So my wife works in a salon, and like most hairstylists in the city, gets paid mainly on commission. Lately she has been noticing a lot more “no shows”(someone who books an appointment and doesn’t show)Some of these people book 2 or 3 hour sessions with her and then just decide to not show up or even call to cancel the appointment. This leaves her with large gaps in her day that are sometimes hard to fill with last minute appointments. Which means she doesnt make any money. And I know most of you assholes in here well just say oh boo hoo… But seriously, all it takes is a polite phone call to say you can’t make it to your appointment. Then the time slot could be filled a little easier. I was hoping that if these people knew what it actually meant to the hairstylist to just not show up, maybe they would think twice next time.But hey who am I kidding right, as long as it isn’t coming out of your pocket who cares.
—Pick up the phone …
This article appears in Jul 9-15, 2009.
Take deposits.
Partial non-refundable deposit for appointment. Problem solved.
synchronicity or what?
I agree with the deposit idea, although I can also see how it could be somewhat impractical.
I’ve had to cancel a few hair appointments in my time and I’ve always made sure I called as soon as I could.
I think though, and maybe this is just stab in the dark, some of the no-shows could be clients who have booked follow ups. When you get your hair done there’s a lot of pressure put on you to book a follow up, whether or not you want to, and some people don’t feel comfortable saying “no, I don’t think so.” And since it’s a while away some people could even FORGET they have said appointment.
I know a few salons that call their clients the day before to remind them of their appointment (probably because of the amount of no-shows). If your wife’s salon doesn’t do this, maybe doing that would help put the number of no-shows down?
I agree, though, dude. No-shows for ANYTHING is just fucking RUDE.
Asking for a deposit is a terrible idea. Unless the customer feels some degree of loyalty to your wife (and if they’re not showing up, I highly doubt that they do), they are just going to hang up the phone and call another salon because they’ll feel insulted at the idea.
A better policy would be to simply ask people politely when they book an appointment to call if they’re ot going to make it.
Tell her to go work at First Choice Hair Cutters they don’t take appointments at is all walk ins AND they alternate customers 1 for 1. Just a thought
I think a better clientele is in order for your wife.
Location. Location. Location.
She works for a high end salon, she wouldnt switch to First Choice Hair Cutters. Thanks for the thought though.
First Choice does take appointments.
Well, if she works for a high end salon then the issue COULD be the follow up pressure. I always found the pressure was more intense to rebook at the higher end salons. Thing about THAT is, it’s expensive to get your hair done there — and for 2-3 hour appointments we’re likely talking hundreds of dollars. I could MAYBE splurge on a couple hundred for my hair once a year, but I certainly couldn’t afford a follow up.
In those situations I usually say “I’m not sure what my schedule is like — I’ll have to call and rebook” and leave it at that, but some people just don’t have it in them to not cave to the pressure.
I mean who the hell can afford to get their hair done every 6-8 weeks at high end salons these days?
Again, I DO feel for your wife. The suggestion about asking for a call if they have to cancel is a great idea as is a reminder call the day before.
Only if your getting a perm or having your hair dyed. But for cuts they do not take appointments. The one on Joe Howe doesn’t anyway.
Develop a no-show and/or cancellation policy. Many places have policies stating that fines/fees will be levied against folks who cancel last minute (without 24h notice) or no-show.
You could take credit card information and keep it on your systems. If they no-show again, fine them or take a fee!
Kirbul – your wife should refuse service in the future from the no-show clients or charge extra the next time they come in.
The OP mentioned people not showing up for 2-3 hour sessions, so I doubt these were for cuts.
Nevermind – If you have nothing to contribute then shut up I was only providing a suggestion to OP. If she’s not making any money at a high end salon becuase of 2-3 hour no shows the looking else where is actually a smart idea. She would probably see alot more customers as well with the walk ins. No everyone is good with appointments.
I once had a doctor who booked my physical months in advance. They had a policy about no shows and mailed me a $25 invoice as per their policy. Needless to say I never went there again nor did I pay the stupid bill. They even charged GST (for no good or service)! They should have followed up the booking with a reminder call if they intended to exercise their policy. (besides, the day they stop booking 5 appointments for every 15 minute slot is the day a doctor’s time becomes that valuable to me)
Demanding a deposit will ensure people go elsewhere for less hassle since it’s not a standard business practice for a hair salon. Producing an invoice for a no-show will ensure you never see them again so… I’d suggest the friendly reminder would produce less gaps in the lady’s schedule as well as maintain her existing client base with sugar instead of vinegar.
I agree with Kay. I feel that a phone call the day before would help with skipped appointments, afterall, any hair salon I have ever been to has a receptionist(isnt that part of their job)
Skipping out on any appointment in my opinion is unacceptable, however, some people do forget for unforseen circumstances. A person who misses one apt after a long period of loyality deserves the benefit of doubt. Some ass who always skips should not be re-booked
no i AGREE!!! i also work in a salon and it sucks when there are no shows!!!! some salons charge a fee if they do this which i think all salons should be doing
jane, wanna play with my hair someday?
It’s kind of ironic that you wish people would pick up the phone and call your wife, while I just wish your wife would stop calling me.
Long hair is in I guess.
Nice Goin’ Fat i would love to!!!
please take the poop away please
i LOVE long hair on boys!
I work at a tattoo shop…If we didn’t have deposits we’d be in the same situation. I realize it’s different than a hair salon, but it definitely cuts back on the no-shows. BEFORE I worked at the shop I’m at, I’d have been hesitant to leave a deposit at a hair place…just because my schedule was always weird, and I didn’t know what may come up. That said, if I had to cancel I made sure to leave a lot of notice. NOW, I probably would leave a deposit, because I understand “the system”. If only the general public could learn the world doesn’t revolve around themselves….
You can’t compare a hair appt. to a drs(gp) appt., how long do you wait in the drs office, over-booked and if you are a no show, they still make enough money from MSI for seeing other patients to cover the loss, however you would not want to make this a habit. It is hard to find a good, qualified hair dresser and I feel sorry for one that has no shows with no one to fill space….it is common courtesy to cancel well in advance if by sppt., walk-ins are a dime a dozen, but not at high end establishments.
If it happens repetitively with same client, start cancelling them at the last minute….then the client might get the message. Just a thought.
uhm, yes we can compare as bitches who can book appointments in advance. No, it’s not hard to find a “qualified” hair dresser.
See Kay I have to disagree! it is EXSTEREMLY hard to find a “qualified” hair dresser. You gen want soemone witht he same type of hair as you ie-> fine course medium, straight, curly etc that way they knwo what will work best ALSO just because I am a hairdresser doesnt mean I can do everything I have my strengths and my weaknessess!
ALSO because of this and the fail int he economy little ol me has to work 2 jobs! as a hairdresser and in a call center.
EXSTEREMLY!!!!
I guess the salon does make reminder phone calls, two days before the appointment.
Oh and bearded onion, you have nothing to worry about, the last time she called your mom answered and told her you were gounded for looking at gay porn on the web.She won’t be calling anymore. Good luck with that…
BAM!
I gree with PK, I certainly can’t afford to get my hair cut all the time, so I’ve started going to the hair dressers school, and even there they enourage a follow up every 6-8 weeks. Now, for $10 a cut, I’ll probably go back more often, probably still not in 6 weeks, because I don’t care about my hair that much, but theres no way I could afford a cut that often at the insane prices people charge at even lower end salons like first choice.
The only place I book advance appointments with on a consistent basis is the blood bank. And that’s because they give me cookies. 🙂
i want jane to play with my hair.
lets set up an appointment, sister 😉
I paid $40 for a set of clippers 10 years ago and haven’t paid for a haircut or been on a date since. I’m sure the two aren’t related.
Haha Miles…
I’ve been tempted to just go and get a cut at the ol’ hairdressers college or whatever it’s called. It’s cheap, I hear, and maybe they’ll do something “creative” with it, rather than my usual hairdresser, who is nice but just seems to want to cut my hair to look like her hair. Which is not a disaster but not really what I wanted.
Has anyone had their hair cut at the college?
I have a few times and have been happy everytime. It takes a bit longer, but they’re super curteous and last time I just said, do whatever you want, but make it approx jaw length, and I love what she did. And when I can get my hair washed, cut and styled, and leave a generous tip for under $20, why would I go anywhere else?
The world does revolve around me & I know i am in the centre of ‘my’ universe.
I also realise this is how it is for everyone else…they are the centre of their universe as well. Seeing as the dentist, the doctors office charge you for ‘missing’ an appointment without calling & cancelling first. This is also true with car rentals & hotel reservations, I see no problem with a hair stylist place doing it . Like was mentioned we’re not talking about a hair cut, but some type of coloring, perming etc. which is time consuming as well as costly.
The real reason I have no problem with charging for cancelling, is I’m hitting 50 & have never had anything like that done to me ever. So it will never effect me 🙂
First Choice would be my Last Choice, it’s traditionally staffed by people who can’t decide on a real career so hey presto suddenly cha ching student loan and I’m a hair artist.
Pamper yourself, break the bank and go to a high end salon where they remember your name, call to remind you of your next appointment and offer you decent coffee or tea, and as an added bonus a scalp massage after a frigger of a day is soooooo relaxing.
I’m sold, PAS.
NGF has NIIIICE hair.
Fucker.
Also, like I’ve said a million times: reminder call. The headshoppe and their other brand salons call 24s or so in advance to remind you you have an appointment. If you have to cancel, then you have that opportunity then.
Last time I canceled an appointment for my hair was when I broke my ass when I flew off the fucking treadmill at the gym. It was only an appointment for a trim, nothing major but I made sure my broken ass called to explain. They had no problem with that and we rebooked. Even if I didn’t want to rebook, most places are appreciative of the fact that you call and cancel.
I’ve been able to get last minute eyebrow appointments or hair appointments because people called and cancelled. If you call and cancel people like me can get appointments and stylists can still get paid. And since everyone and their cat has a cellphone these days, it takes like what? not even 5 minutes to call and cancel. Lazy asses.
nevermind: Nope, not a terrible idea. Why? Been working for 4+ years for me and all my coworkers, and we sure as hell ain’t hurtin.
PAS: I go to the HDC school for my trims. They give you a scalp massage. And they call to remind you of your appointment a day or so before hand (they’re owned by the headshoppe). With tax and a tip it’s under 20 bucks. My mom actually found her current stylist a few years back when they were a student there. She goes to see them now at the higher end salon they’re at because they do such an amazing job on her hair.
When I used to get my hair highlighted I’d go to the headshoppe. It would cost about 125 with tax and a tip, but the stylist I’d see did an AMAZING job and would use about 50 foils in my hair. I stopped highlighting my hair because I’m better as a brunette than a blonde, but if or when I decide to put highlights in again I’ll definitely go back because it was worth it.
a bit off topic, but: there’s a certain spa on SGR next to SDM that is accepting hair models for an upcoming hair school graduate if anyone is interested. i’m pretty sure y’all can assume which one it is (there’s a sign outside also).
i signed up for fun and thought others may be interested also.
jane – whenever you want to run your fingers through my do’, baby doll, just lemme know 😉 lol
Nice Goin’ Fat -> i hope you have long locks 🙂
on another note i am going to say but i have nothing but a big FUCK YOU for the head shoppe yep is aid it, i hate them!!! I worked for them for months and because I am not 6’0, blonde, 100 lbs i got treated poorly I was harassed all the way out the door and was told that “we dont like new girls” what kind of shit is that?
I am very passive so i just had my head down but one day after ebign told “how to mop a floor” i said no and ran out the door saying no i am quitting!!!
I also agree witht he fact that schools are the way to go if your looking to save a couple bucks! there are etachers there, theyd ont just put us on the floor after a week type of thign we have learned everythign and have been cutting hair for months!
No Shows happen all the time at the doctors office where I work.
To the person who said “Doctors make enough from MSI to cover it” that’s not true. Doctors don’t get ANYTHING from MSI if they don’t see the client at all. Some of our appointments are 30 minutes long, and we’re booked up at least a week in advance – if you “no-show” you are taking 30 minutes away from 3 potential clients who might actually show up, and you are taking that appointment from the doctor.
We’ve instigated a no-show policy where there is a fee if you miss it, and wish to rebook – however we don’t send the invoice. You simply have to pay the fee before you can see us again.
It might not seem like a big deal because “surely they’re making the money from other clients” however, you’re not thinking about the fact that those other clients might decide not to show up either. I’ve had days where out of 10 appointments, 8 didn’t show – and there’s no way the two appointments that did show made up for the ones who didn’t.