I got my nails done this morning at the same nail salon I’ve been patronizing for almost 2 years. It has 1000+ great reviews online and they have always done amazing work. They don’t post their prices anywhere, but I’ve always paid $40-$50. However, it hasn’t been consistant, as in sometimes I would be asked to pay $50 and other times later $40. When I asked about the price, usually when it was $50, they would say I got a nice discount at $40 and standard was $50. The $10 never bothered me so I never made a fuss about it and kinda chalked it up to more inexperienced front desk workers not tracking well to the established price. I also have gotten into the habit of asking the price before they start, but forgot to ask this AM because I was just getting my normal nails.
Today, I finished up my appointment and the front desk told me it was $70!! I was surprised because I got them done last month and I’m pretty sure it was only $40. The lady said prices went up, which I felt should have been stated somewhere but I know that businesses are nervous about the economy, so I understand a hike. I paid my bill and internally decided to find a new salon, not because they did anything wrong, but paying $70 for nails isn’t worth it for me while there are cheaper places around (given the quality will almost definitely decrease).
After I paid, I realized I left something at my seat. I had been quietly chatting with the lady sitting next to me during our appointments and we were getting the exact same service in different colors. As I went to grab my bag, I couldn’t help making a quiet comment to her that $70 for our nails is crazy. Yes, this was a complaint but also wanted to warn her about what to expect. She immediately got agitated and asked her nail tech how it could be this much, because she had NEVER paid MORE THAN $30 FOR THE SERVICE. She looked like she was going to cry and said she didn’t have $70 for the service today. Her nail tech quickly tried to do damage control and said that since she was such a loyal customer, her price would be $30. This didn’t really calm her down though, she asked how long I’d been going there and I said 2 years and she said she’d been coming for less than a year.
At this point, other customers at the busy salon started paying attention to what was going on, and a few (7-8) other people started sharing what they paid for their nails and it ranged from $30-$70!
At that point, I had my bag and no reason to stay, but as I left almost the whole salon was getting heated with everyone realizing that they actually don’t have a set price for their services and just charge as much as they can get out of you!
I will definitely be leaving a review and something tells me that the others there will as well. 🙂
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Nailed it! ( the jokes just write themselves…)
lol I love this so much
You really dug in your nails on them. I’ll see my way out…
it’s almost unbelievable! My cousin had a similar experience, I guess, and she was quite upset about it, those prices should be consistent, shouldn’t they? It’s a question of respect for the customers, really, not just about money. I reckon that salon owner is going to learn a hard lesson, transparency is key. A friend of mine said the best way to handle it is to simply walk away. And, well, maybe leave a pointed review. It’d certainly teach them something
Good job getting everyone to see their tactics
I’m not defending the salon in any way here, that’s shady af, but is it perhaps because the different techs charge different prices? At my hair salon, the stylists charge different prices depending on their seniority/experience level. I’ve never seen that at a nail salon, but it’s a possibility. Either way, they should be more upfront about their prices. The nail salon I used to go to (in the Before Times) had their price list on a massive sign above the front desk.
The salon I go to has all prices pisted. If there is an increase , that fact is posted and I am told again before my appointment starts.
Sounds like OP was at a shady shop.
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The salon I go to has all prices listed. If there is an increase , that fact is posted and I am told again before my appointment starts.
Sounds like OP was at a shady shop.
$70 is ridiculous. Did you get glitter gel or something extra?
I stopped going to one salon because instead of increasing their posted prices, they would add on $5 for “shaping” or $5 for long nails. I have short nails, that are just shaped in a basic round. Filing that should be a part of the price! I made them take it off and never went back. Oh yeah, I was a regular mani/pedicure customer for 5 years since they had opened
I live in a high cost of living town. I pay $30 for a regular manicure plus tip.
Nail them to the wall. Nice job.
There is a salon near me that also has varying prices.
I have noticed that it varies between the techs. There are probably 25 chairs, always full, and depending on who’s chair I am sat at will determine what I pay.
I usually end up going to a smaller place near my house that has two chairs and one lady running it, but her hours are limited 9-5 Mon-, Fri, so if I want to go on weekends or later in the evening I have to go to the larger one.
That is ridiculous. I think all nail salons should have a board up with all services and prices listed. I believe you got ripped off.
Dollars to donuts they’re cooking TF out of their books. No way they’re paying proper taxes on income and likely paying stylists under the table.
This is great lol. F them.
My salon has a base price and then a lot of up charges based on the details of the service. Certain types of polish cost more, getting tips cost more, removing old ones cost more, etc.
I’m not in the nail business, but I’m familiar with it. Here’s my two cents: They probably don’t want to do business with you (maybe they find you difficult to deal with or think you don’t tip well), so they overcharge you to discourage you from coming back
yeah wtf is this “you’re such a loyal customer” business when you’re more loyal than SHE was!
ugh, that’s so frustrating! charging whatever they feel like is super unfair, especially when you’ve been paying much less. glad you’re leaving a review! hopefully, they’ll get the message about being more transparent with pricing.
Did you file a complaint?
Sitting in the pedi chair right now mugging the service menu lol I’d lose my mind if this place did that to me. Been coming here for 20 years!
And this is why your boss will always say it’s impolite to discuss pay at work with coworkers.
They don’t want you to know how underpaid you are compared to the guy they just hired who has less experience.
Sounds like some customers are getting clipped…I wonder if they can file charges.
I love this! I’ve been charged varying rates also. I too don’t quibble about the extra few bucks.
🤔
This is absolutely why there are no prices at the neighborhood corner store. They make up pricing at the counter and some customers pay much more than others.
Same thing happened to me at a hand car wash once, even though their prices were posted. Once.
The fact that they said IN FRONT OF YOU, that the other customer was a more loyal customer, even though she had been coming HALF the time you had was wild. Absolutely WILD.
I would never ever go to a place that did not post prices. I thought it was required to post the price. That place is shady. Stop going there.
Name and shame
>It has 1000+ great reviews online
You might want to add a review and warn people about the price hike.
wow!! Glad you said something. Hope you post this on a review.
For you … One million dollars… Ha haha
So– are you going to change nail salons now?
The price hike is due to new custom tariffs raised by D. Dump
That’s a terrible business practice. I wouldn’t go back either. What a twist of fate that you went back in. Crazy!
Can I ask a simple question? Are you guys stupid? How do you not know or ask before anything is done how much it will be?
I’m just throwing this out there to see…
But my hair saloon has independent contractors. They rent the chair from the salon. They all charge differently.
However, price is listed in each stand.
Salon rings them all up.
Oh hell no. I make it a habit of not getting any services down without ever seeing their pricing charts.
I went into a locally owned car shop once for a hand car wash and noticed they didn’t have any set prices anywhere. When asked why, the owner said he didn’t need them, as he “knew” what to charge everyone.
No thank you!
Is there a law that states there must be a set price? Technicalities matter a lot in court. Always assume things go to court.
I’m deaf AF and have limited patience for businesses that don’t have their prices clearly posted *somewhere*. Neither I nor the employee have the frustration tolerance of me asking for each individual price, and then asking for repeats when my ears can’t discern their words.
The audacity of being so wildly inconsistent with pricing.
I once walked into a salon and asked the price of a pedicure. Guy at the register said he’d tell me after it was done. I said that’s not how things work and left. I mean, did he think he was in health care?
Nailed them!
Tbh that’s why we switch after using a place a few times. It seems like most of them do this.
I’m not sure, but price discrimination like that may be illegal. I’m not sure if it’s disallowed as a business practice or for anti discrimination reasons.
You so pretty. You got boyfriend? $10 more you get boyfriend.
This is why I stopped going two years ago.
OP Be like:
https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZ2sybTA0dnEza25lc3V3dHlxMGw1ZzVkaHY3enk2eWExbWdncTRkYyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/xT9Iggof3MKS2LonOo/giphy.gif
Prices should be posted, is it even legal to not do so? This is shady af.
Is this eveb revenge, or petty? This is all 100% deserved lol a lot of shops do this. Never go anywhere the prices arent standardized.
Where do you live? In the US most cosmetology boards require for pricing to be listed somewhere in the salon! Whether it be a price brochure or on the wall.
This is exactly why I no longer get my nails done. I always got a basic mani, French tips or ombre French tips. They went from $45 to $70 and now $90+. Over it. Completely over it. I’ll get a cheap pedi when I can afford it otherwise, I’m good.
Just like those FB sellers who only tell you the price if you PM them.
OP you nailed petty revenge perfectly. You actually put those opportunistic people on blast. Bravo 💐
Where I live prices must be posted. You pay the posted price.
What a waste of money
This is why I go to a salon with prices posted and appointments that are honored and are clean.
Don’t know where this happened but in NY nails salons
” must conspicuously display a price list near the cash register or where orders are placed, and if a price list states a minimum charge or a price ” and up” it must state the reason for the different prices and include the range of prices.”
I’d check in your area to see if anything like this exists.
As a recovering addict that used to deal drugs, this is the same bullshit I used to pull. In essence, I’d expect this from drug dealers, hustlers, pimps and street people. Not a supposedly reputable business
This has happened to me too. I moved and there’s a decent nail salon down the street from me so I’ve gone there a few times. They have a price list but I’ve gotten charged a different price for the same service 3-4 different times. I won’t go there anymore because of this. Additionally prices for nail salons & hair salons have time gone up dramatically so that I now won’t go get them done like I used to. It’s ridiculous that a Pedicure that was $25 now costs $150 & then half the time it’s below average results.
I long to be the kind of person like the lady you mentioned the price to. I still have some meek tendencies and would have just swallowed down the discomfort and when the tech would have told me mine would stay 30 then I would have just stayed quiet, paid after finishing and left. Grateful that I pay 30 this time, and would seek out a new place to go to in the future.
But to be the kind of person to sound the alarm, both to the dishonesty and the injustice, to not only the tech but louder so other patrons to hear, and to highlight how this other patron has paid more and for far longer?? I love that kind of woman so much. She’s the type to gather the troops. I’d be her friend so fast and follow her anywhere ❤️
I’m so glad that I stopped getting my nails done. Yes nails are very beautiful, but the cost is crazy. And not to mention, I’m paying a different amount every single time.
My barber does this as well.
I had the same thing happen to me. I would get the same thing every time (short, squoval acrylics. single color. No gel.). It was always $45. They charged me $85. I asked how that’s possible, seeing as I got nothing special. “Prices went up”. In the last two weeks? I never went back. I wish I would’ve done what you did.
Where is this? It’s illegal in some states