Elle Braiding

Review: The advertisement for this business states: "The Most Beautiful Braids at Competitive Prices" and this, in fact, is false advertisement! First, the braids that I received at this salon (5/25/13) only lasted two(2) days before they began falling out of my hair. Having maintained ongoing brading styles for past 18+ years, it has been my experience that these types of problems occur only when the technician(s) performing services has minimal experience with creating various styles on varying hair textures/lengths. However, it is the responsibility of the salon's owner to ensure that the best skilled technician is assigned/matched to each individual customer based on the requested hairstyle and the hair type. If, in fact, such a technician is uavailable the business owner generally utilizes good ethical practices by scheduling the customer at a time when either a technician with the required skills/experience for the job is available or the owner herself/himself is available to do the job. Secondly, the price I paid to receive one of the same hairstyles (using same type/texture of braiding hair as in past) at this salon is not "competitive" ($225.00) as is advertised because I have paid lower prices at other salons ($180.00-$200.00) and the style lasted from two(2) to three(3) months without incident. If, however, there were any minor incidents occurring during those times, the business owner(s )utilized professional business ethics by exhibiting empathy/concern about customer retention/satisfaction versus greed for money with minimal concern/respect for the customer(s).

Prior to writing this complaint I made three attempts to resovle the issue with the shop's owner in a civil and professional manner. Instead the owner became verbally defensive (blaming) and arguementative while making excuses for having me to return back on a different day to receive replacement for the braids that had fallen out. Not to mention that upon my initial appointment, I had to wait approximately one(1) hour beyond my appointment time for the technician to arrive at the salon and once she finally arrivived she immediately rushed off into the mall to pick herself up breakfeast before beginning my hair. To date, the owner has yet to assume/admit any responsibility for the horrible service that I have been provided but instead she would state that if I needed to return she would charge me additional fees for services relating to replacing more of the falling out braids. Each of the aformentioned times I contacted Elle Braiding relating to this issue, the owner has been rude, arrograntly defensive/arguementative and blaming the entire situation on something relating to me or the hair type(s) (e.g. my hair type, type of hair I purchased, type of style I chose, etc.). On the two return visits prior to final visit , the initial technician and/or owner half heartedly made an attempt to replace the fallen out braids using still more human hair that I purchased. However, each time the braids continued to fall out after a day or two while pulling out my natural hair at the same time. As a result of this, I now have several bald spots in my head which I hope will fill in rapidly.

On the last phone call to express my concerns regarding more braids falling out and to request that my hair be redone completely, the owner arguementatively and reluctantly stated that rather than redoing my hair she would refund half of the price back to me and remove the remaining braids and that I could "be on my way" at that point (@3:00pm). After being delayed by rush hour traffic, I arrived at Elle Braiding (@4:00) I explained to owner([redacted]/Elle) that I would not have time to stay for removal of braids due to another obligation but she refused to give me the partial refund ($115.00) unless I allowed her technician to remove the remaining braids. So after a back and forth verbal debate with "Elle" and because I had driven that distance with the intent of picking up partial refund I sat for the tech to remove braids and I had to help her in order to expedite process (needed to be at the other appointment by 5:00).Desired Settlement: Because of what I deem to be unethical, unprincipled, and poor character representation of the community by this business (Elle Braiding) as well as the mental distress the entire situation has caused me, I feel that [redacted]/"Elle" should assume her responsibility in neglecting to provide good/fair customer service and the advertised "beautiful braids at competitive prices". This, of course, should begin with an apology verbally and/or written then followed by a cash refund balance for the total amount of hairstyle versus a partial amount ( remaining balance: $110.00).

In concluding, I must add that as a result of doing business with Elle@ Elle Braiding and having witnessed an act of poor buisness ethics, lack of personal and business related integrity, untrustworthiness, unreliability and a poor character representation of businesses within the community, it is my strong conviction that "...the love of money is the root of all evil."

Business

Response:

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Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

The contents of this response do not specifically address the primary concerns/contents of my initial complaint. Furthermore, the statements contained therein are false and inaccurate. On the date of my initial appointment, I arrived at the scheduled time but only to discover that the owner needed to call a braider into shop. This caused a delay of approx. 45min.-1hr. and (as previously explained) once the braider arrived she proceeded to go purchase breakfeast whcih caused an additional 15 minute delay. Additionally, upon my third and final phone call to the salon regarding the braids that they had placed into my hair, I requested that the salon redo my entire hairstyle but the owner insisted that I come there immediately to simply get a refund for a portion of the initial payment instead (one half of initial amt.). After driving through rush hour traffic and upon my arrival, the salon owner insisted that the braids be taken out by her salon in order for me to receive this refunded amount. On this visit, as well as the previous visits, I was treated unfairly and in a condensending manner by the owner (contributing also to some mental distress). To date, as previously stated, the owner refuses to assume responsibility for the unprofessional/unethical manner that she has dealt with this situation at the salon and refuses amending the situation to ensure customer satisfaction thus lending to protection of the integrity for Elle's Hair Braiding Salon as well as the retention of clients to ensure future success.

Regards,

Business

Response:

See attachment or check attachment tab.

Review: I took my daughter to this salon on August 17 to get her hair braided. When setting the appointment, I was quoted a starting price of $110 although previously I paid $150 for the same service at the salon. When I arrived at the salon, the stylist quoted me $170, in which I immediately refuted that price with the fact that I had previously paid $150. She attempted to call the owner to no avail. We agreed on the price of $150 and after 5 hours my daughter's hair was nicely braided (so I thought). The timing is not relevant to this case, as it is standard for hair braiding to take several hours. On August 18, my daughter's braids started to come out without any stress on her hair. I phoned the salon in which the owner was apologetic and asked me to bring my daughter in the next day. I agreed and phoned in advance to set a mutually agreeable time. At this time, the owner immediately starts to talk about pricing and that $150 was not the correct price. Even if I were to pay her an additional $20 that does not negate the fact that the braids are falling out of my daughter's hair in less than 24 hours. The owner refuses to re-braid my daughter's entire head and it is completely unacceptable. The owner started ranting and raving about people trying to "get over" on braiders, etc., when in fact, all I want is to pay for a quality service. I drove my daughter 45 minutes to this salon, as my past experience with this salon was very pleasant. My profession is in standards and quality and I truly value quality work and services. Albeit this is seemingly a very frivolous response, customer service is key especially when you are in a service oriented business. It is completely unacceptable to provide sub par service to any honest paying customer.Desired Settlement: My daughter's hair re-braided correctly.