I just came to Shanghai a few days ago and wanted to get my hair straightened. I went to a hairdresser who charged 1200rmb for it. I even spoke to the translator on the phone who relayed the message of what I wanted done. I know some Mandarin but not fluently. During the process a sales lady came to me with a black box of treatment and a calculator and she seemed to be calculating me a 5% discount. I told her I didn't want it and she left the box there and walked away.

I went to pay and someone brought the box with them to the till. The next thing I know they are writing my name on the box to set it aside, telling me to come back in 15 days, and charging me 4900rmb!! I was in shock and nobody could speak English and then I was being forced to a bank to a cash point to pay them.

Now my hair is wavy again, I'm so scared to go back but I can't help feeling its so much money gone. I'm alone here and don't know anymore to help and I'm so scared.

Please help me.

Joren wrote:I know some Mandarin but not fluently.

I know some Mandarin. Clearly, you do not.

It sounds to me like you've been sold a loyalty card. Almost every single hair salon in Shanghai does this. You pay for say 5,000 RMB and then you get say, 50% discount on all services which is deducted from the card. If you plan to go there all the time, it's not a waste of money although I would never do it as I did it once and the place closed down before I used up all my credit. It's simply a way to ensure loyalty.

I always just tell them I prefer to pay each time even if I pay 100% without any discount.

But I didn't get any card or anything like that..... Is that really how it works? How is it I can keep shaking my head and say I don't want it and they still charge me? (bu yao)

So they quoted you 1200 then charged 4900?

The box thing is quite common in chinese hairdressers. Basically you bought a bundle of haircare products. These now belong to you and are stored for you at the haidresser. Usually you can now go there and get treatments with your own products for free. This is usually cheaper than getting the membership card.
This experience is based on the YongQi Hairdresser chain.
But getting something sold that you didn't want is a bad start ...

tao_tao wrote:The box thing is quite common in chinese hairdressers. Basically you bought a bundle of haircare products. These now belong to you and are ... ...

Yes, I had the same experience .. in my case it was a gang of people having an ipad and trying to show me different options .. I told them I just wanted a hair cut and soon enough realized simple way wouldn't work .. so left the place ..

OP, I suggest you take somebody who can speak Chinese along with you .. even a laowai with a decent amount of Chinese should be able to help you ..

Well after I spoke to my housemate she has agreed to come with me this weekend to sort it out but she has told me it would be impossible to get a refund. Do you think they would give me the box i seemed to have paid for? I just want my hair straightened as I paid for and the box and then I will leave and just put it to experience. Just I made her clear to put in the calculator the amount and that is it. I don't know how the box charged just under 800rmb and then with the 1200rmb doesn't come anywhere near 4900rmb.

I just felt so pressured with 6 members of staff standing there none of them speaking English and then one of them dragging me across the road to take money out. For all I knew they already put this stuff in my hair and I had to pay for it. If I knew then I wouldn't have. Also I didn't have a phone here as I just arrived and couldn't call for help or police or anything.

I have the name card and that's it of the person who did my hair. It's just really upset me this whole experience and I lost so much sleep over it =(

What is the name of this chain salon?

Yes you already paid so I cannot see how you can get it back now you really should have refused at the time. Buyers remorse (yes, I know, they were giving you pressure, but that's sales - you won't cope well in Shanghai if it's that easy to get you to hand over your money, you will need to be more assertive)!

What a terrible, experience, I am really sorry this has happened to you.

Joren wrote:I have the name card and that's it of the person who did my hair. It's just really upset me this whole experience and I lost so much sleep over it =(

Welcome to China I am sure each of have such experiences to share at different places .. so go easy

Don't be too hard on me! I had actually been here last year and they remembered me and I didn't have a problem before but I was with my exbf at the time and he was Chinese. It's easy to say I shouldn't have given them the money but for all I knew they already put some of this product in my hair so I owed them. Also when you are surrounded by about 6 staff members it's very intimidating and I look so foolish after they spent so many hours doing my hair etc. being totally alone and then being made to go across the road to a cash point it's very scary.
The chain is called Eisa Salon at Zhongshan park.

Hello!
I think all of us have experienced at one point or another similar situations. Consequently, there is no need to be "borderline rude" with someone who is asking for advice in a friendly manner.
I guess there are always some trolls everywhere ...

Did you get an official receipts showing the name of the business and amount you paid? File a complaint to the official sometimes help, especially when the city of Shanghai is trying to attract more foreigners. Let me know if you need help.

Thanks everyone. I went back with my housemate today who spoke to them. They still denied pushing me into it and says I said "ok" about the product. It was in fact 3500RMB just for the product but it meant I can come back up to 5 times and they apply it for me so the cost was also a service. I looked it up online and saw it was much cheaper back at home and it was a home product not a salon product.
I just couldn't take the stress anymore and was so scared each time I went back that they would charge me for something else and there was no chance of a refund because there was no reciept and I'd given the money already. When asked why I gave the money it was that I'd been made to believe they already used this product in my hair, and cornered by about 6 members of staff and escorted to a cash point was so scary.
So for piece of mind I just took the box and left since I technically own this box now.

Definately lesson learnt...... I need to get on with things as I came here to study not to lose sleep over situations like this.

Don,t go the hair salon alone, they always cheating even a Chinese, so best to have a Chinese friend together with you when you go to hairdresser.

or you can send me email tttsyw@126.com when you need some help. Maybe I can give you some help.

It's intimidating when things like that happen, but the fact is they happen a lot here. That's when you have to quickly learn how to say NO and MEAN IT. Don't be afraid just to walk out -they won't follow you- or only give the original amount they quoted in the first place. They had no right dragging you to a cash point.
I have no problems in shouting at people now, all the time if they f*ck me off- regardless of my level of Chinese (mine is a bit rubbish)- whatever language you speak, just SHOWING them you are angry can be enough to get the point across. Just put it aside as a learning curve, and remember it for future situations.

WOW.... as a hairdresser myself and salon owner in HK and SH I am pretty shocked at this kind of business practice here. I know many salons do that package or pre pay thing but it seems to be turning into quite a scam. Just goes to prove you do really need to be careful about the salon you choose to go to specially when many use copy ir inferior products but charge for the real thing.. It is important to be able to communicate well with your hairstylist.. At least its good to hear your situation is now somewhat sorted out.