Wednesday, June 30, 2010

What Happened To Me... (not good)

I had to run some errands today in Peyton, and noticed that a new nail salon called "Chic Nails" had opened. I have been going to a place that is very good but is a bit far, so since this new one was close, I decided to peek inside. To check the service, I decided to get the cheapest thing done, a paraffin dip for the hands. The guy who was doing it poured paraffin in 2 plastic bags (mind you, I have never seen it done that way, you usually dip in the paraffin and then they put plastic gloves on your hands) and asked me to put my hand in one of the bags. As I am sitting on a chair and putting my hand in the bag, he is maneuvering the paraffin around my fingers and hands from across a table. At that point he twitched or something, I don't know, but he poured the entire paraffin content of the bag over my thigh and the part of my dress that was covering it. I was so distraught, I got up and said I was leaving. Noone from the 3 people servicing the location said anything, with the exception of a meek, "I am sorry" by the guy. Mind you, at this point I am clearly super very visibly 9-months pregnant, was obviously balistically upset, and the only reason I did not lose it right there was because my 4 y.o. was right next to me.
I left, went home, searched online for how to get rid of the wax, tried to clean up the dress, but the stains would not go away no matter what I did. I called a dry cleaner and she said that with colored paraffin (which cosmetic paraffin wax is) it is likely the stains will stay in one form or another. So, I called the salon, and told the guy they should pay for the damaged dress (I actually had just bought it and had the receipt saved, the tags still in my unempried trash can). He told me he would not do that because it was an accident and that he did not have time to deal with me. Then, he hung up. BTW, he refused to put me in touch with the owner.
Next, my husband got really pissed off by the hanging up of the phone, and drove off to the place to make his point. I was not there (probably should have gone as well) but the guy insisted that not only it was an accident but it was entirely my fault because I had moved my hand. I had not, not to mention that the projectile of the paraffin flow would have been very different if I had, however, this is beside the point. The other two workers agreed with him, although they were doing pedicures about 5 yards away from me and had no way of knowing what happened, other than it happened.
Mind you, the dress was not expensive but 1) was really pretty, 2) fit me very well (which when you are 38 weeks pregnant and still relatively small in the rest of your body is very very hard to come by), and 3) would have been great for the last 2-3 weeks of the pregnancy, for breastfeeding, and for the first 2 postpartum months. The dry cleaner I left it with was very ambivalent about the result; she said she would try her best. I mean, realistically, what else can she say or do anyway.
Now, I complained to the Better Business Bureau, wrote a negative review for the business on yelp.com, but I feel so utterly unsatisfied and screwed over! I even cried after my husband came home and told me what their version of the events was. If I was not as pregnant as I am right now, I would have totally taken this issue with the small claims court (although it is not worth my time and effort, I would have done it on the principle). But right now I simply can't! I just have this overwhelming desire for revenge that I cannot quite get control of...

14 comments:

lakaribane said...

I think you are right to be angry and I think they are clearly in the wrong.

In fact, I thought you would post the name of the store here so people would know what kind of customer service you get a this place (and your post will show up if they search for the name).

What's the use of being nice to jerks?

cidell said...

I really think you should consider small claims court. It won't cost you must but it'll make the point and possibly make them pay up before bothering to go to court.

That, my friend, sucketh.

Susan said...

I'm sure being pregnant is making you feel even worse. They were 100% out of line. That just stinks. Even if the dress wasn't expensive, I agree with the others, small claims court might be a good idea. They will at least have to pay for your time to go and the dress.

Good luck with it all.

Luli said...

I am incredibly upset for you. If I lived anywhere near your town, I would march in there and yell at them on your behalf. I hope venting helped you a little! Those jerks!!

Jenny said...

I am so sorry... that is horrible! I also think you would have a good case in small claims court. Even if the dress wasn't expensive, it would prove your point.

Anonymous said...

Wow,that's terrible indead! Hopefully your fealings will subside. I think you are right, it's just not worth it and it sounds like you've vented. Maybe the salon will make amends to you once they understand the error of their ways!

Unknown said...

I'm so sorry that happened to you. I would be just as upset if it happened to me.

Libby said...

Wow! If they can't figure out how to use that paraffin dip I wonder how they're screwing up the other services they offer. Sounds like one dangerous place. Hopefully they'll crash and burn on their own, real soon!
Glad you didn't get burned (literally anyway).

Melody said...

It's really not that big of a deal. Accidents happen. They could have been nicer about it, but they weren't and there's nothing you can do about it. You'll save yourself a lot of aggravation by simply moving on. There are much more important things to worry about than rude nail salon employees.

The Slapdash Sewist said...

Boo. :( But a bad Yelp review really will make a difference in their business, especially if they don't have many reviews. I am so glad there are now ways to spread the word about both good and bad businesses!

deb said...

Does your local newspaper have a "consumer problem solver" type feature? Where you can write to a reporter who will help get the situation resolved? All the cities I've lived in have had this feature in their newspapers. Because the threat is, the whole story will be published in the newspaper and it will make the business look even worse if they don't try to fix the situation. So they are more likely to try to make the consumer happy and at least they don't look 100% bad in the paper. That might help get this resolved?

quiltygal said...

I'd send a letter to the salon addressed to the owner it might bypass the staff ( type/ print the adress looks more formal) or you could look up the owners in the local business directory or the local commerce of business coucil would have details go straight to the owners or you could go to the local press/ tv works well in our local area

Pam said...

Hi! I would go ahead and find out their business registration agent (listed on your secretary of state's web page) - and send a letter to the agent notifying him of the claim you are making.

Clearly, you are in the right, in addition, I'm sure their lease requires them to have business insurance for such losses.

Michelle said...

Sorry, I just found your blog so I know it's a little late. BUT! Since the employee wont put you in contact with the owner, what I would do is to call the business again, but this time be really nice and say that you would like to speak with the owner about the service you received (implying you had great service). Which will hopefully convince them to give you the number. Then you should tell the owner that you are contemplating taking them to small claims and tell them that you want to put their business name in your blog and tell all of your friends, family, and anyone who would listen about your ordeal.

Yeah....I am part of the "I don't get mad; I get even" club.