So mad I want to cry

[impish]

We just took Pluto in for his second real grooming. My husband took him. We had gone to this place one other time (his first grooming) and only had ear tips and sanitary trim. They didn't do much but all was fine.

Here's the note I sent with DH:

Requests for Pluto J

I’m still not wanting to have him majorly cut. NEXT time we come in we will probably do apuppy cut or modified schnauzer… or something but… I just can’t yet. Sorry I know it’s weird.
We do want:
Sanitary trim, belly back etc.
Ear tips tips/trim/shave
Evening out his coat length
The normal with feet, inside ears etc.
We don’t want his anal glands expressed (they haven’t been todate).
Please do not cuthair around his eyes or his topknot!
Thankyou so much.

I came home to a puppy cut, his leg hair cut very short, his tail hair gone his beard chopped off right at the chin and his body hair all cut about 2-3 inches all around.

I wasn't planning on showing him but was still undecided and was really liking the length. I love Bitsy and JadaBug's lengths.

This is silly I'm so upset when there are real things to be concerned about in the world so I need to slap myself and get over it but gawd I'm mad.

What ever ever happened to doing what the customer requested???

okay deep breath.

[capt_noonie]

Id be mad too, esp since you sent him with specific instructions! Did you let the groomer know you were not satisfied? Like someone once said here on YT, why should I pay someone else to screw up my dogs hair when I can do it myself for free?

[sophias mommy]

I'm sorry about your bad experience ! you left wonderful instructions too!!!!! But i know pluto still looks adorable

[Maximo]

I'm sorry for your bad experience. I would be very angry too.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

I'd be upset also but fortunately, at least the hair will grow back. Not what you were hoping for in a haircut however. I bet Pluto still looks tons adorable.

[jadabug]

I would be livid too!!!! Stuff like this is what forced me into learning to do the grooming myself. The last time I took my two in, I left written details and even a picture...still went to pick them up and she had shaved their noses and cut the hair between the eyes. Their hair had just about passed that horrible stage where it is in their eyes.
I know it is hair and it grows back...but it still doesn't change the fact that the groomer did not follow directions. IDK what the heck it is with groomers that so many of them just do what they want and do not listen to the owner at all.

[Perrella]

Aw...that's a darn shame and you sent such detailed instructions, what were they thinking. Yep, I would be ticked too. I know the little guy still looks adorable though!

I cut Zhoie myself and believe me...it's not always been pretty but at least I can only blame...ME

[linda44]

aww Im so sorry. I would be very angry also. I bet Pluto still looks adorable.

[Ladym]

I have been to 3 different groomers for my Mr. Perkins. The first one was great for puppy cuts. She did his cut in my avatar. The second wasn't so good. She cut him and never told me. When I saw the cut and called the place the manager apologized and put a note in his records that I was to be told of any thing like this happening again. When I brought him in for his next groom, the groomer took his leash from me and said to him "Are you in a better mood this time?" That was the last time we went there. So we were back at the first groomer. There was nothing wrong with her I had just wanted to try others in the area. Then I wanted to try to grow his hair out. She did not like that idea and told me that I would not be happy because he is a cotton coat. I wanted to try anyway. I was there for a trim and sani and nails. I told her NOT to cut his face at all. It was finally getting long enough to keep out of his eyes. When I picked him up ... you guessed it. His face was shaved. I was not happy. Then I had to travel for work. My son was going to puppysit for the 2 months I would be gone. Panic!!!! I know he was not about to take care of all that hair so I tried to get an appointment and finally had to settle for Petsmart. Much to my surprise and joy they did exactly what I asked. I even got to stay and watch thru the window. For me it was worth shopping around.

[kmfull]

I feel your pain..my dog was shaved on Sunday..but i can see where it is growing already..im sorry this happened to you and your pooch..

[gracielove]

One thing to keep in mind about groomers.....there is no regulation concerning groomers. There are very few places that even require that a groomer attend a grooming school. Some learn online and some just start doing it. Places like PetSmart train their own groomers. It is much easier to shave and chop of a dog's coat than to spend time doing what the customer wants. I have gone through some groomers over the year and the majority of them just want to shave and chop. I have a really great groomer now and she does exactly what I want but even she would rather cut more than what I want her to. Gracie has a beautiful coat and if someone ever cut it after what we have been through to grow it out I would be furious.

Any business that will not do as the customer requests is not worth supporting with your hard earned money.

[RileyDC]

I'm Sorry this happened to you! You have every right to be mad.... Especially with such detailed instructions. It's like they didn't even read them... or if they did, they were totally ignored.

I trim Riley up, myself.... I am fortunate that he lets me do absolutely anything to him... I had him on his back last weekend trimming up the hair between his paws and he actually fell asleep.

Luckily it is just hair and it will grow and I bet he looks just as Cute as before!!

[impish]

thank you thank you thank you to everyone who made me feel normal. i called the groomer and left a message to talk with her or the owner. she called me back, and it was clear 1) she did not read the note, just glanced at it and 2) felt bad and apologized profusely.

I feel better because 1) i'm not alone (thank you again to all who offered their condolences ) and 2) I was able to deal with the conflict in a direct way and drop it.

And yes, he's still pretty darn cute. but I swear, I'm not gonna get him cut for a very very long time.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by impish

thank you thank you thank you to everyone who made me feel normal. i called the groomer and left a message to talk with her or the owner. she called me back, and it was clear 1) she did not read the note, just glanced at it and 2) felt bad and apologized profusely.

I feel better because 1) i'm not alone (thank you again to all who offered their condolences ) and 2) I was able to deal with the conflict in a direct way and drop it.

And yes, he's still pretty darn cute. but I swear, I'm not gonna get him cut for a very very long time.

Please tell me they offered you a refund! And I mean cold hard cash not store credit. The owner of the grooming/boutique that botched Kaji's hair cut last time offered me store credit because it was "close" to what I had asked for. Close yes, but it still was an awful haircut! Kaji has a mohawk now!

[gracielove]

Well, she should feel bad since losing customers will hit her own pocketbook eventually. I guess I have to wonder what she thought your well written note was for and why she would only "glance" at it? It seems to me that if someone takes the time to write a very specific note that the person it was directed to should take the time to read it.

This sort of thing is quite common. I have seen many people's complaints here and on other forums. The groomer I now go to has new customers come to her on a regular basis with all kinds of horror stories of things that have been done by various groomers. In most cases the grooming salon gives very little acknowledgement to the offended customer. I know the groomers that have disregarded my requests have a clientele that bring their dog in for a regular bath and shaving. Most do not insist on a specific cut but leave it to the groomer to decide. Maybe groomers are just accustomed to this type of client and find it unusual to have special requests?