Last week I did a shop for a hair salon, where the hair stylist butchered my hair. My bangs were down past my chin, and I had been growing them out for some time, wanting to get some curtain bangs done. I showed her pictures of what I wanted, and she cut my bangs 1/2 inch above my eyebrows! It's so short, I can barely even curl it. I was so upset, as now they look so stupid and not even blended into the rest of my hair, just cut straight across. I wrote all this in my report, trying to state just the facts and remaining professional even though I am completely upset about it. The day after I submitted my report, I got a phone call from the manager of the hair salon, who said she heard I was unhappy with my hair cut and wanted to make it right. She invited me to come back in so she could show the stylist how to fix it. I said, I'm not sure how you can fix it because it's not like you can glue the hair back on. I asked if I could call her back tomorrow, and she said that was fine; she wouldn't be there, but any of the other hair stylists could help me, and then she said, "And if they are not nice to you, let me know."

So my thoughts on all this: I had no idea MSC gave the clients your personal information. I've never had a client personally call me before. Now that the whole salon knows I am a mystery shopper, I feel a little weird about this.

Also, it was the comment "and if they are not nice to you..." that made me think twice about going back in. They all probably know I'm a mystery shopper and gave the girl a bad review, likely mad at me. Maybe I shouldn't put myself in that uncomfortable situation. I was going to go to another hair stylist I know and trust who I've gone to many times before.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/07/2023 05:17PM by JSuing.

Hair salons are not all that busy. Maybe they remembered who had bangs that day and looked you up in their receipts. Maybe there is a way to get a phone number from a credit card name. Not sure how those bangs can be made longer tho but with time they will grow in. If it was me I would just not go back again and hope they will not call you again. And never do the shop there again either. It sounds like you probably would not want to take another chance there with your hair anyway. Too bad.
In actuality sometimes when i have had a shorter haircut than i wanted after a few days I got used to it and it did not look so bad. The only hair salon mystery shop I have seen lately was for a Super place that I never felt was so Super. I would have taken one but they were all too far away.

I totally understand what you are saying. I had bangs throughout childhood into college. If ever a stylist cut them too short, I wanted to hide somewhere until they grew back. I finally let them grow out and I know how long and what a pita it is to get to that point. I would NOT return to that place if it was me. They'll grow back, but next time go to someone you really know does good work and whom you trust to do it right.

I am so sorry this happened to you!

Clients are not supposed to call the shoppers. However they got your info, it was wrong to contact you. I'd contact the MS company and let them know that there's been a breach.

This is unfortunate. At this point, I'd let it go entirely; don't contact or go back to the salon.

Don't hair salons request all customers check in with names and phone numbers?

@Rho* wrote:

Don't hair salons request all customers check in with names and phone numbers?

Yes, but they're not supposed to use that info or the video footage or receipts to figure out who the shopper is and to then contact them because of a shop result.

I can see using info on file to contact a real customer about an issue that had already been complained about to the staff. That's good customer service. But contacting the shopper for any reason related to a shop is a big no-no.

I know that was a disappointing experience. For various reasons, my inclination is not to go back as well. Also, if you are a perfectionist or have an image you need to maintain regarding your hair, I probably would not go the mystery shopping route, kind of like you get what you pay for. Sometimes, there is a very real reason these places hire shoppers. From the shoppers' end, sometimes such matters with me, but others not so much. I work from home these days. I don't get out a whole lot, and I will go to a local beauty school and let the students go with my hair for a cheap do. If things don't go as I hope, it is not as big a deal as if I had to go into an office. I am mostly pretty happy going that route, but if I have to go into an office or have a function, I shell out the bucks for a dependably good cut.

@Susan L. wrote:

@Rho* wrote:

Don't hair salons request all customers check in with names and phone numbers?

Yes, but they're not supposed to use that info or the video footage or receipts to figure out who the shopper is and to then contact them because of a shop result.

I can see using info on file to contact a real customer about an issue that had already been complained about to the staff. That's good customer service. But contacting the shopper for any reason related to a shop is a big no-no.

Totally agree. At the core, contacting an unhappy customer and trying to make it right is great. For this particular scenario, they can just take the report as a training/coaching opportunity.