[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Uptown Girl, what would you consider to be the standard tip for a hairstylist down here? Up north it is generally 25%, but I really don't know what to do down here. I give the lady who washes my hair $5 and my hairdresser $20, which is about 25%. Am I over-tipping?

It's awkward for me to talk about tipping in general, but I could probably write a book. The loveliest tip I ever received when I was in the industry was a banana. It makes my heart smile to this day to think of that very wonderful client.


I believe tipping is a gift of appreciation, but should be an earned one. To my mind there is no set rule. I try to be considerate as a client and expect to be treated likewise in return. I consider many factors.

If I am attended to appropriately, it is a plus.
If my stylist delights in trying to juggle three clients all in the same time slot.. and one of them is me... and it's not working well... and she doesn't care... it is a minus.

Generally, I think 20% is generous and reasonable at the same time. Exception: NEVER less than $5. If a bang trim is $5, they'll get a $5 tip.
Extraordinary efforts will elicit more sometimes, if I have it to give.
It also matters to me in what spirit the tip is received. That will guide me as to my generosity should we meet again.

I applaud the $5 tip for the lady who washes your hair. (if she does it with a bit of kindness) Typically these ladies are paid very little. Some earn tips only, no pay. She absolutely knows she is lowest on the totem pole. A genuine smile to her at the same time will be a very much appreciated gesture, I'm sure! You are a very nice lady.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Uptown Girl

It's awkward for me to talk about tipping in general, but I could probably write a book. The loveliest tip I ever received when I was in the industry was a banana. It makes my heart smile to this day to think of that very wonderful client.


I believe tipping is a gift of appreciation, but should be an earned one. To my mind there is no set rule. I try to be considerate as a client and expect to be treated likewise in return. I consider many factors.

If I am attended to appropriately, it is a plus.
If my stylist delights in trying to juggle three clients all in the same time slot.. and one of them is me... and it's not working well... and she doesn't care... it is a minus.

Generally, I think 20% is generous and reasonable at the same time. Does that help you?
Extraordinary efforts will elicit more sometimes, if I have it to give.
It also matters to me in what spirit the tip is received. That will guide me as to my generosity should we meet again.

I applaud the $5 tip for the lady who washes your hair. (if she does it with a bit of kindness) Typically these ladies are paid very little. Some earn tips only, no pay. She absolutely knows she is lowest on the totem pole. A genuine smile to her at the same time will be very much appreciated gesture, I'm sure!

Thanks for that, Uptown Girl. I am getting good, caring service from both hairdresser and hair washer. I will soldier on. That level of tipping feels comfortable to me and seems to be well received.

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by doran

Today i made an appointment with Tuscany Day Spa and Salon in Lake Sumter Landing:
I was quoted $37.00 for a partial perm. The lady on the telephone told me their prices were ala-carte--There was no mention of any additional charges with the perm-- I asked the price for a hair cut and style and was quoted the price. They made an appointment for me today at 10:15 due to a cancelation this morning--there was no mention of any additional charges.
I was very satisfied with the service, paid my bill and returned home to find they charged me an additional $32.00 for a
"shampoo/finish"---I did not have a shampoo or finish to my hair--I left with my hair wet and made an appointment for the 16th of the month for a cut and style.. When I called them to dispute the additional charge, they were rude and said they had explained to me the services were "ala-carte" and they had every right to charge me the additional amount" " their explanation was they put product on my hair and washed it off!"

beware of this practice--no other salon charges for rinsing the perm. solution off of your hair--I asked why they did not quote me $69.00 for the perm and be done with it? They said this is not their way of doing business--has any one encountered this sort of pricing from a beauty salon?
They have lost my business forever !
SUSAN JOHNSON-DORAN
southwood villas
WE HAVE BEEN IN THE VILLAGES FOR ONE YEAR AND I HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL SALONS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PRICING PRACTICE?
IN CALIFORNIA WHERE I LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE --A SALON GAVE YOU A PRICE AND THAT IS WHAT YOU PAID!

Seems to me the time to challenge being over charged was when you paid for the services. Was it not apparent the bill was more than you expected?
Seems odd!!

Anyway we all can have an opinion of what happened at any business establishment. However, the proven most effective way to challenge any dissatisfaction is right then and there and not with the "help" but with the management or owners when appropriate, especially if there was also a dissatisfaction with those you raised the problem with.

My wife is a regular of Tuscany Day Spa & Salon and like many, many other residents of TV find Tuscany, it's help, it's service and customer satisfaction to be outstanding....7 years running!

If you have not talked to the owner yet about your claim, then it seems a little unfair to publicize a dissatisfaction, that now may include a rude encounter.

btk

[doran]

Originally Posted by cfrance

too funny, patty 55.

I had a bit of a runaround with urban (across from wamart). Ihad received a coupon for a free haircut. I needed cut and color. They would not take the price of the cut off of the total because they said the cut comes automatically with the color--or some da** dumb thing. So i gave the coupon to my friend who only wanted a cut, but they wouln't honor it because they said it was "too old," despite the fact that the coupon had no expiration date. (it did have a date, but it was the date issued, and no mention of any expiration).

I would no longer use this place except they are the only ones arount tv that use wella haircoloring, a that is the only coloring that will completely cover my coarse, very gray hair.

My friend had some issues with a salon who made appointments but also took walk-ins, and she and her mother walked out after waiting 45 minutes past their appointment time because their stylists were both donig walk-ins.

It seems as if the almighty dollar comes first with some hair salons down here, as opposed to customer service.

call around and see if a salon in your area will let you bring your own color! Many will and you may be asked to sign a waver that they are not responsable for any damage due to using a product they do not carry! The reason i went to this salon was that they used the iso perm--and i needed one right away! I have gone to fantastic sams several times and they allowed me to bring my own perm.
As stated before i did not realize the over charge until i returned home they gave me a credit slip to sign that only had the total amount due--i bought some product as well --they put my detailed credit slip in the bottom of the bag!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by doran

call around and see if a salon in your area will let you bring your own color! Many will and you may be asked to sign a waver that they are not responsable for any damage due to using a product they do not carry! The reason i went to this salon was that they used the iso perm--and i needed one right away! I have gone to fantastic sams several times and they allowed me to bring my own perm.
As stated before i did not realize the over charge until i returned home they gave me a credit slip to sign that only had the total amount due--i bought some product as well --they put my detailed credit slip in the bottom of the bag!

But where would I get the wella hair color? I thought you had to be in the profession to buy that.

My neighbor goes to Fantastic Sam's and is very happy with them. I would try them if they would procure the product for me.

[doran]

Originally Posted by buggyone

do you mean that you paid the extra $32 without looking at your bill? If you knew the price was somewhere around $39, why would you have signed your credit slip for $69? I am presuming you paid with a credit card and not cash. If you had brought it right to their attention at the time of paying, the outcome might have been to your favor.

i bought some shampoo and two other items and did not see the over charge until i returned home and took the product out of the bag and there was my detailed credit card charge--the credit slip i signed was only the total amount, no break down!

Bad way of doing business and i will never return--in looking over their pricing -- their spa services are reasonable but beware there are additional charges as well!!!!!!
Lesson: Never sign a credit slip without reviewing the detailed charge slip!!!!!!!!

[JoeC1947]

When my wife told me that they wanted a credit card to hold the reservation for a haircut I was shocked.

[doran]

Originally Posted by cbg150

While I have never used their hair salon services, I have been to the Tuscany Day Spa on many occasions including just last week when I treated my future daughter-in-law to a hot stone massage and I had a delightful spa pedicure. I have always been treated with the utmost respect and even pampering. I am so happy that a place like this exists in the Villages!

I was happy with the perm not the way they price things! Will I go back? Never! Did you know the TOTAL price before you went???????

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by JoeC1947

When my wife told me that they wanted a credit card to hold the reservation for a haircut I was shocked.

Yep, that's how far I got.

[Uptown Girl]

WELLA:

You can try calling a Sallys beauty supply and ask if they carry it. They can sell some products to non-professionals. (Licensed professionals get a small discount.) I do not recall if they sell Wella brand or not.

Often your hairstylist ( if she is an independent contractor and not an employee) will run there and get it, if that is the brand you request ahead of time. She should show you the box when you arrive. Expect to pay her for the product, as she is making a special trip to accommodate you.

[casita37]

Add me to the list of unhappy customers. I have tried Tuscany, Root 466, Aveda in Mt. Dora and Fantastic Sams....all over the playing field.

The stylist at Fantastic Sams told me that because of my natural, mousy brown, color, I shouldn't have a one step highlight...I needed to dye my hair a brighter brown, then highlight it. Well, I have been having my hair highlighted for the past 30+ years, all over the US, Canada, Caribbean and even South America. THEY all managed to do it in one step, usually with excellent results. However, sure enough, the highlight at Fantastic's was awful....just awful!!!. So, I asked him to just dye it brown and get me out of there. They charged me for the highlight and then charged me for dying my hair to cover the highlights.

Now, since I am all one color, that means I have to deal with roots....I think I will just shampoo in temporary color, as needed, and let it all grow out, have it cut into a bob, which any idiot should be able to do, and then leave it alone!!

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by doran

I was happy with the perm not the way they price things! Will I go back? Never! Did you know the TOTAL price before you went???????

does one know the price of the bill before going into a restaurant? No? Do you see a menu and choose what you want? Yes. Would you pay the bill without any comment if it came back double what you thought it should be? Of course not.

Something just doesn't hang together in this "story".

btk

[casita37]

Originally Posted by billethkid

Seems to me the time to challenge being over charged was when you paid for the services. Was it not apparent the bill was more than you expected?
Seems odd!!

Anyway we all can have an opinion of what happened at any business establishment. However, the proven most effective way to challenge any dissatisfaction is right then and there and not with the "help" but with the management or owners when appropriate, especially if there was also a dissatisfaction with those you raised the problem with.

My wife is a regular of Tuscany Day Spa & Salon and like many, many other residents of TV find Tuscany, it's help, it's service and customer satisfaction to be outstanding....7 years running!

If you have not talked to the owner yet about your claim, then it seems a little unfair to publicize a dissatisfaction, that now may include a rude encounter.

btk

I think that's being a little unfair to the original poster. She has already said she didn't realize she was charged extra until she got home.

Plus...not all of us are comfortable with being "confrontational" with someone who has just provided a personal service. Can't tell you how many times I have paid, tipped, and then sat in my car and cried, while I tried to comb out whatever they had done....then went home and tried to find another stylist to fix the problem. Sometimes you don't realize how bad the style is until you wash it and try to fix it yourself. That was not the op's problem, I realize.

Then, of course, there is the akwardness of "money". You don't want to appear cheap, and trust me, that is exactly what they will consider you if you complain about the price. Yes, you can talk to the owner, but the owner is the one who sets the pricing policy to begin with. They may cut you a "deal" that time, but once you have had an issue, you probably will never go back, anyway....just my opinion.

[Pibb26]

The credit card issue is an interesting one...I personally have never booked a service at a Spa anywhere and NOT been required to provide a credit card number.

I would also think that if they only charged $37 for a perm people would be lined up out the door. You cannot get a perm for $37 at the beauty school much less a business with licensed stylists.

I also have never liked the "tiered" pricing, but to say that someone right out of school should make the same as someone who has been in the industry 30+ years has zero validity. Does a person with a high school diploma make the same as someone who obtained a Masters?

[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by Pibb26

The credit card issue is an interesting one...I personally have never booked a service at a Spa anywhere and NOT been required to provide a credit card number.

I would also think that if they only charged $37 for a perm people would be lined up out the door. You cannot get a perm for $37 at the beauty school much less a business with licensed stylists.

I also have never liked the "tiered" pricing, but to say that someone right out of school should make the same as someone who has been in the industry 30+ years has zero validity. Does a person with a high school diploma make the same as someone who obtained a Masters?

I respectfully disagree.
Booking a hair appointment is completely different from booking a spa experience. MOST salons do NOT require a credit card # to book a hair appointment.
$37 for a PARTIAL perm is typical and reasonable.

Someone right out of school is a novice. They are almost NEVER hired to work in an upscale salon because of that, unless the owner is desperate for a 'warm body' and can't find better. Shame on THEM if they squeeze them out of salary in spite of that and even a novice should NOT accept those terms.
Small places, charging modest prices are typically where novice barber/stylists gain their experience and develop work ethic, before moving up to a high end salon. That should be disclosed at school, but today is NOT. SHAME on the schools.

It is my opinion, and was my practice that all barber/stylists be on an equal pay scale, including myself. Some made more money because they did more work, or more INVOLVED work that day. Our pay was determined by work performed, it was not a weekly salary. You didn't work, you didn't make money. You took time off, it was on your dime.

If clients asked for you, they were booked in your chair. Walk-ins or new clients were given to EVERYONE on an equitable basis and everybody knew how to book them.

To do it any other way is a breeding ground for resentment. I treated them the way I would want to be treated, always. There were no divas in my shop, That applied to me, too.
If you are in the industry, don't be sold a bill of goods on this one, no matter if you are a stylist or owner. It truly is poor practice.
And I will say again, years under your belt do not automatically give you better skills. The DESIRE to focus, devotion to improving, continuing education and ALWAYS being open to learning, do. There are many professionals out there for whom mediocre is good enough for the duration of their careers.... no matter WHAT field they are in.