First thing, this is a 100% true story and I could not believe it myself as it was happening to me. I felt like such a victim.
I walked into this barber shop as it looked like a nice mom and pop sort of place and I am all about supporting local business. As I walked in I was greated by a team of barbers who were already at work with some customers. There was nobody waiting so I thought I would have little wait. I sat down and started reading a magazine. The only magazines they had there were about cats but I am not to judge.
After about 10 minutes they had finished with someones haircut and I got excited to be next. Just then a guy walked through the door and was ushered past past me into the chair that had just opened without explanation from the barbers. I consider myself a patient person so I let it go and sat back down. A female barber did apologize and say "Don't worry, you are next."
A few minutes later a person came in and sat down to wait with me. As the next customer was done with their haircut the person behind my in line stood up and sat himself down in the open seat. At this point I asked the barbers if there was a sign in that I had missed and they laughed and said "There is never a line so why need a sign in? Don't worry, you are next."
Waiting another 10 minutes the 3rd customer finished their cut and took off as a old gentleman walked in and just walked past me into the chair! The barbers let it happen and didn't seem to think that was wrong. At this point I had read every feline enthusiast magazine I could handle and was about to leave when another chair opened up.
I anxiously jumped up knowing these seats were a hot commodity as another customer came in that all the barbers seemed to know. They started greeting the customer and arguing who would get to cut his hair. They had the guy sit in that open seat and get is haircut started right away. This guy was absolutely enormous, he stood about 6 feet, 8 inches, around 300 pounds of solid muscle, so I didn't want to say "I was here first, pal." The customer, who's name I assume was "Keith", gave the barbers an old VHS tape of a 1987 college football game between Syracuse and West Virginia. The barbers were exceptionally thankful for the tape. The same lady once again said "Don't worry, you are next."
I really needed this haircut so I sat even longer. 50 minutes had passed when a seat once again opened. I bolted for the seat and the barber operating yelled "Sir, that is a 10 minute penalty for running in the shop!" I asked if he was joking and his response was "Slips and falls are no joke!" I was ushered to a special seat labeled the 'penalty box' that I had previously not noticed. They assured me, "Don't worry, you are next."
Next person to come in was completely bald and they sat this guy down in front of me again and started shaving his bald head! I was going crazy at this point as I had almost made it out of my penalty period according to the clock on the wall. They once again reminded me that "You are next". I could not have been more excited to get a real bonafide haircut!
I wanted a cut like Darrel from "Coming to America",and they didn't know what that was but said they would try. Before I knew they had cut only one side off and I noticed I had got a buzz cut instead. I asked what had happened and the barber said "Oh, I forgot jheri curls and not buzz cut." 'Are you kidding me?' I asked. "Its okay, we will make this better" as he goes on to shave the rest of my hair like a buzz cut. I clearly was upset and they said, "We will make it up to you with the works, nice face shave sir."
Straight razor to the face and they only cut me 5 or 6 times. But when I looked up in the mirror, I now noticed I no longer had any eyebrows! I was so upset I asked for them to let me leave. They instead yelled into the back "Get the cart!". Some person comes out with a cart of wigs and yells at me "Which one do you want to rent?" I didn't understand and they saw the perplexed facial expression and explained, "You are not the first person to not know an amazing haircut when he gets one, just pick a d**n wig and we will get you a deal."
I finally just stood up and started to leave and they threatened that they were going to call the police if I didn't pay. I felt discriminated against because they assumed I had a criminal record and was scared to violate my parole just because I am black, which was true, I was on parole.
So I paid for their cheapest wig which was a redhead rat's nest and they yell 100$ dollars for 2 weeks, and another $100 deposit. So I paid $200 after feeling mutilated and humiliated after a 2 hour wait.
Here I am, a black guy with no eyebrows, and bright-red clown hair, now trying to get a job looking the way that I do all because of BocaRay Barber Shop. What a piece of crap business!