Friday, January 4, 2008

I hate two things: Overpriced diapers and Bitches

Some days I'm a magnet for crap. Crap magnet. I know, I already posted once today, and generally that's more than plenty for me (hence when I didn't post all of December). BUT I've got a few things that really irked me today.

First of all, in my last post, I mentioned that taking Adrien for his first hair cut was high on my priority list. Very high, actually. His hair's getting kind of ratty on the ends, and honestly it's fast becoming a mullet with the back growing faster than the front. So as cute as he is with baby-ish hair, it's time for Momma to let go and allow him a coif that will lend him a big boy look.

So anyway, there's a kid's hair cut place by the Target I always shop at. Needless to say, it was the first place I thought of. As soon as they opened (10am) I phoned in to make an appointment. Adrien's date with coiffure destiny was set for 11:40am this morning.

Great -- I could pick up some diapers [at Target] beforehand. He had his last one on at that very moment. So we pack up and go and I park strategically between the Target and the hair cutting place so that I can go in, buy diapers, bring them back to the car, nab the camera, and swing into the ultra hip just-for-kiddos salon.

I should have had an epiphany of things to come when I hit the check out line at Target with the diapers. Not thinking, I'd grabbed one of the 88 count boxes of size 5 Huggies off of the shelf and continued on to check out. I never looked at the price. After all, they're such and such price at Wal-Mart and while I figured Target to be a bit pricier, I wondered how much more it would possibly be. I was soon to find out. The cashier says it's something like a $30 total and I'm amazed! Surely that's wrong, I asked. And she looked and said no. Well then I want my money back, dontcha know. Transaction completed, I headed straight for the customer service department where I asked the lady to double check the price. I mean, surely it was wrong. No, it was correct. I informed her that I could get the same box of diapers for much less at Kroger or Wal-Mart and that I'd just bought them but would like to return them.

I can't do a return without receipt, ma'am.

I just bought them, I have the receipt. Right. Here.

[I was holding my debit card out for her so that she could return the money to the card, when I see her pulling cash from the register]

Can you charge it back to my card?

Well I can if you want me to call so and so over here and void the transaction! [Miss Snippy pants]

Fine, cash is fine.

So then I left Target diaperless. Not a total waste though, because my little boy was about to get his hair snipped off. Exciting!

So we go over to the too cool kiddie salon, sign in, and wait. And wait. And wait. Adrien was so excited about the little cars they had in each booth for the kids to sit in. I assured him he had to wait his turn. When I'd first arrived to the salon, there were two stylists working -- both were busy. Neither acknowledged my presence. At all. Each had a little girl in their seat, and I noticed the mother hovering about -- one other little girl in tow. As I sat there and waited our turn, droves of people started to come in. Adrien was restless to say the least...I mean, there were cars to drive for goodness sake! After what seemed like an eternity, the same two little girls were still getting their hair cut. I looked at the clock and it was 12. We'd been there twenty minutes. The stylists were still working away on the little girls' hair. Still, neither stylist had acknowledged any one family that'd came in thus far.

This was taking a great deal of time. The little girls didn't even have that much hair. As one girl's hair was finally finished, I turned my attention to the other girl I'd noticed tagging along with the hovering mother. I mean, surely she had already had her hair cut. No. She had not already gotten her hair cut. The stylist had her jump into her chair. I was furious! I mean, I know they were there first, I wasn't arguing about that. But at this point it was 12:15 and I'd been waiting since our appointment time, which was 35 minutes prior! I was angry that the stylists hadn't been out to assure anyone of anything, nor to say -- We're behind, but it will be X amount of minutes. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. So when the other other little girl was finally done getting her hair cut, that stylist walked to the front to check the sign in sheet.

Adrien had been growing so restless and so had I. So I seized this opportunity to ask the stylist how much longer the wait would be. When she replied He's Next in a very snippy tone, I asked how long "next" meant. She ignored that questions, so I went on to explain that my appointment had been made for forty minutes before that. Forty minutes! What she said next just boiled my blood!

She says, very rudely, "Little girl's hair takes longer to cut than little boy's hair does!"

I'm aware of that. But it's been forty minutes. I had an appointment.


Again, she says, "He's next."

So I say, "Ya know what? That wasn't very nice. I think I'm going to leave."

So I did.

I was so excited about Adrien's first hair cut, and I realized that I didn't want this woman to give it to him. She was rude and inconsiderate. I mean, it's a place of business that services children...and for an adult to have to wait 40 minutes past appointment time without acknowledgment is bad enough...but for a 20 month to have to wait 40 minutes past appointment time? That's just ridiculous. I was so pissed off when I left that I thought I was going to cry. Here this was supposed to be such a milestone of a day, and miss bitchy pants ruined it.

I know I was short with her, but I had a right to be impatient at that point. Forty minutes.

Would you have left?

8 comments:

Mimi said...

You bet your bottom dollar I would have! I hate those "kids" hair cut places. We used to have one in the mall and they did not take appointments -- nor did they take credit cards, but they did take debit cards... but the "machine" was always broken (yeah, right!).

Anyway, when I made an off hand remark about "Harry Potter" and she said (very snooty), "Oh, I don't read them! I'm a Christian!" That was it. I was livid... They're out of business now. Hehehehe...

Anyway, I now bring the boys to the barber shop. They do great. They do lots of kids hair and they have fun places for kids to sit (a motorcycle chair or a froggy chair).

Good luck!

Kelly said...

yikes! I would have said the hell with this and up and left too. Those places are way over-priced anyway.. I took Jack to Sal's Barber down the road and for $7 he got an awesome cut. Better than the one he recieved at the hoyti toyti place. I wouldn't want someone with such a tude to cute my childs hair anyway..
Aww the days of diapers..I feel for ya...I really do. They are so damn expensive..I was even buying the chlorine free kind..seventh generation brand at the health store and for 25 I was paying $15.99! Then I said screw this and switched to cloth...
for awhile anyway..

Rantings by a Middle Aged Drama Queen said...

Honey please my butt would have left 20 minutes before hand! I HATE to wait.............and specially if people are being "@itchy"!!!!

Erin said...

Sorry B...I know you were excited about the hair cut. But you were right to have left...not only for the long wait, but like you said after her tone with you I wouldn't have wanted her cutting my kids hair either. She would just have been short with Adrien too and it should be a fun experience. I'm sorry you had such a yucky day. FYI - not sure if you like them or not, but the Target brand diapers are awesome (at least for Juliet) and a 96 pack only costs $14.00 (size 4). I only use those.

Have a better day tomorrow :o)

Anonymous said...

I would have left after 5 minutes, mostly because my son would have destroyed the place by then. I hate things like that. We found a great kids place and they have never given us a attitude (BTW, my daughter's hair cuts take 20 minutes)

Missy said...

You did the right thing in both cases.

I am so sick of rude customer service and I do not understand how a place aimed at kids would allow such waits without understanding.

Farrah said...

They were totally rude to you and I am glad you made a point of leaving and telling them why. Maybe nex time they will think twice about being so rude. It is a momentous thing to take your child for their first haircut (I cried at my son's) and you don't want to be bitter and upset during such a special event. Good for you with the diapers too. Target needs a little reality check now and then. :)

Candace said...

yes I would have left. My husband runs a restaurant. We are in the service industry. That means you give the best service you can and you do it with a genuine smile. There are a lot of other places to give your money (except Target!)
peace....