BEWARE: In February of 2025, we purchased a gift card for a family member. The gift card…read morerecipient visited the salon on May 1st, 2025. I was embarrassed and disheartened to learn that the nail salon receptionist insisted that the recipient of the gift card pay an additional $10: even though the gift card was clearly labeled for a regular "manicure and pedicure." The customer received a regular manicure and pedicure (with no extras or premium treatment(s), such as "special colors,") so there was no reason to have insisted that the customer pay additional money beyond the value of the original (unexpired) gift certificate.
Note: The gift certificate was purchased in February of 2025 and the service took place on May 1, 2025. When the customer asked for an explanation for the extra cost, no explanation was provided.
***I am not surprised to learn that this is the SECOND review noting this poor business practice.***
Even if the prices of the services had/have increased since February of 2025, then the individual working there should have respectfully explained that change. However, the salon did not have the prices of their services posted at the time when the customer arrived on May 1st, 2025. I had a friend visit the salon on May 2nd to confirm that no prices had been posted (as the gift card recipient reported this detail to me). Despite evertheless, it is best practice
Also, please note that a generous tip was provided to the nail technician(s): IN ADDITION to the extra $10 that was (erroneously) charged to the customer.
I respectfully reported this situation to the salon, by phone, on the next day, but was unable to speak with the owner as the individual who answered the phone claimed that the owner was out-of-town. I left my phone number with the female who had answered the phone and asked for the owner (*****) to please return my call. I asked the lady on the phone if the owner's name was still ***** (as I had lived locally and visited this salon, in my 20s, and recalled her name); the female confirmed the owner's name. The female on the phone explained "maybe she got special color," but I insisted that the customer was not advised of any extra charges and the concept of "special color" was not even mentioned during her visit to the salon.
All in all, after this phone call, I suggested that the gift card recipient visit the salon on the next day. The customer explained the situation and was handed back a $10 bill to account for the overcharge amount.
I do have concerns that this is a business practice that happens when the owner is out-of-town.
Additionally, a friend of mine visited the salon in the days after this incident and reported that the salon did not have signs indicating the prices of the services, which, according to a representative at the Consumer Affairs Department, is allegedly not legal.
I always had a pleasant experience visiting this salon in the past, so I was surprised to have learned of this unpleasant experience. The purpose of gifting a gift card to a friend is to allow him/her to have a pleasant, worry-free experience!
The customer reported that the service she received was great; she was simply put off by the fact that more money was being demanded, at the time of payment, without any clear explanation.
