Wednesday 19 November 2008

unfair pricing

I could make this a long drawn out story because I've been following my current hair stylist from salon to salon over the last two years, but the gist of it is that when I found him I stepped into the salon asking about prices and he handed me the brochure. In one of my more outgoing moments I asked him if there was a different price for really short women's hair because it specified after a certain length women would be charged more. He looked at me to gauge how I would react then said, "I don't want to offend you, but your style would actually be considered a men's style." I wasn't offended, especially since a men's style was at least £15 cheaper than a woman's style. That was the start of our hair relationship. He's been great: good conversation, good styling, good price. Today's appointment has upset the goodness of the relationship. When I arrived the receptionist told me Andy (this is my stylist) wasn't in today because he may have broken his pinky finger. Poor Andy! Another stylist was available and since I hadn't washed my hair and was heading straight to work after I kept the appointment. She was nice and cut my hair without problem but when it came to paying she became a problem. She said that basically Andy shouldn't be charging me for only a men's style (£18) but rather a women's style (£32). And that she's been told by her boss (the salon owner), who is going to have a word with Andy about it when he comes back, that she has to charge me £32 and Andy will be doing the same from now on. I explained to her that I think it is unfair I have to pay nearly twice as much simply because I am a woman. She said she understood my perspective but that she has to charge all of her customers the same and so does Andy. I was getting special treatment which she couldn't let go on.

I feel frustrated and angry and ready to take on the establishment about this. It's not right. Andy books me in for a men's style so I know it doesn't take any longer in time and that my hair is actually less complicated than some of the men's styles I have seen. It really angers me enough that I want to never return to that salon, but I don't think that's fair to Andy. He's hinted that he might be leaving that salon for another and today I am really hopeful he's telling the truth so that I can go back to my fairly and reasonably priced hair cuts. What should I do in the meantime though?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I am still sulking from when I last visited a hairdresser back in 2005. The 'trim' took less than 5 mins. I politely refused blow drying as they charge extra for it. The girl quickly towel dried my hair, parted it like I was a 5 year old on my first day of school. Then charged me $42. By the time I got home my back was soaked and no one could tell I'd even had my hair cut.

I haven't been to a hairdresser since. Every so often I badger a girlfriend into trimming it for me.

But I'm sure it obvious and probably looks shocking. Still I tell myself it is right and noble to suffer for your principles.

Oh.. so obviously.. I'm with you 100% on this. :)