Advice please no show that paid!!

[Deborino]

Hi, I recently 'took up residence' in a well established Hair salon offering natural nail services. A lady who is a valued client to the salon has had quite a few manicures now (she actually comes in so often for a blow dry that she receives most of her cuts and colours free of charge)

Anyway, she always has the first appointment on a Friday morning for her hair then has her nails manicured. Before Xmas I dashed off after dropping the children at school and arrived at the salon to find that she has totally forgotten about her nails and couldn't had them done because her 'driver' was already on his way. I wasn't too pleased and certainly didn't show it but nearly wet myself when an old man turned up in a very old car (I was expecting a Parker type man to arrive in a Rolls Royce after she had referred to him as a driver)

She has had her nails done a couple more times since then andI turned up Friday morning again to find that once again she couldn't have her nails done. I was quite fed up as this was the 2nd time she had done this and I had a big gap before my next client.

When her hair was finished she said she wanted to speak to me. I smiled and pretended it didn't matter as she launched into long drawn out explanation as to why she didn;t have time to stay. Then she said I still want to PAY you and put the money on my desk.

What would you do (she is booked in for this Fri). If she does turn up would you do them free of charge as she at least had the decentcy to acknowledge she had me making an unecessary journey. Or would you just charge her as normal and not mention it again. Thanks sorry if drawn out

 

[janeawallace]

personally i would charge her

 

[bexi]

SHE let YOU down, you are not there when SHE feels like turning up! She gave you the money she knows she has done wrong, so yes you should charge her - its your time!

It doesn't matter what someones financial situation is to you, its not your business, she may have been joking about her driver!

just my opinon

becki xxx

 

[Susie H]

Say thank you and carry on, what you have just been shown by this lady is old fashioned politeness, nice to see it isn't completely dead isn't it

 

[Cathie!]

Charge her as normal....she was right enough to see that she should pay you for your time that she couldn't commit to and that you couldn't fill at short notice, I wish there were more people out there like that, most don't give a damn!

 

[Deborino]

Thanks for your replies. I think it WAS because she was so kind and had the courtesy to acknowledge what she had done ,that I considered not charging her this week in the first place.

Sorry but the comment about the driver has come across in the wrong way. I know that a clients financial situation is none of my business. It was just funny at the time and I thought it may have appealed to others sense of humour also. I was in no way disrespecting the client.

 

[Zo Zo]

The problem with letting her off paying is that you are setting a precedent for the future. And she will almost certainly let you down again.

She paid you. Past tense. Her next appt is in the future. My advice would be, don't mention it, just treat her really nicely, I'm sure you would do anyway, and next time she lets you down, she will expect to pay you.

If you let her off, she may not offer to pay you next time it happens, then you will be irked!

Forget the old driver and the old car, it means nothing, old money don't need to flash it about. I hope when I'm an old lady someone is doing that for me :lol:

 

[geeg]

Say thank you and carry on, what you have just been shown by this lady is old fashioned politeness, nice to see it isn't completely dead isn't it

I completely agree.

 

[angel fingers]

i'm sure she will expect to pay as normal.
it might be nice just to aknowledge the fact that she paid for the missed appointment by saying that you appreciate her bieng considerate of your time as sometimes other people dont realise what an impact it makes on you when they do not do the same.

 

[Pink Pink Pink]

Just treat her as normal and charge her for next appointment as always. It's not like you give tips back to clients?! She pays you for time as well as skill so it's only right she paid you for time lost. (Most salons charge for missed appt's anyway). She sounds like a very respectful lady, I'm sure you know you are lucky to have a lovely client. Hope she keeps her appts in future.
(Or Parker will be given the P45 if he's late) - Lol xx

 

[blossom]

Charge her as normal....she was right enough to see that she should pay you for your time that she couldn't commit to and that you couldn't fill at short notice, I wish there were more people out there like that, most don't give a damn!

I agree

 

[del3]

I think she sounds like a lovely lady, I wish there were more like her around.
I'd just carry on with her next app as normal and not mention what happend.

p.s. I saw the funny side in what you said about the car...and she was probably just showing some sence of humour herself.

:hug:

 

[beautynails]

Shocking isn't it. With all the threads about clients taking the p*** every now and then you actually come across someone that realises your time is valuable.

The first time I had a client pay for a missed appointment I was shocked. But they should. They book your time, they pay for your time.

 

[oey]

I would accept her payment as normal but at her next appointment give her something a little extra that she wouldnt normally have. That way you show that you have recognised she has paid extra but you are also keeping to the rules you have set.

 

[chantell simone]

I would charge her as normal, you are running a business after all

but I do think its really sweet that she paid for the missed appointment, it shows she values your time

 

[sj1973]

Say thank you and carry on, what you have just been shown by this lady is old fashioned politeness, nice to see it isn't completely dead isn't it

I totally agree here......the lady is old fashioned and its nice to see its not dead xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Beautyandme]

Hi,you should except the money and charge her accordingly next time. Thats why people put on their pricelists that a charge will be made if you forget to cancel. Dont apologise for taking it.