Question...what would you do???. - tanTALK

MJ · 01-28-2004, 11:54 PM

I have some young men that tan in my salon..and think they can flash a nice smile and strong chin at us and get a discount...WTF???

Recently I actually told a over confident mildly attractive 28 year old looking for a HS student discount...
"I do not care if you are Nick Cage offering me a lap dance you cannot get a student discount."

The girls were not allowed to give you it in the first place...Keep that in mind next time you come in." with a smile of course. He accepted it...and paid adult rate.
HOWEVER!!
That was not his first time...apparently not his last scam either. He purchased a package from our special menu the next time he came in....And was told "by ME" it had a 90 Day expiration. And guess what???

yep he a few visits left on it....and it expired.

He came in on one of my employees and they said "umm no I cannot fix it... they expired." He attempted to wooo her with his charm...and she said talk to MJ that will be $17.00 if you want to tan today.
He said no..and what was my cell phone number??? Yeah, like I let my girls give that out. MY the ego amazes me. So he was told when I would be in next.

But did he come see me???

NO
He tried to squeak by with another employee (new girl)and succeeded....Got a free tan and said I would fix his package. There was some kind of mistake.

And needless to say his "I'm to sexy for my shirt self" no longer tans at my salon.

I did in fact straighten out the new employee.And trust me when I say it will NEVER happen again. I also put a memo on his account..explaining why he owes me the ching. I simple put..Staff member: READ THIS TO "XXXX"
'cause when he came back in ( of course when I was not there.)there was a In House Credit for the difference...He claimed he spoke to me...and that matter was taken care of.

When his charm did not work...he got rude and said he would take it up with me nect time he sees me. Still nothing.... so he finally left. Since he could not tan without paying for his IHC and a visit.
Have not seen him since.
He was told...he did not listen. Nobody is that cute or charming...what is wrong with some people????? :eyeroll:

Would any of you have handled it differently?? And how?

PS. Abusers like him are a big part of why I do not have a student discounted walk in rate anymore.

ALOHATANCA · 01-29-2004, 12:50 PM

I am just now experiencing this...we hit them for a $5 reactivation fee so we don't completly loose them...ya I have those guys that are gods gift to ??? and try their charm on me but I stand firm in a polite/joking way..there is always a way the the ball back in their court and tell them what they DON'T want to hear in a way that is okay to all...Linda

_PS..my staff always call me w/the client here so it can be resolved now...________________
[ This Message was edited by: ALOHATANCA on 2004-01-29 12:53 ]

DanD · 01-29-2004, 05:03 PM

MJ, this happens all the time. Just train your employees to never allow any changes to routine without your personal approval. If someone talks with me about anything and I change it I will put the change in myself with a note under the customers name. I have hot looking ladies always trying this stuff on me...I can't believe some of the schools they come up with. I only give high school discounts...age 19 and under. Quit college discounts this year...worked out well.

BronzeBabe · 01-29-2004, 06:01 PM

MJ..I think you handled the situation the best you could...I handle all changes/etc.. on all accounts and my girls know that...if I am not at the salon they inform the client of the next time I will be available. Your employee was wrong for making a decision on her own without your approval. I also have a student discount and as of Feb. 1st it only applies to students that are 21 or younger with a valid student id...it was getting ridiculous when customers that were 26,42,etc..were questioning if they could receive the discount..so I had to put a cap on it..no problems as of yet!

acapulco · 01-31-2004, 10:11 AM

Why give a student discount at all?

NJTANMAN · 01-31-2004, 11:46 AM

well acapulco you make a good point. but i feel the value in it is that students talk... they have a tan and their salon hookes them up with a discount... if you have them talking and you infact get them in your salon the discount is offset by the sheer volume of buesnees they generate...

dan

mouthybrat · 01-31-2004, 11:48 AM

Good point, Dan!!!!!! Word of mouth is one of the best forms of advertising!

NJTANMAN · 01-31-2004, 11:50 AM

MJ it happens to me all the time... beuty for some people is a comdity not accepted here... we make you look good.. for a price.
you did the right think... if he doesnt like it f@#k him

dan

MJ · 01-31-2004, 03:54 PM

lol..Thanks sometimes I think I am too hard nosed and jaded.(image that...me?? ) I thought I made the right decision I was not sure.

BTW as of NOV 03 I no longer have a student discount rate.
I have a few discounted packages available for HS students WITH ID only.

The staff members who originally gave him the student discount are no longer with me. They in my eyes started the situation by letting him get away with it in teh first place. And the The woman who gave him the free visit on his expired package was new and HAS LEARNED her lesson. She said she felt intimiated...I believe she is now more worried about her job then a pushy customer.

It is like I have always said..it is easier to go down then it is to to go up in prices. Having that discount caused too many issues from the day I took over. ( I purchased an exsisting salon) I am just glad I no longer have it. NO more explaining to 19-20 year olds that pop in 5 times a year( usually in spring) "umm sorry you are no longer in high school hun". Good luck to all of of you this Spring. I am sure we will all have our clients that rub us raw..let's just all try to remember that They are but a small part of our data bases!!

Have great season!

_________________
Saving you the trouble chunnster..
[ This Message was edited by: MJ on 2004-01-31 15:55 ]

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01-28-2004, 11:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
MJ Join Date: Jan 21 2002 Posts: 2,709 Rep Power: 23	I have some young men that tan in my salon..and think they can flash a nice smile and strong chin at us and get a discount...WTF??? Recently I actually told a over confident mildly attractive 28 year old looking for a HS student discount... "I do not care if you are Nick Cage offering me a lap dance you cannot get a student discount." The girls were not allowed to give you it in the first place...Keep that in mind next time you come in." with a smile of course. He accepted it...and paid adult rate. HOWEVER!! That was not his first time...apparently not his last scam either. He purchased a package from our special menu the next time he came in....And was told "by ME" it had a 90 Day expiration. And guess what??? yep he a few visits left on it....and it expired. He came in on one of my employees and they said "umm no I cannot fix it... they expired." He attempted to wooo her with his charm...and she said talk to MJ that will be $17.00 if you want to tan today. He said no..and what was my cell phone number??? Yeah, like I let my girls give that out. MY the ego amazes me. So he was told when I would be in next. But did he come see me??? NO He tried to squeak by with another employee (new girl)and succeeded....Got a free tan and said I would fix his package. There was some kind of mistake. And needless to say his "I'm to sexy for my shirt self" no longer tans at my salon. I did in fact straighten out the new employee.And trust me when I say it will NEVER happen again. I also put a memo on his account..explaining why he owes me the ching. I simple put..Staff member: READ THIS TO "XXXX" 'cause when he came back in ( of course when I was not there.)there was a In House Credit for the difference...He claimed he spoke to me...and that matter was taken care of. When his charm did not work...he got rude and said he would take it up with me nect time he sees me. Still nothing.... so he finally left. Since he could not tan without paying for his IHC and a visit. Have not seen him since. He was told...he did not listen. Nobody is that cute or charming...what is wrong with some people????? :eyeroll: Would any of you have handled it differently?? And how? PS. Abusers like him are a big part of why I do not have a student discounted walk in rate anymore.

01-29-2004, 12:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
ALOHATANCA Tan Talk Industry Pro member Join Date: Nov 14 2003 Location: CALIFORNIA Age: 65 Posts: 3,455 Rep Power: 24	I am just now experiencing this...we hit them for a $5 reactivation fee so we don't completly loose them...ya I have those guys that are gods gift to ??? and try their charm on me but I stand firm in a polite/joking way..there is always a way the the ball back in their court and tell them what they DON'T want to hear in a way that is okay to all...Linda _PS..my staff always call me w/the client here so it can be resolved now...________________ [ This Message was edited by: ALOHATANCA on 2004-01-29 12:53 ]

01-29-2004, 05:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
DanD Join Date: Dec 4 2000 Posts: 337 Rep Power: 24	MJ, this happens all the time. Just train your employees to never allow any changes to routine without your personal approval. If someone talks with me about anything and I change it I will put the change in myself with a note under the customers name. I have hot looking ladies always trying this stuff on me...I can't believe some of the schools they come up with. I only give high school discounts...age 19 and under. Quit college discounts this year...worked out well.

01-29-2004, 06:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
BronzeBabe Join Date: May 6 2001 Posts: 1,924 Rep Power: 23	MJ..I think you handled the situation the best you could...I handle all changes/etc.. on all accounts and my girls know that...if I am not at the salon they inform the client of the next time I will be available. Your employee was wrong for making a decision on her own without your approval. I also have a student discount and as of Feb. 1st it only applies to students that are 21 or younger with a valid student id...it was getting ridiculous when customers that were 26,42,etc..were questioning if they could receive the discount..so I had to put a cap on it..no problems as of yet!

01-31-2004, 10:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
acapulco Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Jul 4 2003 Posts: 39 Rep Power: 0	Why give a student discount at all?

01-31-2004, 11:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
NJTANMAN Join Date: Jan 6 2004 Posts: 386 Rep Power: 21	well acapulco you make a good point. but i feel the value in it is that students talk... they have a tan and their salon hookes them up with a discount... if you have them talking and you infact get them in your salon the discount is offset by the sheer volume of buesnees they generate... dan

01-31-2004, 11:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
mouthybrat Join Date: Nov 9 2003 Posts: 589 Rep Power: 21	Good point, Dan!!!!!! Word of mouth is one of the best forms of advertising!

01-31-2004, 11:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
NJTANMAN Join Date: Jan 6 2004 Posts: 386 Rep Power: 21	MJ it happens to me all the time... beuty for some people is a comdity not accepted here... we make you look good.. for a price. you did the right think... if he doesnt like it f@#k him dan

01-31-2004, 03:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
MJ Join Date: Jan 21 2002 Posts: 2,709 Rep Power: 23	lol..Thanks sometimes I think I am too hard nosed and jaded.(image that...me?? ) I thought I made the right decision I was not sure. BTW as of NOV 03 I no longer have a student discount rate. I have a few discounted packages available for HS students WITH ID only. The staff members who originally gave him the student discount are no longer with me. They in my eyes started the situation by letting him get away with it in teh first place. And the The woman who gave him the free visit on his expired package was new and HAS LEARNED her lesson. She said she felt intimiated...I believe she is now more worried about her job then a pushy customer. It is like I have always said..it is easier to go down then it is to to go up in prices. Having that discount caused too many issues from the day I took over. ( I purchased an exsisting salon) I am just glad I no longer have it. NO more explaining to 19-20 year olds that pop in 5 times a year( usually in spring) "umm sorry you are no longer in high school hun". Good luck to all of of you this Spring. I am sure we will all have our clients that rub us raw..let's just all try to remember that They are but a small part of our data bases!! Have great season! _________________ Saving you the trouble chunnster.. [ This Message was edited by: MJ on 2004-01-31 15:55 ]

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