I've been getting my hair colored for years. I've been going to salons for different services for decades. There is a difference between upscale salons and less expensive, more budget friendly salons (like Great Clips or Fantastic Sams). The budget salons will charge you a la carte for everything and will leave you with a wet head walking out the door unless you pay extra for a blow dry. This is expected since the service prices are so cheap.
Well .... imagine my surprise .... I'm at Salon 180 for partial highlights ($80) for my daughter - no cut or trim, although the stylist offered a blow dry. After the blow dry, I go to pay and the lady at the front desk tells me the total is $127. I tell her "no, we just came in for partial highlights for $80". Turns out, they don't tell you beforehand, but a blow dry here will cost you $32!! $32 for a blow dry that SHOULD BE INCLUDED for an $80 service in an upscale salon! Every place I have ever gone, including the place I go now (Lucia's in Hudson) the blow dry IS INCLUDED in the cut or color service! Not only that - not only does no one at Salon 180 tell you that they're about to gouge you $32 for something that should be included, but it's not on their website either. At least tell people somewhere, in some fashion, that they will be charged for something, or that something is not included in the price.
When I expressed my concern and told them that I felt taken advantage of, they made it worse by informing me that, oh yeah, and last time we were there we got charged the $32 fee too! And I didn't notice at that time, because the services then were more expensive and I somehow lost count. Is that supposed to make me feel better that I was taken advantage of multiple times?? I told her that it was wrong to not inform people of charges. She said that the stylists at Salon 180 don't tell people when they offer them a blow dry that it will cost them $32, because "it would be awkward". Are you kidding me? Is it awkward now?? Is it awkward for the customer when they go to pay and realize they just got taken advantage of?? For the prices Salon 180 charges, there is no excuse for this.
Then they tried to tell me that somehow THEY did ME a favor .... because they cut mea break on the price of the "Partial Balayage" (which is something the stylist just created evidently - and is slightly more expensive). Ummmmmm, we didn't ask for a "Partial Balayage". We asked for Partial Highlights, we scheduled Partial Highlights, and I even said directly to the stylist "Partial Highlights". Partial Highlights are $80. Since when do stylists take it upon themselves to change a service .... and then charge extra for that different service?? Oh geez, thanks??
Oh yeah, and they charge you for the "Toner" for your color too. You think it would be part and parcel of your proper highlights procedure, right? Of course?? Nope. Cough up more $$$. I'm surprised they didn't tack on a fee for the air we breathed.
How about this Salon 180 ..... inform your clients of charges. Be transparent and don't tack things on to people's bills or change their service just so you can make more $$$. And at least ACT like you care if someone feels upset or ripped off at your salon.
As for me ..... from now on I'm going to LUCIA'S right up the road in Hudson. THERE they openly disclose all prices, what is and is not included, do a beautiful job, are just as (if not more) upscale, and for the record ... the blow dry is included with the color services there (and cuts!). read more