Salon Academy -- Am I being unreasonable?

[redwitch]

Am I being unresonable? I called today to ask to get a little cut off the top of my haircut. The instructor had told Shannon to leave it a little longer because the wave in my hair would make it shorter. Well, I've tried futzing with it for a week now and it would be sooooo much better with a quarter of an inch taken off.

I can get it cut next Wednesday but I'll have to pay for a full cut. Okay, they're cheap, but it's the principle of the thing. If the instructor hadn't told her to make it a bit longer, there wouldn't be a problem.

So, should I be willing to say okay, I'll pay again because they're a school or stay on my high horse because they mucked up and I shouldn't have to pay for their goof?

Advice, comments? Need your input, sistahs!

[Mikitv]

I think you should talk to instructor and say that even though she has the experience her input on your cut didn't work and you don't feel you should have to pay full price again. Maybe a comprise: split the cost.

[redwitch]

I tried talking to the manager and the instructor. They both told me that I would have to pay full price again. I wouldn't mind compromising but to be flat out told that I should have said something before I left if I wasn't happy with it and that I'd have to pay for what I consider the instructor's mistake (she even agreed it was her goof but too bad).

[pm10]

:agree:with you, Red. Seems to me you shouldn't have to pay anything for them to correct the problem. How would you know, before you left the place, that this cut would work for you??? Especially when you wanted it cut shorter in the first place. Being they are a school - I guess maybe they don't worry much about having happy customers, who will want to come back. :dontknow:

[Mintjulep]

Red,
Having also owned a salon, I think that's very poor business on their part.
If it was a month since you got the trim that would be a different situation. But a few days!!!
Don't know about the school here, but it's not uncommon to have to cut a little more off a customer you hesitated on for fear of cutting it too short.
Only takes a few minutes. Much better to spend the time fixing it than doing it wrong or not fixing it.
They say, if you're unhappy, you tell 250 people, and that's not counting anything online.
That manager is a dumba$$!!!

[redwitch]

Thanks, Mint! Hey, want to trim the top of my head? roflao

[renielarson]

All I know is this...after cutting my hair my stylist always tells me that if I'm not happy to call and come back in so she can cut it more to my liking...at no additonal charge. Maybe it's because I've been a regular customer of hers for 10 years, however, I think it's just plain old good client/stylist relationship (and a salon that knows their success depends on client happiness).

A school, especially, should teach the students that keeping a positive rapport with customers will not only build their base of clients but also provide a good word for the salon they will eventually work for. The school should not only teach that but practice what they teach.

Sadly, Red, if the manager can't be convinced, then where else can you go? I hear the school is owned by The Villages so not sure there is a higher authority to complain to.

[redwitch]

Well, I think they may have lost a customer but I may stop by there and print out this thread. It could be interesting.

[Mintjulep]

Red, I don't know if with your personality you could do it, but if you made a big stink at the front desk in front of other customers, I'll bet they'd bring you to that styling area right then and fix it free, even if the instructor had to do it...
You called before, too easy for them... Go down there. Put the pressure on.
I normally wouldn't recommend that, but if they want to be unreasonable, why shouldn't you??

[renielarson]

Maybe we all should call and complain about the way we have heard they treat customers. Tell them we were influenced by the bad experience report and will pass the word to as many people as possible.

Hmmmmm.....power in numbers

[Barefoot]

These are kids, not professionals, who are learning how to cut hair. Thus the low prices.
IMHO.

[renielarson]

:agree: BF...I'm not berating the kids...it's the manager.

[beady]

I think the fault here is with the supervisor not the student. It would be a shame to punish a student for the supervisors mistake.
I would go to the academy and speak with the supervisor in person. Possibly she will be more respnsive in a public situation.

[redwitch]

I agree that my issue is with the manager and instructor. Honestly, if it had been Shannon who had just not cut the top short enough, I would happily go back and pay for her to fix it, but she did this at the express direction of her instructor, who is not a student, has been a stylist for a quite awhile and should know what she is talking about. When I pointed it out on the phone that the mistake was by her, not Shannon (who I truly believe did an awesome job), I was told, "Yes, it probably was [my mistake]," with a little laugh.

That is what I'm objecting to -- the cavelier attitude and refusal to try to rectify the problem. I'm not asking for a new cut, I'm asking that a little more be taken off the top. I didn't wait a month, I even tried to work with the cut as it was. Heck, I'd even have been satisfied if the instructor told me to come in and she would fix it or offer for Shannon to do it at half-price.

[mcelheny]

All the hair places in the Villages and the school are owned by one person-Karen West(wife of one of the builders). Even at the school, the prices are not cheap. Students pay tuition--clients pay and the students don't get any of the money!! I went to some of the salons and had the worst experiences. Then I sat for 4 hours to get roots done at the school. The student(another big ego(daughter of a builder) did a terrible job!! She tried again and all my roots were still showing. Six hours later I ran from there...I might of had the worst because the girl I was suppose to have didn't show up. Although, the girl I did have kept bragging about her scores and was going into a shop in a week. I went the next day outside the Villages and the hair dresser said I should go demand my money back as all my roots were showing. I knew they wouldn't give a cent back and I will never go into that school again. The hairdresser in Lady Lake is overbooked fixing horror stories from the school and salons in the Villages. Her prices are firm and a third of what I had paid in the Villages. So warn everybody and do what you can to change this ...Alot of newbies and visitors are getting riped off by this greedy operation. Tell people to go outside the Villages for their hair.

[Barefoot]

I had a pedicure at the Salon Academy. It took 3 hours. It costs less to use the S.A. than other places, but I think you get what you pay for.

[jerseygirl008]

Red: I have been cutting hair for many years, on the side. If I were there, I'd come over to your house for a cup of coffee, with my scissors in hand, and cut your hair for you.

However, I'm not there, unfortunately. I say, take a copy of this thread over there and put pressure on the mgr. just to get your hair trimmed at no cost. That's cacca. Go Girl!

[nhsnowbird]

Red, whenever I've had a problem with ding my hair after a haircut, I contact the person and explain what "the problem" is and have always been pleased with the new haircut. I do not understand how this school can "teach" their students to ignore a client. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I agree all of the salons in TV are owned by one person ... no competition there.

[Donna]

Red,

I could have fixed it for you, if I had scissors with me..In Pa. we call the beauty schools to get students for shampoos, etc..Never would we have them cut any clients hair..

These are students with no experience...They do cute at the school and some are good but others need a redo..

The first thing they should learn is to listen to the client..
Just my 2 cents..