Disclaimer: This review is for Lakme Parlor @ Vashi only. Though I have only tried few services there but the review is basically on the overall service which includes cutomer care, ambience & general handling of customers.
I love to scare people and that is the very reason that my visits to a beauty parlor are either a Twice-In-A-Year affair or at most quarterly affair.
And since I frequent less I prefer going to a good parlor with the logic that I have saved money so I can spend(though the saving is notional as I spend more than I could have saved, on books).
Another reason for my choosing a bit reputed parlor is that I love my hair too much and with the length it has if the cut goes kaput, I would be left with nothing;-)
These are the two reasons which took me to Lakme Parlor – Vashi Branch. It is located exactly in Sector-22.
I have visited the place thrice and would therefore divide my review in to these three visits… The ambience of the place is quite good.
.:. Visit 1 .:.
I took a proper appointment for my pedicure. Everything went smooth. The guy, who was assigned the job, rattled off different kinds of pedicure processes available stressing on the costliest to be the best. I opted for an aroma scrub and it made my purse lighter by some 450/- rupees(Shocked?). But, at the end I was a satisfied customer for sure and had this review been written that day they would have got only heaps of praises from me.
.:. Visit 2 .:.
Being me, I woke up on a Sunday afternoon that in three days time we are leaving for Diwali vacation and my hair is a mess and so are my feet. I called up 2-3 parlors, including Lakme. All were either closed on Sunday or packed with appointments. The girl at Lakme was ready to take me if reached immediately, though only for a hair cut. I pounced on the offer and rushed off.
Upon reaching there I was asked to wait for 10-15 minutes, in the meanwhile I asked the lady if there is a scope for a pedicure, to which she again said no. I then started reading my novel but guess what did I see?
This guy, who handles pedicure is whispering to the lady saying, “Am free then why are you rejecting the appointment” our lady replies “you do your work and let me handle mine”.
Though I saw this happening in front of me, I choose to stay silent(even I have some pride). After good 20 mins. the lady tells me, Ma’m you can go in for the hair cut and we will somehow adjust you for pedicure too. The real me wanted to reject the offer but the greedy me accepted it.
But I realized one thing, though these people show off that they are full to the capacity or very busy but the matter of the fact is that it is JUST A SHOW OFF*THAT THEY ARE VERY BUSY.
This doesn’t end here, when I went into pay I realized that they have hiked the prices of a hair cut. There were no brochures or price list displayed anywhere. And though I have no issues in dishing out 300/- bucks for my haircut, paying 600 for it was shock.
But here comes the best part, when I came back from my vacation and checked my account statement I saw that the bill value was credited back to my account(had paid by debit card). Being a dutiful citizen I am called these guys, told them about it. They said they will have to check their accounts for it, I was like it’s your problem what you want to do, just take my mobile number and call me if you figure something out;-)*
Luckily till date they haven’t figured it out and this is what we call JUSTICE FROM UP ABOVE.
*.:. Visit 3 .:.
Last week, on a whim I decided to visit them, it had been almost a year that I had done something to my face…Arrey don’t be scared am naturally scary so why to change my image;-)
I reached there without appointment and was told to wait for 10-15 minutes.
Now starts the fun, the franchisee owner was sitting at the main desk throwing away profanities at her employees and the best part was they were giving her back there and then. What a lovely picture they were making, shouting at the top of their voices.
While this was going on one of the beautician-cum-sales executive came to me suggesting different kinds of facials. Luckily she was armed with a brochure. But what I felt was she was not suggesting the treatment on the basis of my face condition but on the basis of the costliest available one. I didn’t fall in the trap and choose what I wanted to.
Then came Saif, the hair dresser, I asked him is there any for my hair to be cut into some style? Guess what he went into
“Ma’m your hair right now is like a jungle, as we need to cut grass every now and then to make it a garden, we.” I asked him to stop then and there and went in for the trimming:-D
But point to be noted here was that my turn to get my facial done came 45 mins later(they had said 15 mins)
All in all my 3 experience make me conclude
They don’t value customer’s time
They are not bothered with the fact that their in-house fighting’s can affect their business
Pricing is quite exorbitant
Always take an initiative to ask the price of the service otherwise you’ll be in for a shock like me.
Each beautician & executive are their to sell their services and for that matter they can go into any pep talk.
Always be cautious in selecting the package or treatment because they are into selling which is the costliest not on what is your requirement.
Always take prior appointment but still be perpared to wait.
Despite my being dissatisfied with me I’ll still be visiting them again because
They are the nearest to my place & are open on a Sunday
Their treament, haircut or services are quite good, not value for money but still worthy enough.
But what does this mean? For me it means that they are aware that the service that they are providing is good and therefore they will retain the customers but in the process they start taking us for granted.
The saddest part is that this being a franchisee of Lakme, its their name which is getting spoiled.
What we feel at the end of the day is that while getting beautiful we met some beasts;-)