I can see that Laura has started a second Yelp. I was searching for her original
yelp to finish my review, and I came upon this one. I suppose I will finish here.
She took the time to tell me I would be
costing her money by using a groupon if I went to my appointment (a groupon that she advertised for her business, which can be used every 90 days as per the terms listed).
This was after four attempts to book. I was so excited to finally get my hair done! Until I got home at the end of the day, the night before my appointment, to a message essentially shaming me for booking through groupon.
She seemed to overlook the fact that I had messaged her back on February 18th, nearly 20 days prior:
"Hi Laura,
How much would it be to touch up the highlights we did just in the front like you recommended? " *with included photo of desired result.....
No response.
then two more attempts to book. No response.
Until I remembered that I booked through groupon last time, and that was how I got a response. Ok, so I went to groupon and found a deal. It had been more than 90 days since my last treatment...nearly 4 months, so I met the criteria to use groupon again, and I picked the treatment she had recommended at my last appointment, "half- head highlights." $49.99
I realize this is a great deal and I was excited. It is the deal she advertised.
So I messaged, now the fourth time to book and got the appointment. She was reluctant to do the groupon price but said she would.
Then the night before, I got this message:
"Hi.
If you purchased the Groupon you will need to refund it as I cannot accept it again. I can only accommodate you by giving you the original Groupon price. As a small business, I cannot afford to do Groupon for clients that I have done previously because it actually cost me money for someone to sit in my chair that has a Groupon. Since that is how I do my marketing...It is strictly a promotion for new clients."
I ended up cancelling my appointment because I did not want to cost her money. I was anxious she would ding me for her 24 hour policy, as I read was an issue from other reviewers, despite having valid reason for cancelling and even in her favor.
I'm upset because I made every effort to book asking what rate she wanted initially, and then picking the only rate listed online. I tried to book and offer her the rate she wanted! She wouldn't even give me an answer to the question.
I was patient during the lack of response to what date I could book.
I even endured being shamed for using a groupon, which she offers every 90 days.
Laura,
if you don't want to do haircuts for a certain rate, change your listed policies on groupon and specify that they are only for new clients on the groupon site. Also, answer when those clients come back and ask for the new rate is. Tell them what the new rate you want is so they can make the decision to book the new appointment with you. You lost what could have been a repeat customer. read more