QUICK: Hair cut was good, environment is nice, management and booking experience left a LOT to be desired, issues with website booking. Note to Management: the CUSTOMER is always right.
DETAILED: I have been going to a competitor a few blocks away for quite a while. Said competitor has issues in that they don't allow you to make an appointment (a la supercuts or some mall-type butcher shop). I had to endure multiple bad to mediocre haircuts before finding someone I like. The problem is, without an appointment I often found myself waiting 45-60 minutes for a haircut, with no idea how long I would be out of the office. I just want to find a person that does a good job and that I can make an appointment to see.
A colleague recommended a specific stylist at Emerson James. I did my research online and found that I could book an appointment with a specific person at a specific time. I tried to book with that person on a Thursday, but she was unavailable. I searched online to find her next available appointment and was booked an appointment with a specific person at a specific time. I was given confirmation.
I showed up for the haircut and was greeted with a friendly smile and taken to a seat. After being given a glass of water, I waited for my stylist to call me. Unfortunately, someone completely different suddenly shows up and I asked why she was cutting my hair. I was told they moved me around to accommodate someone. That's exactly why I quit going to the other place!!!
Now, to be fair, the lady that cut my hair was friendly and did a decent job. I was very polite to her and thanked her for her time. At checkout, I asked to speak with a manager. At first there was hesitation on the part of the cashier, but the manager (who I knew from the website) was standing next to her, so she eventually came over.
I calmly explained that I was satisfied with the haircut, but I explained why I left the competitor and that I booked an appointment with a specific person at a specific time. I asked why I was changed to someone else without notification at the last minute. Their website indicates customers will be charged for making changes to appointments (50% if within 8 hours, 100% if within 3 hours). This seems analogous to me - they canceled my appointment with the stylist 1 minute before it began.
First, I got a lot of attitude from the manager. She tried to tell me I was wrong, that I made a mistake in booking and that I selected any staffer. I told her that was not the case, and I was again told that I was wrong. She then explained that she switched stylists without telling me to accommodate someone that was there for another (more expensive) treatment. Playing favorites and moving me around is what caused me to leave the other place.
I told the manager I would just pay and not come back if her attitude was that I was wrong. She said OK. I put my card on the table and then she got more attitude and told me it was on them. I said OK and left.
Credit to them for doing the right thing and not charging me (honestly, I would have settled for a discount and a promise that I could get the person I selected next time). I went back to the office to see if she was right - maybe I did screw up in booking the appointment. I went through the exercise again on the website and it turns out I was NOT wrong. There is a problem with the website.
I called the manager to (calmly and politely) explain that they have a problem with their website. I thanked her for doing the right thing, to be met with more attitude. I then pointed out the problem with the website. She said she did not disagree and then told me good luck with my life.
So - Five Stars for the haircut, minus One Star for moving me to another stylist without telling me, and minus another star for the terrible attitude and customer service = 3 Stars.
NOTE TO OWNER: If you're going to charge $50 for a haircut, you might want to be nice to your customers. "The customer is always right." (And in this case, I was literally, technically and figuratively correct.) read more