In October I purchased a salon package for $60 that included a haircut, facial, and manicure, among other things, from a man standing outside my University. It was for a salon named Dolce Vita.
When I went to get my haircut, I was strongly and rudely pressured to get highlights, a cream treatment, and other unnecessary services that I didn't want, nor could I afford. After standing my ground for at least the first 20 minutes by refusing any other treatment, the hair stylist gave me the worst cut I've ever received. I honestly believe I could have done better myself. She spent 3 and a half minutes chopping my hair into horrible layers that, 4 months later, have still not grown out, and then after I accepted her offer of a blow-dry, charged me $50 for it.
As soon as I got home and did a search for Dolce Vita on Citysearch, I realized that this company survived off of scamming people (especially targeting students) into paying much more than the market value for haircuts, highlights, etc. There were multiple stories of people being charged $300-500 for bad highlights that they were pressured into buying after having signed up for simply a "discount" haircut. I immediately called the salon and asked to speak to the owner but was never able to get in touch with him. Needless to say, I did not go back to get the rest of my "services" from the salon.
Last week, I got a text message saying that Dolce Vita had closed, but that they'd opened a new salon and to text back for details. I found out by replying to the text message that the new salon is named Gisu, just a few blocks from the old salon.
More than anything else, I would like to force this ownership to close. It is hard to believe that a business like this can survive in America without being taken to court, but I feel helpless in being able to do anything.
Thanks for taking the time to read my report.
0 comments