haircut in London - rip off!!!!

WolfSong2000

I've just got back from a day in London trying to get some stuff sorted with BUNAC, a student company (whole other saga :mad:), and wanted to get a cheap haircut, which is possible in London...I usually go to a Mr. Topper's, but on my way to one spotted another hairdresser (wish to God now I'd taken a card so could remember the name, but I know where they are), who were advertising haircuts for £6 (Mr Topper's is £6 for men, £12 for ladies, but this place said £6 for both). it didn't say "from £6" or anything like that...just £6.

Anyhow, went in and spoke to one of the guys working there (think he was chinese, but never asked, so can't be sure). He quoted me £8, which I thought was fair enough as my hair is very thick and I wanted it blow dried. I confirmed this verbally with him, and then offered to pay upfront, but he told me to pay afterward.

Anyhow, to cut a long story short - cut was okay...not brilliant and he was quick and a little off-hand, but then again for £8 I wasn't expecting much. He cut off a lot more than he said he would, and never bothered to ask me how I normally wear my hair (naturally curly) before straightening it, and cutting it some more :eek:...God knows what it'll look like after it's been washed and goes back to being "natural".

So that's done, I say I'm happy with it, get to the till and he charges me £28!!!!! :mad: I queried this, saying they quote £6 an I'd already agreed to £8, not £28, but he was having none of it, so I ended up having to pay...am absolutely furious, and will take it to trading standards, but first have to go back and get a card so I can get company name and details (damn my poor memory!). I was shocked and appalled as I could have got a much better for for £30 at my usual hairdresser, but wanted to save money...guess that'll teach me.

willo65

I would have flat out refused to pay the extra, he couldn't make you.

WolfSong2000

willo65 wrote: »

I would have flat out refused to pay the extra, he couldn't make you.

I suspect he could have done one way or the other...anyhow, it was an awkward situation and I'm not one for confrontations in personal situations (if it had happened to a friend of mine while I was there, I probably would have kicked off, but that's just me ).

No easy way to handle a situation like that from my POV...just have to be more careful next time and get a written conformation when I go to a new hairdressers.

missymugwump

You expected a cut & blow dry/straighten for £8 ?

Cut & blow dry indicates it must of been wet presumably by them washing it ?

Surely you must of been at cross purposes ?
Did the guy you spoke to carry it out ?
Or did he say £8 for a cut & then you moved to someone else for the treatment ?
I don't see how a salon could possibly offer a wash cut dry/straighten for £8
And if it was offered to me I would be expecting it to be wrong
The commercial rents in London are horrendous they would be out of business in days

If you are 100% sure that you were 100% clear & that there was no barrier ie.. language that could explain the difference in price you should speak to trading standards straight away

Seems very odd

WolfSong2000

missymugwump wrote: »

You expected a cut & blow dry/straighten for £8 ?

Cut & blow dry indicates it must of been wet presumably by them washing it ?

Surely you must of been at cross purposes ?
Did the guy you spoke carry it out ?
Or did he say £8 for a cut & then you moved to someone else for the treatment ?
I don't see how a salon could possibly offer a wash cut dry/straighten for £8
And if it was offered to me I would be expecting it to be wrong
The commercial rents in London are horrendous they would be out of business in days

If you are 100% sure that you were 100% clear & that there was no barrier ie.. language that could explain the difference in price you should speak to trading standards straight away

Seems very odd

Well, as I said, Topper's manage it for £12...it's a case of quantity over quality. You're not guaranteed an amazing cut, and you may have to wait for it (walk-in service), but it's cheap. Also, the speed with which he did everything - hair wash, cut, etc...I was in there less than an hour, no products were used on my hair (including before he straightened it, which I was a bit miffed at as my hair's dry enough anyhow). I wasn't expecting anything grand, and the haircut I walked out with, while nice, doesn't justify it's £28 price tag. If nothing else, I could argue that he cut off a good few more inches than he told me he would, as I now have a longer "bob" style .

Anyhow, what's done is done...hopefully either myself or my father will be back in London in the next few weeks and can get details so I can pass it onto trading standards.

chuckley

y did u pay?! u coulda just walked out. I would have!!!!!

Stephb1986_2

I'd of told him where to get off! He wouldn't of took the money out of your purse I would of threw a tenner at him and walked out.

I've paid £18 for a cut n blow it was reasonable and I was happy with it.

Steph xx

Alias_Omega

I pay £8 for a no2 on top, 1 on the sides. I always ask before i have my hair-cut how much it will be.

I blame the minimum wage, for pushing my hair cut from £3.50 to £8.00.

I would say its fair for the area, but if you dont fix a price before the hair cut, then your open to be overcharged.

staffie1

Alias_Omega wrote: »

I blame the minimum wage, for pushing my hair cut from £3.50 to £8.00.

Do you? So do you think it's OK that people have to work their backsides off all day for buttons as long as you don't have to pay more than 3 quid for your haircut...?

shelovestobuystuff

£8 is very very cheap for a hair cut,wash and blowdry too.I would have assumed I had misheard.
You were in there for under an hour,was that almost an hour then?for £8 you thought.
The ladies hairdressers in my area charge almost £30 for a cut and trim,if you get blowdryed too its classed as a cut and style so even more.I just go to the barber and get a dry trim which takes 5 minutes or less and costs about £7.