Advice needed: trivial wwyd. Long.

HappyAardvark

I got a big hair cut/color last month, and two days ago, had a follow up appointment for a partial foil to touch up my roots and a trim. The salon I go to isn't cheap but I love the girl I see, she really gets my hair, as dumb as that sounds.

Anyway, we sit in the chair before she starts, she says "why don't we touch up the roots and maybe brighten the highlights a bit." OK, great. She does my hair, we go to the front to pay. The front desk girl says, "that'll be 160 dollars." 160?!?!! I'm sure I blanched. That was wayyyy more than I budgeted for, for a partial foil and trim. I asked why it was so expensive, and the desk girl said that my stylist CHANGED it to a full foil. Ok, wtf. I was shocked and didn't know what to do in that moment.

Well, turns out that mommy brain decided for me, because I had forgotten my wallet at home when I took it out of my purse to pay for something the night before. No problem, she said, just call with a cc number when you get home.

So here I am. I need to take care of this today, but I'm mad. I'm mad she upcharged me without me knowing explicitly what she was doing. I'm mad at myself for being too taken aback to say something right then and there. Do I suck it up and just pay the full amount and chalk it up to a lesson learned, since she did do the work she's charging me for? Do I dispute it? I don't want to ruin my relationship with this stylist because she does great work, but I am really upset. I just paid nearly 200 in early October for her to do an awesome job on my hair, and I would never have agreed to pay so much again for another cut and color, so soon after that. Ugh. FWP, anyone?

CMonkey515

I would ask to speak with a manager and explain that your stylist only did a partial foil, but your being charged for a full. Maybe she just spaced out and told the receptionist the wrong thing. I wouldn't pay for the full foil if I were in that position, because that's not what you got. I'm sure the manager will be more than willing to adjust the price for you. They don't want to lose any business.

HappyAardvark

CMonkey515:

I would ask to speak with a manager and explain that your stylist only did a partial foil, but your being charged for a full. Maybe she just spaced out and told the receptionist the wrong thing. I wouldn't pay for the full foil if I were in that position, because that's not what you got. I'm sure the manager will be more than willing to adjust the price for you. They don't want to lose any business.

Here's the thing... I am 99 percent sure she DID do the full foil, which I wasn't aware was happening, when she said she wanted to "brighten up the color" ... in retrospect, I realized this. So yeah, she gave me a full foil, but under shady pretenses. I would not have agreed to it if I had been cognizant that was what was happening, just because we are on a budget and that's way more money than I wanted to spend.

CMonkey515

HappyAardvark:

Here's the thing... I am 99 percent sure she DID do the full foil, which I wasn't aware was happening, when she said she wanted to "brighten up the color" ... in retrospect, I realized this. So yeah, she gave me a full foil, but under shady pretenses. I would not have agreed to it if I had been cognizant that was what was happening, just because we are on a budget and that's way more money than I wanted to spend.

Ahh, I see. Yeah that is pretty shady. I don't see why she would need to do a full foil just to brighten up the highlights. Honestly I'd be tempted to mention it to a manager, but in reality I'm pretty passive in those types of situations. In the end I'd probably just pay it, and make sure to ask her exactly what she planned on charging you for at future visits.

Nita2603

I would pay for it, but I would make sure to mention to her that you are not happy about the way it happened. Especially if you are happy with her work in general, I would not want to jeopardize that since it is so hard to find a good stylist at least for me.

Sorry that happened to you. Are you at least thrilled by your hair?

joolz17

I would go back into the salon and talk to your stylist. Tell her you wish she had been clear she wasn't going to to do what you had booked and you're disappointed, but you will pay it this time.  Next time you'd appreciate it if she was up front about what service she intended to do. 

Ariana2O11

Woodsie:

I would probably ask something like "Oh, I was under the impression that she was just doing a partial foil to brighten the highlights. Can you please check with her to make sure I should be paying for a full foil?"

I guess it's kind of a passive way to let them know that there was a miscommunication about what was happening and what you were going to be charged for, but you're not overtly causing conflict with the stylist you like.

This. I'd do it this way also so that it makes her aware, yet avoids conflict. 

cantalopes24

Is your stylist there today and how far is it from you? It doesn't matter what she did, it's not what she told you that you were getting or what you agreed to. I would drive up and speak with the stylist and present it as a miscommunication between her and the front desk and tell her you only wanted the partial. The ball is then in her court to cop to what she did. If she tells you that you got the full I would tell her that you love her work but the price is too much and since you never agreed to the full highlights and hadn't budgeted almost200 by the time you tip. If she won't budge Id ask to meet with her and the manager. I wouldn't deal with it over the phone.

Elsa1984

If you plan on going back to her in the future, I would pay and be on alert next time.

cantalopes24

WineBaby22:

That's tough. I wouldn't want to ruin my relationship with my stylist, but "brightening up you highlights" does not equal full foil. It could mean a Malibu treatment or even a special shampoo rinse, both of which are cheaper than a full foil. What she did is super shady.

This . Also shouldn't she be worried about losing clients? If you just pay what's to stop her from doing it again? I find it hard to believe she wouldn't at the very least drop the price somewhat if you called her out. At my salon I go to the girls rent chairs and set their own pricing but the salon has a reputation and would want to know one of their stylists was doing something like that.

HappyAardvark

cantalopes24:

WineBaby22:

That's tough. I wouldn't want to ruin my relationship with my stylist, but "brightening up you highlights" does not equal full foil. It could mean a Malibu treatment or even a special shampoo rinse, both of which are cheaper than a full foil. What she did is super shady.

This . Also shouldn't she be worried about losing clients? If you just pay what's to stop her from doing it again? I find it hard to believe she wouldn't at the very least drop the price somewhat if you called her out. At my salon I go to the girls rent chairs and set their own pricing but the salon has a reputation and would want to know one of their stylists was doing something like that.

I have no idea if she's renting a chair... I want to say I'm assuming she's an employee of the salon, but that is a wild guess.

My BFF had her baby today, so I didn't get a chance to call. I think I'm going to call tomorrow and ask to speak to the front/office manager. I'll explain what happened and just leave it open ended and see if she offers anything, strongly emphasizing how I really had not budgeted for two months in a row of nearly 200 dollar cuts/colors.

If not, I'll probably pay and be more vigilant next time of any possible upcharges.