Punchline: the business didn't honor the terms of a Groupon (they asked for additional payment to provide full services of the Groupon). Also, the address is wrong and it doesn't look like mgmt has taken any steps to correct or help customers find the correct location.
See below if you want the full story...
New in town and looking to find "my places" for things nails, hair, waxing, etc. I see a Groupon that was about 70% discounted from normal prices -- which is large discount, but that's the way Groupon works, offer a big discount to reel in new clientele and then wow them so they keep coming back. Well, I don't think anyone explained that to managers/owners of Brazilian Wax Studios.
The Groupon clearly states that is for a Brazilian Wax. A Brazilian Wax is defined as removing hair from front and back. Additionally, Brazilian Wax Studios' own website has the service listed with the definition, "take off as much it as little hair as you want," and has the service listed at the same price as what Groupon values the service (before discount). So I'm thinking, great discount, low stakes way to see if I like this place and want to come back. So I pulled the trigger and bought it.
The day of the appointment, the person that checks me in is very nice and asks me if I found them through Groupon. I confirm that I did and she proceeds to explain how the Groupon works -- which is odd because Groupon is pretty up front, you buy a service that is clearly defined on the Groupon at a discount, present the Groupon at the merchant, and receive the service that was defined in the Groupon. She lets me know that because the Groupon price is so discounted, the service would only be for the front and that if I wanted the back, that would be an extra amount. I argue that Groupon is for a "Brazilian Wax" not a "Full Bikini Wax." She explains that the Brazilian Wax normally does include both front and back but that her manager made the decision to charge extra for the back when customers have a Groupon. What?! You sell a Groupon for something and then decide that you priced it too low and therefore will only provide half the service you promised?!
The additional amount was small and reasonable...it would have resulted in services that were 50% off retail value. It's not the price that I take issue with, it's the principle...don't offer me a dozen eggs and then tell me I can only get six eggs after I've already paid. Either update the price on Groupon to be what you think is appropriate or change the description to match the services actually being offered. Anything else is dishonest and manipulative and I don't what to do business with merchants that operate that way.
I declined service, let the person know what a horrible experience this had all been and walked out. The person checking me in continued to be very nice so kudos to her but mgmt decisions negated all of that. In fairness, I didn't receive service so I cannot comment on skill for waxing.
I have asked for a Groupon refund. We'll see how that turns out. read more