Nail Salon Complaint and Question...

[Anonymous]

I ducked out to get my nails done today. When I go get my nails done, it is a last minute thing. It is not something that I plan or am willing to plan. It took my a LONG time to find a place that allows customers to put tips on credit cards. When I head out to get my nails done, I don't want to or have time to go get cash and then go get my nails done. I don't carry cash as a general rule so it is a rarity for me to have cash on hand for tips. So I go to the place that I have found only to be told no more credit card tips. To which I say that they just opened a little while ago and I have been here several times for nails and hair and left credit card tips -- no cash today -- no sign announcing new policy, etc. Then the story changes...suddenly it is not the new policy, just that the employees like cash tips better. I say, wow, that is much different than what you just said, which is it? I proceed to explain I don't carry cash and if I can't leave tips on credit cards I just won't be a customer anymore and given that there is a recession and that I am the only customer in the shop on a Sat afternoon I don't think they should be discouraging customers from showing up. Silence. I leave my tip on my credit card and sit back down to get my nails painted. At this point, the girl doing my nails tells me that the owners take half of their tips left on credit cards. Really, I say, did they have you sign some kind of acknowledgement about that? Are you sure they are not just including that tip amount as part of your taxable income or charging part of the credit card service fee to your tip? Nope, I am told, they take half with no explanation. To which I respond that sounds a lot like theft and that the workers should report this to the police. In fact, I say, I am a lawyer, and you have reported what sounds like a crime to me. I wonder if I should report this to the police. Oh no no no no no. No need for that! Did I say the owners take half of my tips? What I meant was thanks for leaving one at all.

I cannot tell you how irritating I find this no credit card tip policy at many nail places. I find it even more irritating to be lied to about the existence of the policy, the reasons for it, etc. Does anyone know of a decent nail salon in the Fairfax City area that allows for tips on credit cards and does not give their customers any crap about it?

[Anonymous]

I am a Lifetime Fitness member and there's a salon inside the gym. Its really nice and open to non-members. They allow tips on credit cards. It's at Fair City Mall.

I, too, hate that policy. I didn't even realize it was the standard until this time last year when we moved here. I had always gone to the same salon (for years and years) and they allowed tips on cards.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Always carry some cash. Emergencies happen.

[Anonymous]

I think I'd be more concerned/distressed/annoyed that hardworking manicurists are getting shortchanged by the salon owners than the fact that the salon won't accommodate my preference not to use cash.

I don't usually carry much cash either, but when I go to a nail salon, I make darn sure I have change for a 20 and tip the manicurists directly because I know the owners may be skimming otherwise. Sad to say, but a lot of these places hire recent immigrants and pay them crap and skim their tips and then expect them to be grateful they have a job. These women may or may not be here legally, and given their language/cultural barriers and need for income, they're not about to go ratting out their employers to the police for exploitation.

Just another perspective - is it really that hard to make a little effort on the behalf of someone working hard to perform a luxury service for you and others?