Poop For Your Self-Esteem!
Sorry, that's what they should call it.
I'm really not a mean or angry person. Most of my reviews on Yelp are positive. But today I had the WORST customer service experience of my life! And you know what? This review isn't even based on only that. It is based on that PLUS the fact that I've been here several times and never really had a decent haircut from them. Why did I keep coming, you ask? Because it's very easy for me to get to, and I REALLY want to like it! It has a cool name. And it does smell like chocolate in there. But today I have to accept that it's just really, really badly managed. And with this review I'm burning this mother******* bridge to the ground.
I had a photo shoot today for my professional website, and I figured if I book a trim and basic blow-dry, that's pretty hard for them to screw up, right? Wrong! I know, I know, I should have known better. But it has served me in life to be generally forgiving! To a point.
I booked a photographer and a space for noon, downtown. Several hundreds of dollars! Days in advance, I made a 10am appointment at CFYB online, and I received an email confirmation of my appointment. Because I knew the timing would be tight, I washed my own hair right before the appointment. I called at 9:45 to let them now I'd be a few minutes late. Here's how the conversation went.
Connor (the receptionist): Chocolate for your Body, can you please hold? (This is another thing! They ALWAYS make you hold when you call, before you can get a word in! I've even wondered if they're just trained to do that, because it's never been busy when I've been in there).
Me: Sure.
Now it's 9:50
Connor: Good morning, Chocolate for your body.
Me: I'm going to be like 5 minutes late for my 10am appointment. Unless it's a problem, in which case I'll come now. I can still make it on time.
Connor : I don't have you down for today, sorry.
Me. But I have an email confirmation.
Connor: Please hold.
This is the part that pisses me off. I extended them the courtesy of holding several times, and it's what screwed everything up. Now it's 9:55.
Connor: I'm really sorry. I see that you did make an appointment, and I made a mistake. I didn't enter it into the schedule. I'm really sorry.
Me: Connor, listen to me. I'm ready to start crying right now. I have a photo shoot downtown today in less than 2 hours. I really need this blow dry. I can still come right now. Please work with me. I can be there in 2 minutes. This is VERY IMPORTANT.
Connor: Hold on, let me ask the stylist.
Have you ever been cock-blocked from something you really, really want? You know that horrible, sinking feeling when you first realize the cock-block is happening? This is the feeling I'm having right now. Now it's 10:00
Connor: I'm really sorry. There's not enough time because someone's coming in at 10:30.
Me: Connor LISTEN TO ME. I'm PISSED. You just admitted this is your fault. It's 10:00 now. I keep telling you I can be there in 2 minutes. I can be there at 10:02. It really shouldn't take long. My hair is washed and wet, and ready to blow dry.
Connor: Hold on.
Now it's 10:05
Connor: I talked to the stylist and one thing I can do is call our 10:30 appointment and ask her to come later, would that work?
Me: (Sinking sinking feeling.) Ok
Connor calls me back at 10:10
Connor: I'm really sorry, I can't reach her...
Me: Connor, please help me. I really need you to honor my appointment, which is the least you could do. Just let me come by right now, PLEASE! I did realize that I was yelling. But I was standing there with wet hair, full makeup, all dressed up for my photo shoot, and perhaps the saddest look of desperation I've ever worn. I was a hot mess.
Connor: Could you hold on another second?
Now it's 10:15. I seriously think they could have styled my hair beautifully in the time it took them to sort their shit out.
Connor: The stylist won't take you, I'm really sorry.
Me (and now I'm PISSED): This 10:30 customer, is it Madonna? (I really said this.) And who is this stylist? I can't believe this! Can I speak to the manager?
Connor: Actually the stylist is the owner's daughter, so......
I hung up and styled my own hair.
But you know what? I learned 3 really valuable lessons today! 1) As a customer, I am not important to CFYB. This is actually really valuable information. 2) When you get bad, "sorry but not that sorry" service, move on! I could have prevented this experience by remembering my last visit (which I won't get into); and 3) I'm much better than I thought at styling my own hair. :-) It turned out pretty well. read more