Retirement is a week filled with Saturdays and Sundays interrupted only occasionally by a holiday.

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Wednesday, May 2, 2007

You’re Fired…

After yesterday’s Freeze Tag, I was going to take today off from blogging to recuperate from that brain draining exercise. Unfortunately, something happened today that I just have to share. Some of you may remember that I had a horrible experience a few weeks ago when I went to have my hair cut and highlighted. I won’t bore everyone and repeat myself so if you want or need to catch up, take a look here.

The long and short of it is that, after the incident, I decided it was definitely time to find a new stylist. That very Saturday I went over to a salon near my home and met my friend’s hairdresser. I liked her a lot and decided to book appointments for my mom and me for May and June. All that was left to do was to call my soon-to-be former hairdresser “L” to cancel the May and June appointments I’d made with her a few months ago.

Okay…I told you in my previous “hair” post that I am basically a coward. How was I going to call hairdresser “L” to tell her the news that I was firing her? I’ve only had to fire one person in my entire librarian career (a part-timer I supervised who well deserved to be let go) and I still remember how stomach churning it was. So I’ve fretted about this telephone call to “L” for the past four weeks. I know I could have just not called and then not showed up for our appointments but I just couldn’t do that. If nothing else, I’m basically a nice person and I thought it only fair that I give her notice that our times would be vacant if she wanted to fill in other clients. Okay…so one of us is nice.

Today I finally got up the nerve and called hairdresser “L” on her cell phone. When she answered, I told her who it was and that I was cancelling the May and June appointments I’d made. When she asked me if I was going to re-schedule them, I told her in my nicest voice that, since I was not happy with the things that happened during my last appointment, I had decided that mom and I should go to a new stylist. Her response was classic. In her nastiest voice, she said “Whatever” and then promptly hung up on me.

So the moral of this story is “Trust your judgment about people; they’ll always prove you right.”

21 comments:

Special K ~Toni said...

Obviously she doesn't care about her reputation. Hag.

Pam said...

Oh.
My.
Gosh.

And Good Riddance too! Good for you for doing the right thing. Her nastiness doesn't take away from your nice gesture, it only makes her look like bad.

You are very brave.

Oh, and about your list of 10 things, I can't stop thinking about your ever-narrowing feet... Is that kind of like walkng on ice skates?? Maybe you should take up hockey.

Susie said...

I agree...Good riddance! Some people invented the word "rude"

jaded said...

Your good judgement spoke for itself....on the other end of the phone line.

Natalie said...

I can't believe she said that. Not so good with the people skills either is she?

Hope the new gal works out for you.

Renee Nefe said...

Well like everyone else has already said...she wasn't worth it. I just wish that doing these things were easier on us. You know that while this tore you up she probably doesn't even care anymore.

I hope your next appointment goes well and you love your hair.

Carole Burant said...

Oh dear, not a very business like attitude that hairdresser has! I don't blame you for firing her as your hairdresser...hopefully she'll learn something from this...but probably not! lol xox

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

omg! that exact same thing happened to me last summer in podunk! go read my early blog and you will see. i cried and cried. how awful!

now my hairdresser in florida is my friend and i have a similar problem. i want to be blonde, see? she makes me either dark blonde or light brown. i tell her every single time i go in lighter, i come out the same. sigh... it's harder when she is your friend. lesson: never go to a friend! also her haircuts are great but they are too short. i say take off half an inch, i come out with short hair again. good luck, and i am so sorry this happened to you...

smiles, bee

Knock knock - it's cancer! said...

You took the time to call her? And to nicely cancel? Heck, I would've just not shown up.

And after all that, she hangs up?! I'd be pretty pissed.

Nothing you can do really, except for patting yourself on the back for making the right choice.

I agree with Toni, she's a HAG!

Patti said...

That young woman needs to brush up on her customer service skills. No one ever taught her any manners, that's for sure.
Her career future doesn't look too bright, with that attitude.
You were more than nice to call. I don't know if I would have bothered..

Joan said...

Toni: A hag she is!!!

Pam: It sure does make her look bad and I've told the world about her!!! OOOO...I never thought about hockey...what a good idea.,,never mind the boot part, just use the ol' feet. :~)

Susie: Yep...it's about as rude as someone can be. Oh well...pity her family.

Patches: Thanks. I try to be a good person although I'm not always a success at it.

Natalie: I'm quite surprised she still has any customers with those "people skills."

Renee: I'm bound and determined to like my new hairdresser and new hairstyle...whatever it turns out to be.

Pea: It would be nice if she learned something from this episode but I'm guessing, if she hasn't learned it by now, she isn't going to change.

Empress bee: Do you ever wonder why it is hairdressers never listen to their clients? It's either too short, too long, too dark, too light. I just don't get it. And thanks for the advice about getting too friendly with my new stylist...I will definitely keep that in mind!

Vancouver mermaid/Montreal photographer: At least I can hold my head high knowing I did the right thing. Oh well...

Patti: I cannot for the life of me figure out why this woman went into a personal service field when she seems to have no customer service skills at all. I guess she forgot to go to a career counselor before choosing her occupation.

Lynn said...

Can I call you next time I have to fire someone? Too bad you're not going to stoop to her level and be mean/immature/nasty...if you would, then you could call and book lots of appointments for a Saturday, as many different people...and then just never show up. (I'm frightened at what my mind can come up with...but hey...she was rude to my sister!)

kenju said...

I am about to fire my cleaning women because they didn't show up this week and they didn't call to tell me that they weren't coming. I have a feeling I'll get the same type response from them.

meno said...

I was just about to tell you the same thing as Lynn did. Book several appointments for busy days with made up names and phone numbers and then don't show.

I can't believe what a bitchy thing she did. Totally over the top.

rosemary said...

Your mom raised you right..."L"'s didn't. I have been sort of in the same place...only I am grey and had low lights done...brown streaks that one time came out looking like a checkerboard along my hairline...never went back and didn't cancel the next appointment.

Anonymous said...

Some people are SO rude. And you are brave. Good for you!!!

Joan said...

Lynn: I can do mean/nasty/immature but on a limited basis. Remember...I'm the "nice" sister. :~D

Kenju: Your cleaning people sound like our gardener. One of these days, I might just have to practice firing someone again. Good luck!

Meno: Believe me I was tempted to call and make lots of appointments...it was my momentary payback fantasy.

Rosemary: Checkerboard hair...that must have looked "interesting." ;~)

Desiree: Thanks for calling me brave. I'm usually such a coward so I dont know where this sudden courage came from.

sari said...

I'm not surprised. It seems like most people are rude nowadays, whether it's your hairdresser or someone cutting you off on the road.

I don't get it.

Joan said...

Sari: I don't even want to get started about rude drivers...I could fill a book!

Iamthebookworm said...

Good for you! I hope the new stylist is wonderful!

Joan said...

Iamthebookworm: Thanks so much. We'll find about my new stylist on Thursday!