I always get my hair cut at Great Clips because of their online check-in feature. I can check in online and arrive when it’s my turn, so I never have to wait more than a few minutes. That’s the entire point of the system.
Today, I checked in online and the wait was only listed at 1 minute. I’ve used the system plenty of times, so I know this isn’t an issue. I’ll just head over there and I’ll be first in line when I get there. I know they hold your name on the list for a while, and anyone else can jump me in line if it’s their turn before I get there. It took me a couple minutes to get out the door, and then 10-15 to drive there. So it was probably 20 minutes from the time I checked in online to the time I walked in the door.
When I walked in, I saw my name at #1 on the list as I expected. The stylist at the desk asked if I was Adam, who was #3 in line, and the only other name on the list who hadn’t arrived yet. I said “no, I’m (my name)” and gestured to the screen indicating that’s me on the list. She asked for my phone number (which is weird, because I entered my number when I checked in), and told me I could take a seat. Right away after hanging up my jacket, I noticed that my name had disappeared from #1 and gone down to #6 at the bottom of the list. The stylist had gone back to cutting hair, but I tried to get her attention and said, “That was my name at the top of the list before.” At first she just ignored me, but when I repeated myself, she said “I checked you in, you can have a seat.” When I clarified “my name was at #1 on the list before” she replied “you must have timed out, so it put you at the end of the line” or something like that.
This has never happened to me before, and I truly wasn’t abusing the system. But I wasn’t in the mood to beg for my spot back in line, and I was pretty sure the employee knew what she was doing. So I just grabbed my jacket and walked out without another word. When I was leaving, she said “it’ll just be a few minutes, it’s fine” but I just kept walking. I then proceeded to get my haircut elsewhere (at another great clips lol, I sure showed them! /s)
I was still irked about losing my spot at the first place. So I checked in online under a bunch of fake names using characters from a TV show. I made the salon’s apparent wait time shoot up to over an hour. I have no idea if this would really impact other people’s behavior, but I might have cost them a customer or two.
Comments
So you hurt the owner of the salon, and not the employee, who would be paid the same salary regardless of whether or not the salon gets customers?
Brilliant revenge. Sounds as dumb as the kitty litter poop “revenge” story
I think he tried to buck the system and failed. Check in and then arrive 20 minutes later and expect to waltz in and be treated like a king?
I don’t think this is the brag you think it is.
Great Clips are all independently owned. If you have a bad experience, it’s perfectly logical to take your business to another location, like you did.
So you check in when you’re not on site, take 20 or so minutes to get to the appointment, and then get mad at them for making you wait a little longer.
I’m thinking you just blew up your regular spot and made someone lose out on a cut and tip because of your entitled….I’ll get there when I get there, and then you’ll need to take me first attitude!
Literally they give reservations away in restaurants after 15 minutes if they don’t answer the number provided when we call them or if they don’t give a heads up or anything. You’re the asshole here.
Nah you’re an asshole here. The stylist’s time, as well as that of the other customers is no less valuable than yours is.
Why would you think it’s acceptable to waste 20 minutes of what was probably only a 30/40 minute appointment slot?
You said the wait time was 1 minute; but it took you 15 minutes to drive there. I’d say you missed your appointment by 14 minutes.
Arriving anywhere more 10 minutes after check in on yelp is so rude lol
Edited for clarity
What a weird system. How does what you did not happen constantly lol..
Hopefully someone who’s worked there reads your post and can explain how your name dropped down. Do they not have the ability to flag people on the list once they show up?
Timing out people doesn’t really make sense, but big companies do like to ignore logic…
I always checked in as Harry Mann
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You tried to beat the system and failed buddy.
Funny how many people didnt even read his post. Its not a set time reservation. Its an online que, he said normal wait times are 20-30min and on this day the wait time was 1min. Its just so you dont have to jump in line when you get there. Not his fault for gaming their system