Salon Safar Upper East Side New York Ridiculously Ripped Off Hidden Charges, Upper East Side ripoff New York New York New York
It's just ridiculous to see The Salon Safar received a 9.1 rating on newyork citysearch. Today, I felt like a biggest fool ever after went into Salon Safar for services.
I bought their $30 promotion coupon from a guy who solicited me across from the Radio City Music Hall about a month ago (obviously they're targeting for big fish, unfortunately I'm not one of those but I ended up as one of the victims).
On the coupon, it mentioned with the certificate I'll be getting: 1.Image consultation, 2.Shampoo Massage, 3.Deep Conditioning, 4.Individual Hair Cut 5. Eye Brow Wax or Lip Wax, so on and stated hair color special price CLEARLY written $120, single process $60. Additional one time $15 service plus tax are payable at the salon only on the first visit.
At first thought I've found a best deal ever on earth, obviously I was dreaming.
This place is no where near to those top hair salons standard around the city, but they're using this street promotion tactic to rip off those innocent people. I walked out ended up paying $393.95 on my credit card! Who is it on earth will really bought a $30 coupon on the street and think they'll ended up paying this MUCH from only one single visit? I'm not Jennifer Aniston!
I felt fishy when first walked into the salon this afternoon, with no others customers except the other 5/ 6 staffs. However pressure was there, they somehow great in reading people and led me to proceed further. My intention was there just for the first 4 services as described above. The lady who did my hair intelligently suggested me to do the highlight. With the coupon, I thought would have paid nothing but the highlight stated on the coupon- $120, and first service fees- $15 plus tax.
However when the bill came, they told me the total was $343.95! (And here are the RIDICULOUS HIDDEN CHARGES: Highlight $180, full color $90, blow dry $45, one time service fee $15 and taxes). I was completely speechless when saw the bill. They told me the tip was not included. I was silently in shock, and not in my conscious stage.
Besides being speechless, could only unwillingly to add up the tip with the calculator they're kindly lent it to me for figuring it out. I quickly walked out after, and then called a friend for an advice. I did call few other top salons in NYC later to verify including Bumble and Bumble. Found out that, usually with the full color and partial foil highlight services as what I received, it should be just one set price. Blow dry is included whenever hair cut service being performed.
Besides, don't get fool by the deep conditioning. It's totally felt just like a regular 2 minutes conditioner they left on your hair, something you could easily do much better at home.
This place is a scam, rip off, and unethical. This is a biggest joke ever, and ruins the Upper East Side long and good reputation.
My advice, never ever trust promoters or any store staffs if you feel something fishy about them. Their sneaky trick is not far different from those scammed modeling agencies out there. Stay alert, and don't be afraid to speak up.
I was foolish enough not to check their reputation on City Search before walked into the store. However, to help avoid more victims I will bring this alert to people around the city, the neighborhood about their disgraceful tactics and will also file a complaint to the Better Business Credit Bureau, Consumer Protection Bureau, and Shame On You on the WCBS.
Unfairly treatment to innocent/ unknowledgeable consumers is unacceptable, if you've been part of the victims. Take action now!
Eve
Astoria, New York
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Younes
Jackson Heights,New York,
U.S.A.
response
#6UPDATE Employee
Tue, December 05, 2006
Dear Eve,
Again I am sorry you feel this way, our stylist made a mistake and on her behalf we apologize. However, we are not going to give a refund for services already rendered, we will obviously refund you for the mistake on your ticket and the tip for the stylist.
"I'm requesting a full refund to my credit card as all these should never have happened if it wasen't the mismanagement from your hair salon." You requested these services be done or "happen" the stylists mistake was an overcharge and you will be refunded these monies as well as the tip.
Regarding the comment about Queens I am a dweller of that borough, myself, wife, and our two children. Perhaps you misread my comment I love Queens and cannot afford to live in Manhattan nor shop in Manhattan. My budget does not allow it. This is all I was saying if you cannot afford to get you hair colored in the city then do it in Queens.
We have just recently opened our doors and are constantly changing staff, looking for better management. I am sorry you came during a transition period; our receptionist rang the ticket up it is not her job to keep track of the services being rendered. However it is her job to report any unsatisfied customers or any suspicious activities to the management.
This did not happen because you did not mention any dissatisfaction by word of mouth or facial expression to the receptionist, stylist, management, owner, or via telephone and proceeded to tip her $50 for your "unhappiness". This is suspicious. If called or communicated with us you could have solved this issue right away (at the front desk) without all this drama.
As for Citysearch you accused us of removing your review, however if you go to citysearch you will see that we have some bad reviews and always respond to them, and the client works with us to solve any problems. If any review was removed it wasen't done by us! Please call the salon to set up a time to pick up the money that was overcharged on your ticket and signe refund letter and receipt. You can come after 6 pm it is not a problem we can wait for you if you are working. 212.570.2800/570.2801 ask for Younes
Thank you,
Younes
Eve
Astoria,New York,
U.S.A.
Salon Safar Upper East Side New York Ridiculously Ripped Off Hidden Charges- A response to the manager.
#6Author of original report
Sun, December 03, 2006
Younes,
I appreciate you taking the time to rebut.
It's understandable that human beings made mistakes. However for your information, the receptionist was in fact witnessed the entire process including the charging and payment.
I don't believe the fact of calling particularly speaking to the receptionist could solve much of the problems nor your free future master hair stylist services could regain my trust of your salon. Salon Safar's reputation of having inconsistency on prices, overcharging customers obviously was a repeated issue. If the salon has really taken their business and customers seriously, they shouldn't have continuously receiving several negative reviews on Citysearch. Of course, these are just the few that we acknowledged from those whom took their valuable time to provide feedback online. To my surprised, my review which was published for one day somehow had been taken down by the Citysearch..
If I were the salon's owner, I wouldn't really compare my prices with other top salons that have the long and well-established reputations. It's pretty interesting to know that major salons standard will provide free blow dry service upon a hair cut but Salon Safar doesn't.
I was surprised of your confusion on the $393.95 charged on my card. Clearly that the additional $50 was the tip I was referring to. Do the calculation (15% of the $343.95 is close to $50, despite of my experience I was kind enough to give your staff at least a NY minimum tip standard even during my stage of shock or unconscious mind).
However, you mentioned Salon Safar doesn't retain any of the promotional coupon money. This translated to me as I was somehow paying the advertising/ promotion fees in behalf of your salon. Or to look at it from another perspective, actually I wasn't just paying $393.95, but was a grand total of $423.95 instead for the total unhappiness!!
I do appreciate your thought or perhaps your kind insult on suggesting me to stay around your own borough- Queens for hair services. This issue should be brought up regardless of the background or the bank account size of any victims including myself. Based on what the customers have experienced, I guess this pretty much have reflected the hair salon's operation and managing style.
I'm here for the justice, to fight for what are right for me and other consumers. I started with the trust to believe good services Salon Safar could provide. Besides the total of $423.95 including the tips and initial promotion coupon I've paid. This entire situation has absolutely caused me unnecessary stress and wasted my long valuable hours merely because of the unfair treatments your salon have created. You should re-assess your feedback. I'm requesting a full refund to my credit card as all these should never have happened if it wasn't the mismanagement from your hair salon.
Younes
Jackson Heights,New York,
U.S.A.
Salon Safar
#6UPDATE Employee
Fri, December 01, 2006
Dear Eve,
I am the manager of Salon Safar and have read your comment. I am sorry you feel like you have been taken advantage of it is not our policy to overcharge people. This situation is an isolated incident that should never have taken place. We have new stylists that have joined our team and overcharged you. Having known this you should have brought it to light by speaking with the receptionist who could have called it to the attention of someone in a position to correct this problem!
This was a mistake on the stylists part and there is a solution to this problem. However if you do not speak directly with us how do you expect this problem to be resolved? I just so happened to be looking at yahoo and stumbled upon this! This is an absolute incorrect assessment of how we operate and we fully invite any media outlets to scrutinize our business practices.
The promotional package you speak of is not a $30.00 item it is $59.00 this was also a mistake on behalf of the person who was advertising it (we do not retain any of these monies). Due to the many items included in the package we do not include a blowout (you should call bumble and bumble back and ask the price of all items together on the package and then come to the conclusion of wether this is a deal or not) the correct total of your bill should have been Highlights: $120 Single process: $60 Blowout: $45 Total= 259.80 tax this is a very good price for these services and do not even compare to the prices of Bumble and Bumble our salon is less expensive.
I am confused as to the total of your ticket you state in the beginning how you paid a wopping $393.95 and in the end of your submission you state that your bill was $343.95 you should be crystal clear as to what you paid when in a public forum, and having determined that you were overcharged we will gladly refund you these monies, and a free haircut with our master stylist in the future as recompense for our mistake. What you have stated about our company is unjust however as the consumer you should have brought it to our attention we are only human and the stylist you speak of should be questioned about this as well. If you cannot afford to have your hair highlighted etc..at Manhattan prices then you should have stayed in Queens.
These are the prices for Manhattans competitive market, you do the research! Please call us to come and speak with us and retrieve your refund of the overcharged items. We are sorry for any inconvience this is a misunderstanding plain and simple! Call us at 212-452-3010 ask for Younes
Thank you,
Management
Younes
Jackson Heights,New York,
U.S.A.
Salon Safar
#6UPDATE Employee
Fri, December 01, 2006
Dear Eve,
I am the manager of Salon Safar and have read your comment. I am sorry you feel like you have been taken advantage of it is not our policy to overcharge people. This situation is an isolated incident that should never have taken place. We have new stylists that have joined our team and overcharged you. Having known this you should have brought it to light by speaking with the receptionist who could have called it to the attention of someone in a position to correct this problem!
This was a mistake on the stylists part and there is a solution to this problem. However if you do not speak directly with us how do you expect this problem to be resolved? I just so happened to be looking at yahoo and stumbled upon this! This is an absolute incorrect assessment of how we operate and we fully invite any media outlets to scrutinize our business practices.
The promotional package you speak of is not a $30.00 item it is $59.00 this was also a mistake on behalf of the person who was advertising it (we do not retain any of these monies). Due to the many items included in the package we do not include a blowout (you should call bumble and bumble back and ask the price of all items together on the package and then come to the conclusion of wether this is a deal or not) the correct total of your bill should have been Highlights: $120 Single process: $60 Blowout: $45 Total= 259.80 tax this is a very good price for these services and do not even compare to the prices of Bumble and Bumble our salon is less expensive.
I am confused as to the total of your ticket you state in the beginning how you paid a wopping $393.95 and in the end of your submission you state that your bill was $343.95 you should be crystal clear as to what you paid when in a public forum, and having determined that you were overcharged we will gladly refund you these monies, and a free haircut with our master stylist in the future as recompense for our mistake. What you have stated about our company is unjust however as the consumer you should have brought it to our attention we are only human and the stylist you speak of should be questioned about this as well. If you cannot afford to have your hair highlighted etc..at Manhattan prices then you should have stayed in Queens.
These are the prices for Manhattans competitive market, you do the research! Please call us to come and speak with us and retrieve your refund of the overcharged items. We are sorry for any inconvience this is a misunderstanding plain and simple! Call us at 212-452-3010 ask for Younes
Thank you,
Management
Younes
Jackson Heights,New York,
U.S.A.
Salon Safar
#6UPDATE Employee
Fri, December 01, 2006
Dear Eve,
I am the manager of Salon Safar and have read your comment. I am sorry you feel like you have been taken advantage of it is not our policy to overcharge people. This situation is an isolated incident that should never have taken place. We have new stylists that have joined our team and overcharged you. Having known this you should have brought it to light by speaking with the receptionist who could have called it to the attention of someone in a position to correct this problem!
This was a mistake on the stylists part and there is a solution to this problem. However if you do not speak directly with us how do you expect this problem to be resolved? I just so happened to be looking at yahoo and stumbled upon this! This is an absolute incorrect assessment of how we operate and we fully invite any media outlets to scrutinize our business practices.
The promotional package you speak of is not a $30.00 item it is $59.00 this was also a mistake on behalf of the person who was advertising it (we do not retain any of these monies). Due to the many items included in the package we do not include a blowout (you should call bumble and bumble back and ask the price of all items together on the package and then come to the conclusion of wether this is a deal or not) the correct total of your bill should have been Highlights: $120 Single process: $60 Blowout: $45 Total= 259.80 tax this is a very good price for these services and do not even compare to the prices of Bumble and Bumble our salon is less expensive.
I am confused as to the total of your ticket you state in the beginning how you paid a wopping $393.95 and in the end of your submission you state that your bill was $343.95 you should be crystal clear as to what you paid when in a public forum, and having determined that you were overcharged we will gladly refund you these monies, and a free haircut with our master stylist in the future as recompense for our mistake. What you have stated about our company is unjust however as the consumer you should have brought it to our attention we are only human and the stylist you speak of should be questioned about this as well. If you cannot afford to have your hair highlighted etc..at Manhattan prices then you should have stayed in Queens.
These are the prices for Manhattans competitive market, you do the research! Please call us to come and speak with us and retrieve your refund of the overcharged items. We are sorry for any inconvience this is a misunderstanding plain and simple! Call us at 212-452-3010 ask for Younes
Thank you,
Management