Lemon Tree: Epic Fail

I had decided last week that I wanted to do something different with my hair. I hadn’t colored it in about 2 years and I needed a cut. Being the frugal one I have become lately, I went to Lemon Tree instead of going to a salon that would charge more than I could afford. Instead of looking up locations, I figured there had to be one on my way home one night and as soon as I started looking, there it was.  I walked in and looked for a pricing sign and saw none.  The receptionist who was also the manager asked what they could do for me.

ME: “I need a color and a cut, but before you start anything can you tell me the price? I want to make sure I have enough.”

MANAGER: “Sure, that will be $45″.

ME: “OK, that’s good, let’s do it.”

She proceeded to show me all the colors and when I picked one (Light Golden Brown, for all those that like all the details), she told me to have a seat.  5 minutes later, she comes out with the bowl of hair color.  Then, this:

MANAGER: “Just a clarification, the $45 is just for the color, it will be an additional $30 for the cut.”

ME: (Nearly falling out of my chair) “I don’t have $75! Forget the color, I will just get the cut.”

MANAGER: (in a raised voice), “No, you WILL do the color, I already mixed it!”

ME:  “No I won’t, unless you don’t want to get paid for it! I can’t afford that much!”

MANAGER: “Well how much CAN you afford? I can’t just throw this out!”

ME: “I can afford $40 but was stretching it to afford $45, which is what you quoted me!”

By this time, everyone in the place has stopped what they were doing and was turned around watching the altercation.  I am about 2 seconds from leaving and have already stood up and grabbed my bag.  In an effort not to waste the already mixed color she tells me she will do the color for $35 which is the price for a touchup and the cut for $18.  She made sure to tell me that this is less than a senior citizen price and I should feel very lucky that I got it.  LUCKY? That I got overcharged and my hair doesn’t even look that good? Well, she certainly didn’t get a tip.  That’s how lucky she was. They tried to get me to try the eyebrow threading too, but I wasn’t letting them near my eyebrows after that debacle!  Maybe had she honored the price she quoted me, in front of at least 5 people, I would be going back there again.  Instead, I write this blog for many to read…that’ll teach Lemon Tree.  Bastards.