I regret having to give this rating to any business, however, there is value in giving owners a…read moreheads up.
I went to the Pittsfield shop on Sunday, September 30. There were two barbers working. The floor was notably dirty, with pieces of tissue which hadn't been picked up. The backbars were generally in some order, however, the personalization by some of the barbers gave an overall sloppy look to the shop, especially with the dirty floors.
The more experienced barber (in this shop, I learned later) told the other that he had a 1 pm appointment, and that he would return by that time, and he exited. That left the barber who cut my hair. Please know that I stopped at Sim's en route to Maine from Pennsylvania, because I was impressed by the owner's YouTube interview and, needing a trim, was eager to stop in when I learned of the shop's Sunday opening.
The barber I had did introduce himself, and I'm remiss in not remembering it now. It may have been "Will". I had brought a couple of photos of what I wanted done, which were very close to the way I was wearing it that day. We discussed what he would do - a high taper in the back, with no hair cut above the taper's color line (I'm in my 60's), and as much of a dark shadow below it as possible. I also said that I wear a low "business pomp" at the front, and that I comb the front up and then over to the right, with my part on the left. I may as well have made no effort whatsoever to explain what I wanted. Two minutes into his cutting, he took two large fingers of a pomade and slicked the front flat, combed back and over, nearly a slickback, with no attempt at a low pomp or a wave in front. I use pomade and paste as well, but I do not plaster my hair flat, and he combed this slickback for what seemed like five minutes. No harm - it could be washed out. However he spent the rest of the haircut giving me what I'd describe as a "high and somewhat tight" which means he left no more than 1/4 inch of hair from my nape to my crown, completely eradicating the long hair which had come down in the back to meet the taper. On the left, he did leave enough to barely part my hair, but the hair below the part was much too short, and on the right, he left a jagged shelf where the long top hair meets the side, the latter being buzzed (again) to no more than 1/4" and VERY high. Perhaps he wanted the effect of a huge RECON. If so, the result was very weak, even had it been a field cut.
While cutting, he told me he was new at Sim's,having abruptly left another shop after a disagreement with the owner. He told me he was starting over,but that he was "good". Perhaps that is so, if I was aching to convert to a neo-Nazi militia. I should have inquired about stiff new jeans, clip on braces,white sox and I've forgotten the brand name of the boots, though my daughter wore several pairs fifteen years ago in high school. Ah, yes, Doc Martin's!
Overall, you hopefully can understand my disappointment. As for the barber, I hope his anger quiets and he proves to be as good as he claims - and that his listening skills improve. As for the shape of the shop, it needs attention, from both management and the barbers who work there. The owner has another, more upscale salon in Great Barrington and may have neglected to recall that any grooming establishment should appear to be groomed itself, at all times, his barber shop included. I'll bet some fantastically good cuts leave Sim's, from other barbers, but mop the floor, people! I received a grunge cut in a grungy looking shop. Time to pay attention to basics. Next time I want my retro 1940's hair cut, I'll wait until Monday, and look for an aging but skilled Italian barber who knows his way around clippers, scissors and putting in his hearing aid, religiously!