Fantastic Sams

Doesn't Recommend

jacquisav

Joined 2 years ago

Total ripoff with a manipulative staff.. Let me just say that rating this salon "1 star" is being too gracious. This place was a giant ripoff, while the staff was both rude and greedy.

First off, let me say that I'm certainly not above paying good money for a haircut. I've been to many high-end salons and have dropped some decent cash on stylists who I know are passionate about their customers, and what they do.

However, this particular day, I was tight on cash, and had exactly $20 in my wallet. I stumbled upon a coupon for a shampoo/cut/light blow-dry for $10.95. I was in need of simply getting my dry ends trimmed from a previous bleaching. So I thought, why not? $10.95 was a fantastic deal, and I'd even be left over with some cash for a few things I needed at the drug store. Mind you, I'm a 21 year old broke college student, so I needed that $20 to go as far as I could stretch it.

So I go into Fantastic Sam's, and was seated almost instantly with a stylist by the name of Martha. Up front, I told the staff that I had a coupon, as to be courteous, and was told that wouldn't be a problem, and to hold onto it until the end of the session. No problem. So, I told Martha what I needed, which was a simple dry-end trimming. Nothing more, nothing less. So she sprayed down my hair with a water bottle, and trimmed my hair. As she was spraying my hair down, I couldn't help but wonder why I hadn't received my included shampoo and conditioning, but I'm not one to complain, so I didn't say anything. I simply smiled after she trimmed my hair, and told her I was pleased with the haircut. Which initially, I was.

So she tells me that she's then going to be blow-drying my hair. The coupon permitted a blow-dry, so I thought fine, and I let her. She dried my hair, and even gave it a slight bob with the brush she'd been using. Afterwards, she gave me a small spritz of hair spray, and I told her that I was happy with what she'd done with the simple trimming. I hopped off the chair, brushed the loose hair from my shoulders, and went up to the register to pay for the services rendered.

It was then that I was thrown through a complete loop. Martha approached the register and told the cashier that I'd received as cut and a style, which ran over the $20 I had sitting in my pocket. I stared at her, and repeated that I'd told them I had a coupon upon my entering the salon. So she looks at me, mind you, as if I'm "retarded" (yes, I'm not one to speak crudely, but that was exactly as I felt), and opens up the page with the coupons I'd brought in with me. She goes "Well, you can use this coupon here," pointing to a coupon equaling a cut and style for $19.95. I told her that I'd only asked for a trimming, and was simply regarded with the same rude, smug expression and the same reply, as if she thought I was trying to rip them off. I was infuriated, and honestly, hurt. So I threw them the coupon, payed the $19.95 for an absolutely sub-part (which is being kind) service. They gave me a nickle back, and I left the salon, admittedly, wiping a tear or two from my eyes. I tossed the nickle in my center console feeling cheated and insulted.

I'm not usually an overly emotional person, but I was absolutely insulted by the way I was treated at this Fantastic Sam's. They may claim to be budget-friendly, but trust that these stylists will try to intentionally milk you for whatever cash you may have in your wallet. If you do decide to wander into this salon, be wary and cautious, as this is a salon that considers a single spritz of hairspray to be a full-blown styling.

All and all the experience disappointed me because I've met some wonderfully friendly, passionate and kind stylists before, who have always treated me as a customer, not a money-pit. There's nothing I love more than making a waitress or a stylist's day by giving them a more than generous tip. My mother's a waitress, so I have the utmost respect for these wonderful ladies. But Fantastic Sam's is a far cry from that sort of atmosphere.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review by Citysearch Editors. Budget-friendly, no-appointment-necessary chain offers full service for adults, kids and special-occasion clients; facial waxing and signature salon products available.