SmartStyle Salons - Walmart Ripoff Poor customer Service Louisville Kentucky

I would like to apologize to the lady who had a bad experence at smart style and said that she would never go to another one. On Smart Style's behalf i would like to say that not all of them are like that. Smart Style is in hundreds of locations, and have thousands of good stylist. I work in one in Conway Arkansas and we are very customer oriented. I'm sure she had a bad experence but don't blame all of us.

From now on I normally go to a hair cutting school to get my hair done. Yes, I've gone to costly places, but I like the school better. The kids are so scared they'll mess up your hair but really they do a much better job. How many times must I tell a stylist I want layers, not crappy ones with a razor. Real ones! Pull the hair up in sections and cut accordingly. Every place I've been to does not seem to understand that. The school though did it without me again. The first girl that cut my hair there was a friend and it was for a competition. I loved that hair cut.

Point is the kids at the school are so scared so they try very hard to get it right and ask questions about how you'd like it. Older people that get paid maybe by how many customers they can cut in so long push people though, using razors to cut faster... not better, just faster.

The walmart salon isn't bad and just cause someone works there does not mean they will never be anything. You learn to crawl before you can walk. Clearly people like Peter don't understand how steps work.

Number one, maybe she was washing her hair cause she didn't have time to do it before work, or maybe her and co worker colored her hair and she offered to wash it so the other stylist left. Still, it wasn't right, and there is a sign in sheet she probably allowed herself a break before the next customer. It amazes me how people judge without knowing the situation, and further more, who is to say she hadn't been there all day by herself and wasn't busy so she felt compelled to wash her hair, or she colored her hair herself I don't know what happened on her part but there had to be a reason. Unprofessional as it was. And yes, Smart Style is in Wal Mart but it is a rented space, Wal Mart does not own Smart Style, just because it is a discount store for those who can't afford Macy's or Day Spa's does not make either chain worse off than the more expensive. I got my start there, and for anyone to say that I do hack work is not acceptable, I went through 2100 hrs of schooling and was taught by the best in my opinion, and just because someone has had 10 to 15 years experience does not make them better than me with only 3, I worked with a independent owner she has been doing hair for over 20 years. She told me she did not understand foils kept on trying to get me to pull long hair and i mean long hair through a cap. And I am running into that now, I have a client base, but since my up do's are on the alot to be desired list I am getting passed up for more experienced stylist instead of someone taking a chance on me, because if I am treated well, I will give 190%, I will stay late, but I did not leave Smart Style in the best graces, so I have myself to blame on that too. But don't judge if you don't know what was happening with her.

I worked for two years in a private salon where the owner repeatedly and happily turned out mullets and &75.00 chunky orange foiled highlights. Owning or working in a privately owned salon has absolutely no bearing on whether or not you are a professional and educated sylist.

I left the private salon for Smart Style because as a new stylist I still didn't have a large enough customer base to pay booth rental plus be a contributing member of my household. I needed a steady paycheck I could count on; Smart Style was my answer.

I like working at Smart Style because I stay busy and I love working on hair. I enjoy being around (most) people and listen to every customer, trying to give them the best style/color/perm/cut I possibly can. There is a high turnover rate at the salon due to low base rate pay. Also due to a policy of being required to work every single Saturday of your employment. Because of this high turnover rate, there are naturally some hairstylists rotating in and out who are uneducated and unmotivated. They appear in every walk of life and shouldn't reflect on the rest of us.

What I do not like is people who assert negative opinions of my credentials simply because I work at Smart Style. I now have a steady customer base, a combination of my first clientele in the private sector and the new people who request me as they return to our salon for new services. Within two years I hope to move back into a private salon so that I can be in charge of my own work schedule once more, and also be able to support that decision financially.

Once I move back into the private sector I logically know that I will once again be faced with the possibilty of working with more unprofessional hairstylists. All I can do is perform to my highest ability and satisfy my clients.

If you have a negative attitude about Smart Style please don't transfer that to every single Smart Style and all stylists who work within the company. We are not all the same. Use courtesy wherever you go and it will be returned.

Let me preface my comments by saying that I stumbled upon this site by accident and I was shocked to find this many complaints about the company I work for. I only have a few things to say and I will keep my thoughts brief.

First of all, I am a manager of a Kentucky salon. I was appalled to read some of the complaints I read on this site. Everything I have read is against policy and with that said. Let me apologize to you all for whatever wrong you have incurred in our companies salons. I apologize because I am personally ashamed that you were offended in one of my sister salons.

I can assure you that our salons. mine included are far from perfect. However, I can also tell you that in MY experience with this company and my experience is over 3 years now, this is not the norm by any means.

There are issues in each individual salon that makes it just a little different than the next one down the road. So before you write off all these salons please consider the next one over from your hometown. You may well be suprised to find a completly different experience.

Also, I want to address all the comments about the supervisors and regional managers. I too have done quiet a bit of the 'filling in' (go team) things and I have personally noticed the differences in the salons from one city to the next. The bottom line on this matter is The manager sets the tone for how the stylist behave and perform. If the manager is in a good mood. the salon will take on a happy atmosphere. Should the manager be in a foul mood. its contagious. In my salon we take the attitude that we are part of the community and we take responsiblity for our actions. Let me rephrase that.

I TAKE responsiblity for what happens in my salon. The salon is only as good as the manager. I do not tolerate a bad stylist in my salon and back to my point. The manager is only as good as his/her supervisors and regional managers. I can assure you folks in Kentucky and Tennessee that they are working hard to address these issues you all have mentioned here. It just takes time.

Granted there have been some rogue supervisors that have been full of themselves and created problems for most of us at one time or another. but I can say this from my own experience. I have never seen one of these people last long enough to cause any real damage. With that said let me also say that I have had some of the best supervisors in the company. There are those few that make the rest seem bad.

Anyway, I just wanted to defend my lil' troop doing their thing in a head of a holler in East Ky and my sisters in the bluegrass and Tn hills. We are human . At the end of the day, we are tired and still have families to care for. I would dare say that few people in the entire world work as hard as the stylist in my salon. And on that point, quickly, we ARE compensated as we should be!

Before you write off all these salons consider this. The women that work in these salons are just working women who very often are single mothers and single income familes. Consider the people even if you won't consider the company. Thanks for reading.

I have been an employee of Smartstyle for 8 years. I've been in the business 16 years, and I love what I do. I have to say that I've been through many different kinds of salons, only to find that I make more money where I work now.

I consider myself to be very professional. I attend hair shows, and believe in good customer service, and doing a great job regardless of the "type" of salon I'm at. I even agree with the original poster that it was very unprofessional for the stylist to be getting her hair done on company time. I know for a fact that Regis has a rule that we can only get our hair done on our time off, and even then we have to look professional. As far as no one being at the desk, Smartstyle doesn't have receptionists. You should have been acknowledged provided that someone wasn't too busy to even see you. You should have complained to the manager, I agree with that.

It really bothers and embarrasses me to hear about bad experiences in chain salons. It's true what one of the other posters said that we all have the same license. It's up to us to excel in this industry after we graduate. There are bad apples out there, but I'm not one of them. Please don't bash those who choose to work at what I consider a great location. If I owned a salon, it would be at a Walmart or the like.

If you are so pleased with the quality of SmartStyles then why did you even go to a high-priced salon in the first place? If you think SmartStyles is so wonderful, one would assume you'd go there for all your haircutting needs.

As for Doris, the original poster, why is it that salon employees are not allowed to get their hair cut? Do they not need haircuts like every other human being? What makes you think that you are so special that you should have been able to get your hair cut FIRST, without waiting? A paying customer is a paying customer, regardless of occupation, and the stylist in question had every right to get her hair cut in her own salon.

....Just because you are employed with a certain company doesn't mean that you are some dumb hillbilly from a swamp. I work for Smart Style (although I'm not proud of it lately), and I was an honor graduate in high school (3.8 GPA) AND top of my class in cosmetology school. I think that if any of you run into someone at ANY salon, private or corporate, that doesn't fit the bill as far as customer service, competence, etc., etc. is concerned then don't blame the place that they work for. Blame THEM. And more expensive doesn't always mean better quality. I'm received a horrible botch-job from a stylist at a high-priced private salon and paid $40 for the lackluster haircut. Guess who recently fixed it for me to make it look more presentable?? A Smart Style employee. And it looks GREAT.

I do agree with the previous rebuttal that stated his wife was treated like crud by Regis. You DO work ridiculously long hours and get nothing in return. So what if you win a contest for who sells the most shampoo? The biggest prize I've ever heard of for these so-called "contests" and "rewards" is a Paul Mitchell shirt and a Dooney and Burke handbag!! Big freaking deal~~I can buy these on my own and not have to put up with the crap Smart Style puts you through. If I could give any advice whatsoever to anyone starting up in this business, interview your potential employers after they interview you. Not all managers and supervisors are bad, but it's sad that the bad apples tend to spoil the bunch in these cases. It's unfortunate that people like me have no other choice right now but to deal with the inmates running the asylum.

I have used SmartStyle Salon several times, and must say that I was pleased with my hair each time. So much in fact, that I began going to a certain stylist every two weeks. I received quaility service resulting in a nice hairstyle at an affordable price, and saved about $30 per month. I did have the experience of other stylist and received the same professional service. I do agree that the sytlist work for little or nothing and would probably make more money in a private salon.

It is interesting to me that as consumers you believe that because someone who works in a "SPA" works in a high class salon then they posess a different license then myself. Where you get your haircut has nothing to do with the salon it has to do with the stylist themself and how they have advanced themselves.

The company (Regis) believes in ongoing education and has vidal sasoon educators who enter our salons to train our staff. I have been a stylist for this company, a manager, and am now a supervisor. And yes i am educated, I have a business degree. Anyway to make my point simple. SmartStyle has many more satisfied customers a day/week/month then dissatisfied. If you do not like the chain atmoshphere then find another place to get your haircut.

Hopefully, everyone who enters the salon (IN a perfect world) has a great experiemce, but do to human nature of either the consumer or the stylist it would be irrational for anyone to think all would leave happy. Secondly, We are not Wal-Mart we are tenants. I think lastly that if everyone with hateful things to say does not like smartstyle then dont its your right but im sure that whereever you work if one employee acted in the wrong you would not want yourself or your company to be deemed "horrible" based on the actions of 1

MIKE

It is interesting to me that as consumers you believe that because someone who works in a "SPA" works in a high class salon then they posess a different license then myself. Where you get your haircut has nothing to do with the salon it has to do with the stylist themself and how they have advanced themselves.

The company (Regis) believes in ongoing education and has vidal sasoon educators who enter our salons to train our staff. I have been a stylist for this company, a manager, and am now a supervisor. And yes i am educated, I have a business degree. Anyway to make my point simple. SmartStyle has many more satisfied customers a day/week/month then dissatisfied. If you do not like the chain atmoshphere then find another place to get your haircut.

Hopefully, everyone who enters the salon (IN a perfect world) has a great experiemce, but do to human nature of either the consumer or the stylist it would be irrational for anyone to think all would leave happy. Secondly, We are not Wal-Mart we are tenants. I think lastly that if everyone with hateful things to say does not like smartstyle then dont its your right but im sure that whereever you work if one employee acted in the wrong you would not want yourself or your company to be deemed "horrible" based on the actions of 1

MIKE

It is interesting to me that as consumers you believe that because someone who works in a "SPA" works in a high class salon then they posess a different license then myself. Where you get your haircut has nothing to do with the salon it has to do with the stylist themself and how they have advanced themselves.

The company (Regis) believes in ongoing education and has vidal sasoon educators who enter our salons to train our staff. I have been a stylist for this company, a manager, and am now a supervisor. And yes i am educated, I have a business degree. Anyway to make my point simple. SmartStyle has many more satisfied customers a day/week/month then dissatisfied. If you do not like the chain atmoshphere then find another place to get your haircut.

Hopefully, everyone who enters the salon (IN a perfect world) has a great experiemce, but do to human nature of either the consumer or the stylist it would be irrational for anyone to think all would leave happy. Secondly, We are not Wal-Mart we are tenants. I think lastly that if everyone with hateful things to say does not like smartstyle then dont its your right but im sure that whereever you work if one employee acted in the wrong you would not want yourself or your company to be deemed "horrible" based on the actions of 1

MIKE

It is interesting to me that as consumers you believe that because someone who works in a "SPA" works in a high class salon then they posess a different license then myself. Where you get your haircut has nothing to do with the salon it has to do with the stylist themself and how they have advanced themselves.

The company (Regis) believes in ongoing education and has vidal sasoon educators who enter our salons to train our staff. I have been a stylist for this company, a manager, and am now a supervisor. And yes i am educated, I have a business degree. Anyway to make my point simple. SmartStyle has many more satisfied customers a day/week/month then dissatisfied. If you do not like the chain atmoshphere then find another place to get your haircut.

Hopefully, everyone who enters the salon (IN a perfect world) has a great experiemce, but do to human nature of either the consumer or the stylist it would be irrational for anyone to think all would leave happy. Secondly, We are not Wal-Mart we are tenants. I think lastly that if everyone with hateful things to say does not like smartstyle then dont its your right but im sure that whereever you work if one employee acted in the wrong you would not want yourself or your company to be deemed "horrible" based on the actions of 1

MIKE

In response to this report I would say that it is understandable that you would be upset with the stylist. Let me tell you how Smart Style stylists are treated however, I am married to one. She works 12 hour days. Stands on her feet for 12 hours. Now she is developing carpal tunnel syndrom and is in excruciating pain daily and yet she goes to work. Her average pay check per week is about $350.00, that's $1,400.00 per month and works way more than 40 hours per week that doesn't get paid for. Plus she has to put up with picky customers who gripe about the price of the haircut, like they want their hair done for free.

Some customers tip her, but what gets me is the wife who gets upset when their husband tips my wife for doing a great job. Smart Style/Regis is an evil organization and is only concerned with making as much money as off the backs and sweat and pain of their stylists. I don't know why she keeps working there. As soon as I can get a better paying job, she is going to quit be a Smart Style stylist and go to school and study something else.

I gave my business to a SmartStyle once, and I have to say that I was greatly disappointed with the service, as well as the haircut that I had been given. This place is ten times WORSE than Fantastic Sam's, or any other salon I've been to thus far.

You definitely get what you pay for, and I can guarantee that you'll walk away INCREDIBLY UNHAPPY after coming out of a SmartStyle. Seriously people! Wal-Mart does not equal QUALITY, especially with hair cuts!

Seriously Peter you are going to be a person that is never happy about much of anything. You compare a two year old cutting hair to a licensed professional.

I GIVE UP. You have won. You are so high and mighty and know so much about everything you are the best. I wish everyone could be as knowledgeable as you, but we can't.

CONGRATULATIONS

Just because you do HUNDREDS of hair cuts every month does not make you more experienced in giving GOOD haircuts. It does not mean that you are skilled, knowledgeable, and know anything about customer service. It just means that you give HUNDREDS of hair cuts. Period. If I give my 2-year old a pair of scissors, he could give hundreds of haircuts, too. But that does not mean that he knows what he is doing!

Yes, I would rather go to a person that is able to excel in their career to the point where they can open their own salon. This requires a certain level of dedication, knowledge, training, customer service skills (how else would they be able to obtain a customer base to stay in business??). I do not want to have a fresh-out-of-school stylist cutting at my head. Contrary to what you believe, not everyone wants the "hip" styles that these newbies provide. You can continue thinking so highly of yourself if you'd like, but no one else here is convinced.

PS - Smart Styles is IN Walmart. A low-quality discount store. Since when does such a store put a high-class salon on the premises?

One more thing Peter.

We don't work for Wal-Mart. We work for the Regis Corporation. Just so you know. The Regis employees along with CostCutters, TradeSecrets, Mastercuts, Mia and Max, Hair By Stewarts, and SuperCuts along with many other high end salons that aren't privately owned are OWNED by the Regis Corporation. So think about that the next time you get your haircut. It may be a Regis owned salon and they have received the same training as I and all other SmartStyle stylist.

To Peter:

When you go to get your haircut then do you ask each stylist about their background?

I as a manager only have 5 years experience, and I have stylist with 10-15 years experience.

As a person it would tell me that I would rather go to someone to with just a little less years under their belt. Why? They are more hip to the styles. I learn everyday from stylist that I have hired right out of school. My 10-15 year stylist have learned so much from me only being a stylist for five years. And vice versa.

So a person who owns thier own salon and has been doing hair for 10 years is more experienced than me and only does about 75 heads a month is better than me? I think not. I have only been doing it for 5 years at a SmartStyle Salon and do about 150 to 200 heads a month. Now tell me who has the experience?

If you want to "prove" that SmartStyle salons ARE of the same quality and competency of more exclusive venues, may I suggest that you ...

1- Learn how to spell simple words
2- Learn how to write in sentences
3- Learn how to use capital letters
4- Learn how to identify nonexistent words so that you do not end up accidentally using them when trying to write in defense of your intelligence (i.e., "uncompetent"???)

As for my personal belief that other hairstylists at more exclusive salons tend to be more educated, trained, and skilled, I rest my case!

all stylist are not the same your right but they are all trained basically the same i know this because i have gone to beauty school. another thing just because the salon is located at walmart doesnt mean the stylist are incompetent and "new" and unexperienced how do you know who is experienced and who isnt? how can you tell unless you ask for a list of there job reference's and when they got there cosmetologist license? one person doesnt mean everyones bad!

Amy asked: "What do you all think the difference is between a stylist that works in a salon day spa and just a salon like SMART STYLE?"

The answer to your question is quite simple. I immediately think "you get what you pay for." I personally look for a stylist with years of experience, the lastest skills, excellent customer service skills, ongoing training, a steady clientelle, the ability to take appointments, etc.

Obviously I don't expect such a person working at Walmart. Any stylist with these characteristics is either self-employed in her own salon or works for a privately-owned exclusive salon. What about those Walmart stylists? They are usually new to the profession (i.e., inexperienced), poorly-trained, unmotivated, or lack the customer service and people skills necessary to advance to a 'real' salon.

So, Amy, that is what I think. Thank you for asking!

What do you all think the difference is between a stylist that works in a salon day spa and just a salon like SMART STYLE? Absolutely nothing besides price.

I work as a manager of a smartstyle and there are many people I know who go and spend a butt load of money on their hair and I wouldn't let them touch my hair with a ten foot pole. We all have to receive a certain amt of education depending on the state they work in. We as hairdresseres have to keep up on our licenses just as plumbers, electricians, nurses, doctors, ect. All stylist were taught the same as the next stylist.

So it has nothing to do with where you work (such as the name) it has to with the stylist themselves. I started as a stylist with smartstyle and moved up to manager. As a regular stylist I was making more money than 10-20 year veterans in salons that charge more. We are at walmart. EVERYDAY LOW PRICES. That is why are prices are lower, not our competence. So if you go to your local mall the prices will be hire than if you went to a salon outside of the mall. It is all about location location location. I think you all know that.

DON'T blame the company blame the stylist. A person or company has to take a risk on a person. If you have ever interviewed someone you will learn quickly that they may have a great interview, but that first day on the job wasn't what you were expecting. You have to give that person a chance though. You won't know everyone personally.

Mainly to all people seriously. You can't blame any company whether it is Smart Style, Wal-Mart, a Bank, a dealership, whatever it is, blame the employee. THEN always call a manager.

I have had a lady that comes in a buys product in our store all the time. She says I never have the product she wants when it is on sale. I told her I order it. The company has to send it to me. I work in Iowa. Home office is in Minnesota. If I don't get it I can't do anything about it. I as a manager gave her the 800# to call and complain and she did. I did not get in trouble, but she also said she would never come back.

Guess what she did. And we did it all over again. Some of you people who complain just love to complain. If you say you aren't coming back do me and the companies a favor don't. There are many more pleased clients I see a day. One will not hurt me. Working at walmart 1000's of people walk by my salon in a day and stop in.

That stylist was definetly wrong and unprofessional, however, a $10 haircut could warrant that type of service. Maybe this girl wasn't a stylist, maybe she was the salon receptionist. Actually, I think she was just lazy, and who knows, maybe she wasn't even a hairstylist. Think about it...Walmart...the same store that sells tires and pretzels...would you really want them in charge of your hair?

In the future, I advise you to ask around friends or family where they get their hair done and perhaps try one of those salon instead.

Hi. I understand your anger. I, too have been treated badly at a SmartStyle hair salon. However, it won't do any good reporting it to Wal-Mart. The SmartStyle hair salon is separate from Wal-Mart, just as if there was a McDonald's or Subway operating within the store. What you should do is this. The next time you go to Wal-Mart, make it a point to get the 800 number from the window of the SmartStyle. Call and speak to someone at that number. I am sure that they also have a website. Try looking up the number on the web. If you contact Wal-Mart, they aren't going to be able to do anything but report it to the store that you went to the SmartStyle at. In turn, the Wal-Mart store will just notify the manager of the SmartStyle salon you went to. From the sounds of it, if I were you I would rather talk to someone higher up that at the SmartStyle store level.

Thanks

I would report that to Walmart, they don't have the best of customer service anyhow, but if that doesn't catch their attention I'm sure the fact that she was doing that on company time will!