WOW - What a disappointment this place is AND I didn't even get to actually use their services although I made it thru the door!
First I will start off by saying, I participated in an public school fundraising event in JANUARY 2014. I purchased about $150 worth of tickets & you simply place your ticket in a bucket in front of a donated item (whether it be a TV or for a service at a local business) to see if you could win it. It's a great way for public schools to raise money. I placed the bulk of my tickets to win a mini spa day at DAKOTAH SALON & SPA - and I won! The certificate which was issued DECEMBER 2013, was for a 1/2 hr massage, 1/2 hr facial, mani, pedi, hair cut & blow out. No expiration date noted.
Unfortunately, the gift certificate was for THURSDAYS ONLY & I wasn't allowed to break up the services for multiple days. This created difficulty for me due to work but being as summers are more lax I waited until this August 2014 to schedule. Unfortunately, I could only make it to the salon at 5pm the earliest so I decided I would forgo the haircut & blow-out as the salon advised me there were no exceptions to the rule of breaking up the services. The person who gives the massages leaves by 3pm for the day but I was able to extend the facial to an hour (5pm appt) instead to make up for that & then had an appt for a mani/pedi at 6:30pm.
I arrived at the spa at 5:04pm due to an accident en route. I checked in at the front desk, gave my name & appointment time, and apologized for being 4 minutes late. I was led downstairs where the facial services were held. I was met by the Esthetician, who was very nice. She led me to a room and instructed me to undress, use a robe and lie in the bed. I waited several minutes for her return & when she came back she asked if I had a gift certificate for services - they forgot to ask at the front desk. I had the certificate in my bag (so I thought!) & rifled thru it. I couldn't find it & instructed the Esthetician it was missing from my bag, maybe it was at home or in my car but regardless even if I didn't have it on me, I would just pay cash for the service & come back another day with the certificate (I NEEDED this facial and relaxation!). She left the room & was gone for several minutes. While sitting there I realized it was in my car. I continued to wait & finally got up & out of the room searching for the Esthetician, in just my robe (this was a private area downstairs). I found her & explained it's in my car and could grab after the facial or I could quickly run out if Sue required it (the receptionist - also the manager of the salon she later told me). Sadly, Sue wanted it before my service & I could not get my facial prior to giving it to her. They forced me to get dressed, go back upstairs & go to my car. I was annoyed but still OK at this point. When I returned from my car, Sue reviewed my certificate & had the audacity to say, "I don't even know where you got this from." - as if I stole it or printed it myself! Mind you - it has a number on the certificate I'm sure she could have easily looked up instead of making a statement like this. I explained it to her & then she says, "oh this was issued in December 2013, this is expired." I said there is no expiration listed on it and it's under a year (the typical date spa gift certificates expire - FYI if you call the salon & ask them how long their gift certificates are good for - they tell you 1 year!). She said oh not when we do these for fundraisers - they are only good for a few months. I explained had it been listed on the certificate I would have made more of an effort to come sooner but it wasn't not listed - just an issue date. She then told me, "I'll honor it because you are already here but now we've wasted so much time (HELLO YOU MADE ME GET RE-DRESSED & BACK TO MY CAR!) that we don't have enough time to give you an hour facial - we can give you a half an hour facial and your mani & pedi - and you have to use the certificate today only otherwise we won't honor it bc it's expired.". I said no way, I already was forgoing the hair cut and blow out, I was not willing to lose more of something I paid for! As per Sue, that was my only option. After arguing with her to return the certificate to me (which she was refusing to), she said she'd return it to me but she was writing expired all over it. I asked for her manager and she said she was the manager. I asked for the owner and she told me it wouldn't matter - no exceptions. I was so LIVID, I told her to keep the certificate - they weren't worth my time or money (tips!). I cannot believe how they treat new customers!. These fundraisers are a great way to get new clientele in the door to GROW your business. If you can't HONOR your certificates then don't participate in these events! Anyone booking appointments here - BEWARE! Worst spa in 20+ yrs of going to them! And first negative review ever written online!
by Amanda L
xxx.xxx.88.68
August 22, 2014
