Sighting or SC? You tell me.

[technical.angel]

So, in between my MRI and my neurosurgeon appt, I decided to dash over to the mall and get my hair cut. It's 2pm on a Monday, I have plenty of time, what harm?

I walk into El Cheapo hair cutty place. There's a man in one of the chairs with the cape and a half cut look about him. The stylist is talking product with a woman.... okay. She finishes, and gives me a rather... unfriendly look. I told her I wanted go get a cut. She tells me there's a 15 minute wait. Walk around and come back.

Uh... k.

I went to take a peek at the formal dresses next door, and a perusal of the small bit of shoes in my size at Payless. I go back, and take a seat in the little waiting area, with the style magazines.

"We're not ready for you yet."

Blink blink. "Okay."

Another stylist comes in, and the person in front of me is sent back. A guy comes in, trying to get bumped up. She pretty much railroads him, saying there's three people in front of him, and a 45 minute wait. He tries again, and you could feel the waves of frosty. Not that I mind, being the person who would be bumped.

She turned to me. "You can go on back."

"Back?"

"To the hair washing station."

"I just want to get a cut."

"I still need to wet it down and get conditioner through it."

"I just want a cut. Everyone's always just taken a spray bottle to wet it down, and cut it."

"I've been here a year, and I've never done it any other way. It's too long. It'll only by $15.99."

"Are you saying you won't cut my hair without that?"

"No.., but.."

I'm not going to pay extra for something that no one else has ever had to do. Being cranky is one thing. Wanting to subject me to those hair washing sinks (hard lip right on my scar? Um.. no.) is another. Charging for it, and being cranky is another. So I left. Too bad that guy had already left.

So, who was in the wrong?

[patiokitty]

I'd put my money on the hairdresser. She was trying to scam you, in my opinion. I think I'd be making a return visit there to talk to the manager of the place.

I have thick hair and even when it went past my butt I never had any hairdresser tell me that it was too long and that it had to be wet and conditioned before it could be handled. Wet, yes...but not conditioned. And the only way I'd accept being charged for a wash would be if _I_ asked for it.

[Sylvia727]

Strike one: Attitude. Being generally unfriendly, taking your custom for granted, and being rude about the wait. Strike two: Poor service. Failing to ask you what you want, failing to give you the service that you asked for, and failing to treat you as her social equal. Strike three: Scam. Trying to con you into buying something you don't want, and continuing to press on with the scam even after being called on it.

Aaaaaand she's out!

[ArcticChicken]

I've never had to get my hair washed and conditioned by the stylist. I often do but that's because I quite enjoy it.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Sounds pretty damn fishy to me. Occasionally when I had haircuts in the past they would wash my hair before cutting it, but never condition it, and it was never a prerequisite for a haircut.

I fail to see the SC aspect in this either. It's not sucky to refuse a good or service somebody is trying to push on you.

[marasbaras]

Definitely a sighting. In fact, being a little pushy or rude back would've been fine in my book given how she's totally full of it. I've often had my hair cut without the sink (although, I do love it so).

[badgegirl007]

I'm not defending the hairsdresser, because she was rude. I was a hairstylist for 14 years and I have told women the same thing she told you (in a NICE way though) but I worked in a salon where prices were not ala carte, the wash and style was all included with the cut. If a lady with hair down to the middle of her back and enough for three heads told me she just wanted it sprayed down, I honestly would tell her it would be easier for me to just wash it. Not only would it make my job easier but it would be a lot less painful for her (plus it can take a good 5 - 10 minutes to spray all that hair down). Plus, spraying with the spray bottle does not really remove a curl pattern; you do get a better cut if washed.

But if someone still refused after I explained it was A. included in the price and B. would be easier on her head, I would not press the issue. She was sucky to the max. The least she could have done was waived the fee for the wash if she felt she needed to do it before she cut your hair. i would have.

[Kelly Lynne]

Quoth badgegirl007

I worked in a salon where prices were not ala carte, the wash and style was all included with the cut. If a lady with hair down to the middle of her back and enough for three heads told me she just wanted it sprayed down, I honestly would tell her it would be easier for me to just wash it.

I think it's very different when it's included in the price. In that situation, you're not trying to upsell, you're trying to make your life and hers easier for the same cost to her.

My vote is definitely "sighting" and no suckiness on the OP's part.

If she'd been polite, explaining about the scar would have been a good thing, but as the hairdresser was rude, the OP was 110% justified in taking her business elsewhere.

[Becks]

Sighting all the way.

[technical.angel]

Quoth Kelly Lynne

the OP was 110% justified in taking her business elsewhere.

Thanks everyone, for making me feel better!

I just wish there was somewhere else to take my business to!