I called Skoon Salon to ask what their rates were for a haircut and was told that it depended on the person but that they started at $45. I then asked if there was a stylist available that day who could give me a $45 cut and was told yes, and so I went ahead and made appt. Was told it would be with "Lila".
Went to appointment, got a haircut which took a total of 15 minutes including blow dry, style, etc. The man who had quoted me the price over the phone, who is also the owner, husband of said stylist and cashier, walked away when I went to pay, and so the stylist rang me up. I was shocked to see a total of $95. I told her there was a huge discrepancy over the price I was given over the phone and this charge.
The stylist then started trying to justify the discrepancy, saying that the reeceptionist/cashier/owner had "probably thought I was a UM student, and that UM students usually get uncomplicated trims, not specialty cuts". She also said that the price was more because she had used razor scissors on my hair, and she had dryed my hair and used an iron on it. None of these reasons make any sense to me. These things are typically part of the overall cost of a haircut, not specialties to be separately charged for.
I was visibly very shocked and unhappy, and the stylist, as if it were a concession, told me she would knock it down to $75, still substantially higher than the price I had been given. I paid it because I just wanted to leave. The whole transaction felt very orchestrated and there is no question in my mind that this was not a mere misunderstanding. I am certain that this cannot be the first time they have done this.
I was very clear over the phone when I made my appointment that I wanted a $45 haircut. I was not asked if I was a UM student, which should hardly matter since they offer no special discounts for student haircuts, and I was not told that different cuts cost different amounts, or that using razor scissors would up the cost. The idea that any of this should raise the cost of a haircut from $45 to $95 is so absurd that I can hardly believe it.
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