**UPDATE after owner's reply** Emily's response actually highlights the problem. My complaint was…read morenever that I could not understand the difference between a tidy and a full haircut. It was that the parameters kept changing from visit to visit, even though I was bringing my dog in on the same schedule and trying to maintain the same service.
At today's visit, I explicitly said to just do what was in the notes from last time. Instead, I was again told it would be treated differently and priced differently. That repeated inconsistency is the issue.
Yes, I cursed to myself while walking out. That frustration came after multiple visits where the same service discussion seemed to get reinterpreted all over again. Their reply only reinforces my original point that this place is inconsistent and exhausting to deal with. When I came back in to discuss it with Lora, SHE yelled AT ME, with no discussion on the issue, not the other way around.
Original review:
BEWARE!! SAVE YOURSELF THE HEADACHE AND GO ELSEWHERE!
I should have listened to the bad reviews.
Chattagroomer has been, by far, the worst grooming experience I have ever had, and I have used groomers in five different states. To be fair, Kathleen does a good job grooming my dog, but unfortunately, that's the only positive.
The recurring problem was pricing and service inconsistency. At my first appointment, I specifically asked whether bringing my dog in every 4 to 6 weeks would qualify him for a tidy, and I was told yes, at about $104 with only minor fluctuation. Then at later visits, including just 4 weeks later, I was told it would suddenly be a full groom at around $144 instead. Lora later called me and we agreed, again, that the service I'm getting was a 'Tidy' at ~$104.
I also called at one point to ask about only a bath and brush with medicated shampoo because my dog was dealing with seasonal skin allergies. I was told that would still be the tidy price, and that they would not "give a discount for services," even though I was asking for less service. I told her that's fine, I'll get him bathed elsewhere.
The final visit was the last straw. I came in again on the same schedule(4 weeks), again asking for the same tidy, and again was told it would be the full haircut price. I said this keeps happening, and to just do what was in the notes from last time and that I would pay what I needed to pay. Instead of resolving a recurring issue they had created multiple times, I was told that if it was that much of an issue they would rather I just leave. I walked out angry and did curse to myself. I should not have done that. But that frustration came after repeated pricing disputes and repeated inconsistency that this business never seemed able to fix.
A business can misunderstandings. Chattagroomer turned it into a pattern. A good groom is not enough to make up for constant confusion, aggravation, and having to re argue the same price and service over and over. I gave this place more chances than I should have. Never again. I will be warning every dog owner I know.
TLDR: OWNER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS, GO ELSWHERE
