Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm destined NOT to have acrylics. After the day I've had, this theory actually holds water.
My two acrylic techs moved away, so I turned to Yelp to get referrals to other nail salons in my area. I read good things about Lilly Nails in Redmond. It didn't work out (read my review about my dismal experience there earlier today). My nails were like talons as I waited too long to get them shortened and filled, so I turned to Yelp, read good things about Center Nails, and booked an appt for 5:30pm today.
I got there early, at 5pm, and I told them I was early and could wait. Still, a gal approached me and said she could see me then. Bonus! I was impressed with the little salon: it was clean and there was a decent selection of polish colors to choose from. Then things kinda went south from there....
The tech began working my nails, not saying a word to me. I realize she's focussed on the task at hand (no pun intended!), and there may be a language barrier, too. But no, she understands my chit chat just fine, but she responds tersely. if at all, using one-word responses. I told her that my co-worker and I were in the market for a nail salon, and that we go monthly, and that I pass this salon en route to work (thinking she'll realize that, hey, here's a potential good, regular customer, and my co-worker, too!). But no, she says nothing. Taking little breaks in her work, she looks at her co-workers and talks to them. She never makes eye contact with me. After 10 minutes or so, I stop trying to make small talk; it's too one-sided and her silences are awkward. After 15 minutes, I ask her flat-out what her name was, and I introduce myself again. She says her name is Nee, not looking up.
Once, looking at her colleague and talking to her, Nee's electric nail buffer stays on and it scratches the back of my hand. I flinch but say nothing. Nee doesn't realize what happened.
Nee works fast and her fill job is good. I asked her if she could trim my cuticles, which she does. The gals who used to do my fills would trim my cuticles free of charge (it takes but 3 minutes), but I later found out that this salon charges $6 to trim cuticles. That was a bit of a surprise when it came time to pay. I wasn't too thrilled with her nailpolish application job, too (although I didn't say anything to her about it); there's a ridge of polish at the base, by the cuticles, on most nails. It is very obvious.
After my nails were done and drying in front of the little fans, after I paid (thanking Nee for her work. She never responded), Nee just stands up and takes out a wad of cash, counting her money right in front of me. Then she goes to her colleage to my left, takes off her shoes and proceeds to sit in the spa pedicure chair, chatting up a storm with her co-worker and choosing polishes for the pedicure she's about to have. The whole time I was there, I felt as though I was invisible to this gal. Honestly, it was if I wasn't there. Like I was just a pair of hands, and no person was attached to them. It was very, very unsettling and, I thought, unprofessional. I have never been treated like that at a business, as a non-entity, not looked at or talked to or responded to for an hour, when in close proximity to an employee who is working with me. It was awkward and rude.
When I left, all the employees were congregated by the entrance, chatting and, I think, counting the day's monies. No one parted for me as I tried to get through their little crowd, to get to the door. They were all giggling and smiling and, again, it was if I were invisible.
With this kind of customer service and "attention", I have no idea how this place stays in business.
Another nail salon I will never return to. Seriously, people, can ANYONE recommend a decent salon when I'll be treated decently??? read more