Have been going to Alexander's for many years. The last two years, quality is fair, but inconsistent. Their stylists are MOSTLY good-- there's a male stylist that perpetually tells clients their hair is in a "transitional" phase and encourages it to be "natural," which translates into he can't really figure out how to cut or style it, so you pay 50 bucks for bleh. Alexanders raised all their prices in the past year or so. At one point maybe 2-3 years ago, I actually would have understood a $75 massage. Their dark, quiet sanctuary in the back let you relax mentally before you underwent your massage. They since did away with that room and changed it to a smaller, cramped area that they can't wait to rush you from. Not that you can relax, when half the staff is wearing clunky heeled shoes that BANG BANG BANG on the floor as they walk around back there. The rushing also negates the wine / tea / coffee / flavored water offerings, that you have no time to enjoy. Only one or two masseuses actually do a decent job, Vicky was always pretty good. None of the fountains were working in the massage rooms, which takes away from the ambience and atmosphere (they make enough money, repair them, already.) Product sale pushes throughout styling services are annoying, as is the "cash only" tipping now. But by and far my biggest complaint is the whole "paper slip" deal with charging for services. Not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES, they overcharged me for services I did not have! The first time it happened, when I started to ask about a breakdown of the bill (I had had several services done, I knew roughly it would be about $300, and she rang me up for 425$) the girl at the desk got loud and rude and cut me off, told me sharply "Prices went up, it is what it is," followed by staring at me and making me feel like an idiot in front of other customers. So I paid it. Next session with my stylist, who again pushed for foils, I declined politely and explained a 250 hairstyle didn't seem reasonable. She looked surprised, then went over previous prices, and yep, totally got ripped off on that one! No reimbursement offered. That exact day, went downstairs to pay, girl rang me up for 110 for a cut and gloss. Hello?? Don't see how 45 and 20 makes 110. When I called her on it, she said oh yeah, "someone" must have written it wrong, looked like a color instead of a gloss. Fast forward 6 weeks, same exact thing again. Makes you wonder how many women they make feel like cheapskate idiots in front of other customers so they overpay without asking, doesn't it..? I was told at one point the girls that answer the phone write down the services, and so whatever they write, they charge you for. Thats also why they tried to charge me for a classic pedi instead of an express. This aspect really takes away from their overall appeal. Check your slips, folks!!
My gel manis were always good, as were pedis. Quality of haircuts generally good, depends on who you get. Michelle is great. Brea's always been the best.
They have a new "points" program now. You get $ off after accumulating so many dollars in services. If you don't specifically ASK the girls at checkout about it, they certainly aren't telling you.
End of the day, it's Scranton, not much more to choose from. Pick a non-busy mid week mid day to get most for your money.
Update: Just went for a gel mani before Thanksgiving on Wednesday. By Saturday, 4 nails were chipped and peeling. Ugh. Fab. Pedi seems to still be holding up. read more