Of Discount Sites and Hair Salon

Been busy with works and running around everywhere of late, but hey, I am updating my blog again. As usual I wanna rant bout something really badly…
 
Now, I am sure most if not all of us have succumbed to those discount deal sites that are all over the places. From big international group to small local ones, everyone is basically the same, just how good a deal are you offering to the person who bought it. From products that you can actually use to services or meals, people tend to forget to stop and think about the quality and what you pay for you don’t actually put in very high expectation. But this is not to say that I’ve bought some awful stuffs la, some of the stuffs I’ve bought is not that bad, but majority is like fail case! >.<

I thought that meal deals were the worst of ‘em all. But over the weekend it proved me totally wrong..hair salon deal = nightmare! (Ok, not fair to those maybe that’s better and fairer to customers). Rephrase, in particular Cocomo Salon in Solaris Mont Kiara. Hah, much better!

After some consideration to buy the deal, which is RM88 for very basic hair rebonding which I am opting for, with hair wash and hair blow, I didn’t take head on all the lousy and horrible stories I’ve heard from people who actually bought these deals – especially salon deals previously.

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*the deal*

I was excited in fact! Then the horror start, firstly to make a call to place an appointment is like you better stab your thigh with a few knifes at one go. You tell me isn’t lunch time the most common time for people to call and make appointment? I called like millions of times, every single time either line engaged (someone else calling also lor, this I can understand) or nobody pick up at all, just ring until the line cut off. I tried a few days, but still the same. Sometimes when I got off work a bit earlier than their closing time, I called and called. How many times I called? It gives me frustration and makes me angry. As in to why you bother to give a phone number but so difficult to answer it? Finally I got to someone who answer (managed to make an appointment – it was in 3 weeks time from the day I called).

When the day comes, I am happily going there for the cheapo rebonding service. I didn’t want to go for better / normal one as my hair reached just my shoulder and how good a rebonding I did it will go and curl out like those sixties hair style due to the length. So I thought while waiting for my hair to grow a little bit longer why not stop the hassle of crimping my hair straight without fail every single morning?
(Note: This is not my first time subjecting my hair to rebonding, I’ve done it so many times, I can repeat the process even. I’ve done relaxing, perming as well. So you can say that I am no stranger to visit salon for hair service)

Back to the story, I was there slightly earlier than my appointment time, I asked and they are glad that I am early in fact (the lady who did my hair, not the boss). So I gratefully sat down, but to my dismay, she didn’t even bother to wash my hair as per the norm before starting any hair service with chemicals slathered on. For a typical rebonding the steps will be from A-Z, no matter what price you are paying for, it should be the same:

1. Hair washed with shampoo and no conditioner (totally clean hair). Blow dried after hair wash.
2. Hair separated into small parts, and cream softener or relaxant is applied to the whole heedful of hairs all while keeping it straight. Left on for designated time.
3. Hair steamed before rinsed out of the relaxant.
4. Hair blown dried and keratin lotion thingy applied to hair.
5. Flat iron used to straighten hair part by part.
6. Hair neutralizer of sort applied to set bonds and stabilize the hair, done in parts after step 5. Leave for designated time.  
7. Rinse off with cold water. Hair treatment is optional, some salon offer package inclusive of it and some will be an option to top up. Good stylist will only need to blow dry your hair to achieve straight hair after this last step.

If they whip out a hair iron, end result after you wash your hair at home later on might not be as good.  Usual practice, they will advice you not to wash your hair within the next 48hours for the shape to really set. Please wear a shower cap or plastic bag when you take your shower.

 Ok, while they skipped step 1, other things were sort of still alright. During step 2 in progress, the owner – drama queen whizzed in. Starts complaining about yesterday – how busy is the saloon, how dramatic for him and all of the staffs, how bad this and that. There were like a few customers around, BITCH rant elsewhere please! More drama enfolds when he flips the appointment book, “what? So many use voucher?”, then proceed to condemn about the voucher buyers and how bad it is for his damn business la. Keep saying cannot earn $$ and cannot cope with the customer rate etc. The final word that makes me swears I am not coming back to this salon: “I tell you all, don’t take appointments for vouchers one, not more than 2-3 per day, just a few per day”. Now I know why phone nobody answers – nobody gives a darn. He some more can say fuck it those voucher one don’t want to do it. Drag till forever, just tell customers all full.

WTF. I am angry. He kept condemning that voucher buyers are like shit heads, cheapo who bought something to make his life hellish and makes his goody saloon so hectic cannot cope.  BITCH, the groupon thing nobody force you to do, if you’ve decided to do it, it means that the business is only so-so for your salon. This is to market and promote your salon, creating awareness to the public and consumer of your salon existence. Shouldn’t you be promoting your salon instead or ranting there and make customers like me who am there feel like shit? If you explain and tell anyone nicely, people will be willing to top up on your hair treatment and other things that you are up selling. Major alert – COCOMO SALON IN SOLARIS MONT KIARA, you can get better for the dough that you are paying. Seriously.

*curious as to what he looks like?*

To regulars of the salon, he practically pray and bow to the customers – like they are god. The courtesy to offer voucher buyer a cup of water also don’t have. To regulars, offer a whole menu range to choose from. They do have water and Chinese tea in house just to clarify. Seriously, stop it before all new customers boycott your salon.

To be fair – the stylist lady who did my hair wasn’t mean to me. Their partnering mani/pedi/facial/massage business quite alright. I did basic manicure with them while doing my hair. Only the salon owner is an arse. Instead of promoting the business, he ended up making me feel like I am so unworthy to visit this place. I did topped up with the hair treatment that was up sell to me by my stylist, if I had know the boss so BITCHY I wouldn’t have said yes. Why want to spend the $$ there when the place treat you like some dirt.

Hmmmm….