment on the 27th December and my appointment was for late January. It was booked through Vagaro, an online booking system separate to the salon itself. The hairdresser texted me today to say prices had increased and I'd be paying more, despite my booking being accepted in late December. She mentions she'll see what she can do if it's out of my budget. I push back saying I think the original price should be honoured and that I can't currently afford the new price. I am told everyone will be subjected to the new pricing system. She offers a refund, I accept.

I thought it was unprofessional and it left me feeling put out. The principle of it doesn't sit right with me and I don't think it was good customer service. I know a lot of you might tell me to forget about it and move on!

I would normally leave a review but they've just rebranded/opened a new business in the same building (the previous owner moved). I suppose it feels a bit mean to leave a bad review since it's technically a new business.

Keen to hear opinions, I've not done anything yet. If I did leave a review it'd be after getting my deposit back.

For what it's worth, it's a curl friendly salon so not as easy to find.

I wonder now if the response might have been different if I'd written "I'd appreciate it if that could be honoured"! I'm probably overthinking.

She was completely polite in her messages to you and offered to refund you straight away, you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. Totally petty to leave a bad review for something so minor.

Yabu

Non issue, you got your refund go elsewhere. I am pretty sure they don’t have to honour the advertised price if they notified you in advance of the service being provided. Especially since it’s a different business. Leaving a bad review is poor form.

Eh? Weird replies. You booked a service then they increased the price. Of course she should’ve honoured the lower price! I don’t know if I’d leave a review but I’d definitely go elsewhere from now on.

Given you only booked in late Dec yes she should have honoured your price, costs have not gone up since then, she's just realised she's charging less than she can.

She's created inconvenience for you, so yes you can reasonably leave a negative review, explaining how recent the booking was, and saying that while you appreciate her politeness and the quick refund, it's now too late to get an appt this weekend before you return to work, so this isn't acceptable behaviour from a business.

I also think the answers saying it's fine are weird - does everyone have endless time to rebook and go to hair appointments?!

Lots of hairdressers increase their prices for a new year, it’s a fact of life, usually they have been covering rising costs for a while, so it’s not about covering a sudden increase in costs. (But also, as their experience and client base increases, they have a right to just ask more for their services).

And plenty of clients book weeks or months in advance (including standing or multiple appointments)… at what point does the old price stop applying?

You weren’t happy to pay the new cost, so she politely refunded you. You would be extremely petty to leave a bad review for this.

I should mention I paid a deposit, not sure if that changes things in terms of expectations etc

Edit: Whoops, forgot I'd mentioned that. Anyhow, I'm taking all the comments in. Thanks all.

Got your refund and move on. There's no reason to try to damage this person's business.

I think it’s poor business practice as surely they could have started on the online booking system that prices were current for appointments up to 31st December and increasing in the new year.
However, I would not leave a negative review.

I'd be annoyed by it. If I book ASDA home delivery for next week, I expect to pay the price i booked. Same for hairdressers.

However, they were very reasonable and polite in their messages. I wouldn't leave a review but would message to say how disappointed I am.

Online booking systems are often operated by a third party and might not provide the facility to allocate different prices for different dates.

Yes but that’s for next week. Surely you wouldn’t book a shop for weeks in the future and expect all the prices to be the same. Supermarkets adjust pricing all the time. Service industries usually increase prices once a year, the OP just got unlucky in that she booked over that period.

But it was now a different business, so a new owner.

Good point.

It's the same business, I booked the appointment after the transition.

To clarify, the owner moved on and opened a new salon. A few of the hairdressers stayed behind and are renting the same space under a new name.

I booked a new kitchen for end of January. Its not been delivered yet but I expect the price to stay the same.

Regardless of when the OP booked it, she should've been told at the time of booking about the price increase!

If paid a deposit for a set amount, imo she should've honoured the price agreed at the time.
We don't after all go in and order a jumper from a shop, then go collect it to find it's gone up. I know not same exactly, but same sentiment.

It would've probably meant she would've kept you as a customer, but now I presume not want to go back.

But, bottom line, it's up to her. I wouldn't bother with a review, just move on with your life.

Yes, I would have happily gone back. Oh, well.

Agreed, hairdresser should 100% honour the price, and then increase the rates for future bookings.

I think what's also bothering me is that she said she'd see what she could do if it was out of my budget! Only for there to be no compromise at all. Should I have suggested a compromise? I'm not the business so I don't think so.

Just venting, still taking in the comments :)

How can they justify a 20% increase???

That’s obscene for a hair cut. I think they should have honoured the price but the hairdresser was at least polite and you got a refund so I wouldn’t leave a bad review.

This.

@TealSqueal price increases can occur after a deposit is paid as long as reasonable notice given. She was polite, she gave you notice. It's not worth the time or energy to leave a google review or start a chain on mumsnet.