-Response to the post by "Brue", dated 3-1-10 -"Calling The Cop's Over Tanning?" First, I would like to thank all of our loyal customer's, for making Galactic Tan #1 in the area since 1999. We appreciate your business through these trying economic times, and will continue to provide quality service for years to come. I am writing in response to an issue that occurred in our salon, on the morning of March 1st. The whole truth is as follows: The person who wrote the post in question, is right. He has tanned in our salon once before, without incident. "He" actually didn't have a tanning appointment at 9:00 am, It was his "female friend". She has tanned here 3 times prior to this, and also with no incident. They seemed to be very nice. Our no show policy is posted on our wall in the lobby. We also require each new customer to initial next to this written policy on their client form. It states: -When you make an appointment, you are expected to show up. If you cannot make your appointment, please call and cancel so others may use that time slot. If you don't call and cancel, and you are a no show, one tan will be removed from your package. We have both clients initial next to this policy, as well as the two other policies we require you to sign. When she called, we told her about the policy, and she stated, "I will be p***ed off if you take my tan away". She stated, "well I'll be in shortly so I don't loose my tan. I stated, "you can't just come in, I am booked until 10:30am." She argued more, and more, and I decided that enough was enough. I am a very reasonable person, and if she had not "gone of the handle" right away, we could have discussed the matter. She probably would have not lost a tan at all, and would still be welcome in my salon. But, because of her attitude and her way to handle the situation, I decided I didn't want her in my salon at all. I told her this and she hung up the phone. 10-15 minutes after the phone call, she comes in my salon, with her "friend". She runs up to the desk and yells, "I want my money back!" I pointed at the sign behind my desk that states, "NO REFUNDS ON TANNING PACKS. TRANSFER ONLY" Her "friend" turned to my customers in my lobby, and started yelling at them, "this guy doesn't know how to run a business." He stated other things to my customers, but because of the commotion, I don't want to speculate what was said. It wasn't clear. I told him to get out of my salon now!! He mumbled a few words as he left, but his "girlfriend" stated she wasn't leaving. She stated "maybe I should call the police to get my money back". I told her I was already on the phone with them to have her removed. After I told her that she left. I am a very busy salon, and at that time I had 4 customers in the lobby, and others in tanning rooms. The reason the police were called is, because I was unsure about what their intentions were, and her refusal to leave the salon. I try to create a safe place for my clients to come and relax. The "male" friend had nothing to do with the situation, so why was he there? Intimidation factor? These two were disturbing the peace, and I feel I had no other choice. This is THE LAST THING I ever want to do. When the police arrived, they were issued a trespass warning that stated they were not allowed back in our salon. We understand that not everybody will like our policies, and that is why we give you that option before you tan, as stated above. Due too our small size, and busy clientele, we cannot afford to loose any possible time slots. We wish this matter could have been handled differently. We as a salon do not like calling the police on customers for petty reasons. This was brought on by a series of events that THEY could have prevented, by behaving differently. Thank You, Brian and Thomas Galactic Tan 612 N. Ridgewood Ave. Edgewater, Fl 32141 386-423-5151 read more

"Why Are The Cops At Galactic Tan?" It should be stated that I had already used the services of Galactic Tan in Edgewater, Fl once before without any problems. That is why, as a returning customer, the episode that is described below was a little shocking, to say the least. On the morning of March 1, 2010 I was supposed to have a tanning appointment at 9:00 a.m. I called at 9:05 a.m. to cancel because I was too busy with other things, but the owner said I could not receive my money back as that was part of policy. I started to argue, but realized it was policy, so I decided I would take the tan and just be late. But then the owner argued that I couldn't because I was "too late." (it was 9:07 at that point, the tanning salon is two miles from my house and his next appointment wasn't until 10:30 a.m.) He stated that he was taking the money from the missed tan. Then I said in frustration, "well I would like my money back for the other pre-purchased tans that I have then." (I had purchased one more tan at $25 for future use.) He replied "No," and on top of that said I was "banned from his salon" because I was "rude to him" on the phone. I was simply arguing with him on the phone, not being rude. I couldn't believe he was serious so I immediately went to the tanning salon to discuss this matter in person. At 9:12 a.m. I entered the salon and began to question the owner as to why I shouldn't receive my money back for the tans I no longer wanted, but had already paid for. Without disputing the issue, or providing in anything in writing about not refunding pre-purchased tans, he told me (and my friend with me, not involved in the issue) to "leave his salon" or he is "calling the police." Knowing I didn't do anything wrong and still in shock over how I was treated I asked him why? Why would he do this to one of his customers? I refused to leave without getting my money back. So I waited outside with my friend for the police to come. I thought the police might be able to help me get my money back, since he basically stole my money and I was not about leave the scene as if I did something wrong. The police showed up laughing because the issue was over a $25 tan, I don't blame them. Two officers went inside to talk to the business owner. The police came back out, laughing at the owner and his "partner's" frantic demeanor, and said that the owner technically has the right to refuse service so there wasn't anything the police could do for me. The officer also said the owner told him "if they ever want to see their money they can f-ing sue me." The officers said they were required by law to issue us both warnings stating that I was no longer allowed in Galactic Tan. Even though it is a small amount of money I am still debating taking legal action to recover the money simply because of how I was treated. I know I would lose money overall if I did that, but it would cost them time and money too, there is no reason they should just get away with what they did. This isn't about money, this is about the basic fundamentals of customer service. As a business owner he should have been able to use his best judgment and resolve the issue by simply returning the $25 for the additional pre-paid tanning package I purchased two weeks prior. If so there would never have been an issue. Using a loophole by calling the police on a customer and banning them from the salon, because they have a legitimate complaint that you won't even discuss with them is simply unacceptable. On top of all this I would also like to note that after doing diligent research about Galactic Tan online I have found that several of their business reviews are written by the business owners themselves, using other aliases. A complaint has also been filed with the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida. read more