h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I went for a cut and tint on Wednesday. Not my usual stylist and everything was slightly wrong. Yesterday screwed up courage (living in a small village means there's only one possiblr hairdresser) and complained. Fixed this afternoon.
While I'm feeling so brave I may complain to the doctor's receptionist

well done you!

What GB said!


I wouldn't have put you down as someone who would stand for that, WS. (I would have thought that you would have said something immediately) This must have been your real self coming out in the end!

It's difficult though - I can imagine the situation.... older lady goes and has her hair done by a twenty-something girl, and isn't quite satisfied with the result. Customer explains in reasonable terms what she isn't happy with, young girl gets in a huff. It's all the customer's fault, of course. They will then moan about it for the next two days and all the subsequent customers get to hear the story from her point of view. You can't win. I wouldn't want to get myself a reputation as a cantankerous old , but if I'd paid for the service...... I would probably not even have mustered the courage to go back later and complain. Fortunately I have a very good relationship with my hairdresser and have known them for over 20 years now, but your story shows that it pays to make a stand. I shall bear that in mind.

The moral of this story is do not take an appointment with another stylist if your own is unavailable. The younger me would have complained at the time. The current me didn't want to make a fuss in a full salon in a SMALL village.
Similarly I went back to the restaurant next door on my own after a less than satisfactory meal (it's expensive)and had a word with the owner over a drink. Someone else was paying, so I didn't feel it appropriate to complain at the time