Advice needed with a fussy client

SalonGeek

Help Support SalonGeek:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Missy G

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
1,641
Reaction score
27
Location
Berkshire
Hi all , just need some advice with an awkward client I ve been going to for a while .

From day one she trys to get her nails cheaper off of me ,she told me at the beginning she wouldnt be able to afford to have them done on a fortnightly basis so goes every three weeks.

She firstly had Bio overlays and within a week contacted me complaining about the whites chipping,and said to me shed had them done before with no problem.Anyhow at the time I couldnt get round to seenig her so she went and got a set of acrylics done by some one else..then come back to me running this other tech down.

When I went to see her next shed lost about four of the acrylic ext. I advised to soak off the rest as they looked a bit naff and Id do a fresh set.Well she ummed n rred and asked if Id just charge for the new set and not the soak off, so to keep her happy I did.

She then phoned me yesterday to inform me the cheque she wrote me may bounce as shed lost her cheque book and had cancelled all cheques and she complained of slight lifting on her nails afterfour days.I was in her area this eve so I said Id pop in .

When I got there she said shed contacted the bank , the cheque should be ok as shed spoken to the bank about my cheque,she had remembered the cheque number from the stub....but I thought shed lost the cheque book.:rolleyes:

On setting my gear up I noticed she was sat at the table with her fingers in mouth , and when I asked to see her nails she had my nute lifting,she says she is wearing gloves and using cuticle oil.

Whats annoying me with this client is shes complaining at the slightest fault,keeps trying to get her nails cheaper,and wants to book in every 3 weeks coz she cant afford it,how do I deal with her, she gets me down,I dont get any other clients complaining about lifting!!!:irked:
 
Do you have a different price for 2 and 3 weeks rebalances?
Do you charge her for repairs (missing nails etc)?

I would say that if she had her fingers/nails in her mouth while you were there that she's probably getting her enhancements in between her teeth and applying pressure and causing problems for herself (and you too).
 
I charge extra for over 3 weeks , but same price or 2-3 weeks,and I would normally charge for repairs ,but as I said I was in the area and said I would pop in , when she said she was following her after care advice,I carried on with the procedure, and when I finished she didnt offer me nothing for coming to her.
 
I agree with Sandi. I have different prices for 2 or 3 weeks and I charge for repairs.

Clients like this will always push it, I fix a smile on my face and ask what they have done (tip from Gigi) it is hard but you have to keep pushing back.

It isn't easy and you have my sympathy:hug:
 
You might not like this Debbie :hug:, but, I think you might need to harden up a bit hunny.
Charge her what you need to for the service provided, make sure she KNOWS that you are in business and aren't in it for the fun of it.

x
 
I agree with Sandi. I have different prices for 2 or 3 weeks and I charge for repairs.

Clients like this will always push it, I fix a smile on my face and ask what they have done (tip from Gigi) it is hard but you have to keep pushing back.

It isn't easy and you have my sympathy:hug:

Aw thanks I may just do this in future, its not untill you come across clients like this, you realise need to set some rules other wise they expect you to jump for free ,I can see shes going to keep taking the pee in future, trouble is now its probly too late to say Im going to charge extra for 3 weeks though.
 
Oooh we got out of sync there. This woman will carry on doing this unless you'take a stand' as Sandi says - I wish you luck, I know how hard it is. Do you only do mobile ? I found it much easier once I had my home salon, they are less bolshie off their own patch I find.:hug::hug::hug:
 
Make it your New Year price list Debbie, tell her now so that she has plenty of warning.

Clients like this are everywhere and WE ALL have at least one of them, once you TELL HER the ground rules she'll learn to respect them and at the end of the day, if she doesn't like them, she can go elsewhere :hug:
 
You might not like this Debbie :hug:, but, I think you might need to harden up a bit hunny.
Charge her what you need to for the service provided, make sure she KNOWS that you are in business and aren't in it for the fun of it.

x


Lol I know ,I know I can be a soft touch , this is where I struggle in this buisness,I just took her word for it that she d been following her after care advice, and thought may be the lifting was down to me doing poor prep, and thats why I said Id come and see her.
 
Oooh we got out of sync there. This woman will carry on doing this unless you'take a stand' as Sandi says - I wish you luck, I know how hard it is. Do you only do mobile ? I found it much easier once I had my home salon, they are less bolshie off their own patch I find.:hug::hug::hug:


Yes ,I am only mobile, I get frustrated even before I step into her front door as its a nightmare parking in the evening in her road as shes only available for evening appointments!!!
 
im the same,i feel guilty for charging people for repairs etc...
but if a client comes to me and has broken or chip there nail etc... i always ask them what THEY have done and they usually answer me.
you will always get a client like this and as easy as it is for me to say you do need to put your foot down (maybe i should also take my own advice,lol)
good luck hun.xx
 
2 week £20
3 week £25
4 week £30
Replace per nail at maintenance appointment £2.50
Replace one nail outside maintenance appointment £5.00
Replace per nail outside maintenance appointment £3.50

The above prices are what I charge and I make sure at my client consultation that they understand my pricing structure. I rarely have anyone who needs to come outside their maintenance appointments now. They take better care of them when they know they have to pay. Hope this helps you. :)
 
2 week £20
3 week £25
4 week £30
Replace per nail at maintenance appointment £2.50
Replace one nail outside maintenance appointment £5.00
Replace per nail outside maintenance appointment £3.50

The above prices are what I charge and I make sure at my client consultation that they understand my pricing structure. I rarely have anyone who needs to come outside their maintenance appointments now. They take better care of them when they know they have to pay. Hope this helps you. :)


Yes thanks that helps, Im sure she ll be on the phone again soon and I will say to her I will come out but there will be a charge this time , heh if I was givin out freebees to every tom **** n harry my biz would end up running as a loss,and if she feels shes having problems with her nails I suggest she sticks to 2 week appointments ah!:)
 
As you are finding this particular client difficult to deal with (yes we all get them), how about sending her by post your brochure or price list.
Seems to me that she is confused slightly as to your pricing structure. I have done this in the past stating to client at appointment - Oh by the way I am getting my new brochures soon and will be sending them out by post so you have my price list always at hand. Make sure you have stated clearly on there that all repairs or replacements must be paid for.
 
As you are finding this particular client difficult to deal with (yes we all get them), how about sending her by post your brochure or price list.
Seems to me that she is confused slightly as to your pricing structure. I have done this in the past stating to client at appointment - Oh by the way I am getting my new brochures soon and will be sending them out by post so you have my price list always at hand. Make sure you have stated clearly on there that all repairs or replacements must be paid for.


Ok will do , thanks:hug:.
 
Ah - I feel for you :(

I used to have a client like this, she would really push it with me & only book in if I had an offer going (when I 1st opened). Luckily for me, when I stopped the offere, she stopped coming :) Hurrah!

Another client, I did a treatment on 31st July & am still waiting to be paid! She cancelled TWO cheques, keeps telling me she will drop the money in & keeps "forgetting".

Good luck, I like the idea about posting her a brochure.

x
 
rom day one she trys to get her nails cheaper off of me ,she told me at the beginning she wouldnt be able to afford to have them done on a fortnightly basis so goes every three weeks.

She firstly had Bio overlays and within a week contacted me complaining about the whites chipping,and said to me shed had them done before with no problem.

Okay if she goes longer than she should do and it takes you longer then charge for it. You can't afford to give her "free" time either!!!

If she went elsewhere and had no problems then why isn't she going back there? Oh how some people like to reinvent the truth!!!

I had a client like this, although she complained cos they wouldn't last EIGHT WEEKS!!! She went elsewhere but came back with them in a right state. So I sat her down and said it was so lovely to see her back (even though to be honest it wasn't!!), asked if she was happy with what I did, and then said that all my clients come every 2-3 weeks beause they like their nails to look their best. If she wanted to go 8 weeks then she could but I would have to charge her full set price because of the extra time it took. She didn't like it, but if a client is going to come to me then I call the shots. NOT THEM!!!
 
Hi Debbie:hug:
Why are you worrying about this client when you are going to sunny Corfu on Monday?

I think you are making her get to you too much. Dont dump her, be very stern with her. Charge her for everything, repairs, 3-4 week infills etc.

As I told a client once who was asking for discount as she was an "older" client. I dont get discount when I go to suppliers for all of my products, nor do I get discount for being a single parent, lol!
She soon paid up!

Send her to me and I'll charge her £40 for a set of NNOs!
 
:lol: lol, it just so frustrates me, some peeps just have to take the pee.

Touch wood all my clients have been lovely I done a new client yesterday, a mani n pedi, she gave me an extra fiver to give to my daughter to buy some ice creams whilst on hols..how sweet was that, and then I had to go to this women who didnt even offer me nowt for going out my way...but like I said next time she phone ,she wont be taking d pee ...:lol::lol:
 
make her work for you .....
offer her a discount if she sends you one new client a month,
if she doesn't, she doesn't qualify for a discount.
This should make everyone happy all round:)
 

Latest posts

Back
Top