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Why I charge even if you don’t show up

March 16, 2021 | Articles, Nails | Leave a Comment

Why I charge even if you don't show up

Are you wondering why I charge even if you don’t show up for your appointment? Sometimes running late or not showing up for an appointment cannot be helped – traffic, emergencies, calendar mix-ups, forgetting to put your appointment into your diary or calendar, or accidentally double-booking yourself happens to the best of us. I get this. Sometimes life happens. And when it does, we step up, take responsibility for our mistakes, and try to fix them as best we can by cancelling or rescheduling appointments, or notifying someone that we’re running late.

I use an online booking system that sends out appointment confirmation notifications when an appointment is booked. Twenty-four hours before the appointment, automated email and text reminders go out. I feel this is ample notification for clients to double check their calendars, and if necessary, use the online booking system to reschedule or cancel their appointments, or contact me to move or cancel their appointments.

I experienced my first no show during the first six months of running my business – I was relying heavily on that income. After waiting fifteen minutes, I tried phoning the client to see if she was on her way but stuck in traffic. My call went to voicemail. Another fifteen minutes passed and I tried phoning again – this time to inform her that I was going to have to reschedule her appointment, as we were now running too late for me to carry out the services that she’d booked. If she arrived now and I did her nails, it would affect my next client, who would have to sit and wait, having a knock on effect for the rest of my day – still no answer, so I left a message.

The following day, I tried phoning to see if she’d like to reschedule. Again, my call went to voicemail. Four days later, she finally phoned me back to tell me that she can’t afford to get her nails done. If she’d been honest with me upfront and cancelled her appointment the day before, I would have been able to give that appointment time to someone who really wanted it. Unforunately, at the time, I didn’t have a ‘no show policy’ or penalty fee in place. I had to forfeit my time and wages that I would have earned during that two hour period. These no shows impact us more than you’d think (see images below).

If you don’t show up for a doctor’s or dentist’s appointment, they charge you the full amount due. Why should it be any different for a nail salon, beauty therapist, make-up artist or hairdresser? Most salons these days have a no-show policy, late arrival penalty, and some even have a three strike rule: three no-shows, or three constantly late arrivals, and the client either has to pre-pay for future appointments, or they are asked to find another salon. I’ve opted to charge for the no-shows and implement late cancellation fee. These fees/policies can be found on the T&Cs page.

I saw a post on Instagram the other day, by Celina Ryden, a well-known nail educator and influencer/entrepreneur, and she explains with three scenarios how no-shows impact us. I’ll share her post below:

Why I charge even if you don't show up
Situation 1
Situation 2
Situation 3
Do I need to continue?
You are paying for my time, not just the work
Please be respectful

Thank you for your understanding, and taking the time to read this.

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Did you know you can book your appointments up to Did you know you can book your appointments up to three months in advance? 

Don't miss out, book your next appointment today, if you haven't already, and you're welcome to book more appointments in advance.  The online booking system gives you, the client, the flexibility to manage your own appointments. You can reschedule (or cancel) up to 24 hours before your appointment start time.

πŸ“ Mangawhai Heads
πŸ“– By appointment only
🧴 Strict hygiene routine
πŸŽ“ Fully qualified nail tech with over 10 years experience 
🌹 Tranquil location 
πŸ‘©β€πŸ’» Book your next appointment online: https://www.fresha.com/a/rambling-rose-nails-and-make-up-mangawhai-thelma-road-north-i1d1r1d4/booking?menu=true&dppub=true&employeeId=450913&pId=142955

 #nailsbyappointment #mangawhainailtech #ramblingrosenails
Gel polish manicure with nail art ($73 for this se Gel polish manicure with nail art ($73 for this set).

I don't charge any extra for different colours on different nails - some salons do - but nail art is charged at $2 per nail above the plain colour gel polish manicure price of $65.

By appointment only - use the link in the bio, on the website, or provided below to book.

πŸ“ Mangawhai Heads
πŸ“– By appointment only
🧴 Strict hygiene routine
πŸŽ“ Fully qualified nail tech with over 10 years experience 
🌹 Tranquil location 
πŸ‘©β€πŸ’» Book your next appointment online: https://www.fresha.com/a/rambling-rose-nails-and-make-up-mangawhai-thelma-road-north-i1d1r1d4/booking?menu=true&dppub=true&employeeId=450913&pId=142955

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Not sure what you should be doing at home to prolo Not sure what you should be doing at home to prolong your manicure? 

Have a read through this article on the website with great tips, and instructions on how to remove your gel polish safely at home (if you can't get in to a salon) without damaging your nails:  https://www.ramblingrose.co.nz/maintaining-your-manicure/

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Winter nails don't need to be boring! Brighten up Winter nails don't need to be boring!
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πŸ“ Mangawhai Heads
πŸ“– By appointment only
🧴 Strict hygiene routine
πŸŽ“ Fully qualified nail tech with over 10 years experience 
🌹 Tranquil location 
πŸ‘©β€πŸ’» Book your next appointment online: https://www.fresha.com/a/rambling-rose-nails-and-make-up-mangawhai-thelma-road-north-i1d1r1d4/booking?menu=true&dppub=true&employeeId=450913&pId=142955

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Plain colour gel polish pedicure = $65, and you ge Plain colour gel polish pedicure = $65, and you get a relaxing foot massage at the end.

πŸ“ Mangawhai Heads
πŸ“– By appointment only
🧴 Strict hygiene routine
πŸŽ“ Fully qualified nail tech with over 10 years experience 
🌹 Tranquil location 
πŸ‘©β€πŸ’» Book your next appointment online:  https://www.fresha.com/a/rambling-rose-nails-and-make-up-mangawhai-thelma-road-north-i1d1r1d4/booking?menu=true&dppub=true&employeeId=450913&pId=142955

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The colour of your nail polish will look different The colour of your nail polish will look different in natural lighting vs artificial lighting. 

This deep purple shimmer looks purple in sunlight, but almost black under a table lamp.

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As it should. πŸ“ Mangawhai Heads πŸ“– By appoin As it should.

πŸ“ Mangawhai Heads
πŸ“– By appointment only
🧴 Strict hygiene routine
πŸŽ“ Fully Qualified with over 10 years experience (nail tech & make-up qualifications) 
🌹 Tranquil location 
πŸ‘©β€πŸ’» Book your next appointment online:  https://www.fresha.com/a/rambling-rose-nails-and-make-up-mangawhai-thelma-road-north-i1d1r1d4/booking?menu=true&dppub=true&employeeId=450913&pId=142955

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Nail art is charged at $2 per nail, and you can ha Nail art is charged at $2 per nail, and you can have as much art as you like.

This set (a gel polish manicure with nail art = $85) includes the use of pigments, glitter and stamping.

Book online:  https://www.fresha.com/a/rambling-rose-nails-and-make-up-mangawhai-thelma-road-north-i1d1r1d4/booking?menu=true&dppub=true&employeeId=450913&pId=142955

πŸ“ Mangawhai Heads
πŸ“– By appointment only
🧴 Strict hygiene routine
πŸŽ“ Fully Qualified with over 10 years experience (nail tech & make-up qualifications) 
🌹 Tranquil location

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IBX is the first treatment of its kind - it works INSIDE the nail plate and not on top. IBX penetrates into the upper layers of the nail and cross-links inside the nail plate to create an Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN), similar to the structure of a cargo net.

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If you struggle to grow your natural nails, book in for IBX Treatment along with the manicure of your choice (IBX is an add-on service): https://www.fresha.com/a/rambling-rose-nails-and-make-up-mangawhai-thelma-road-north-i1d1r1d4/booking?menu=true&dppub=true&employeeId=450913&pId=142955

πŸ“ Mangawhai Heads
πŸ“– By appointment only
🧴 Strict hygiene routine
πŸŽ“ Fully qualified nail tech with over 10 years experience 
🌹 Tranquil location

 #repairyournails #WeakNails #weaknails #strengthenyournails
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