Groomer woes again!!

6494 Views 41 Replies 13 Participants Last post by poodleholic, Jan 8, 2010

gwtwmum2

Discussion Starter · Dec 17, 2009

Okay, so all groomers- I need your input again. My groomer (the one that shaved Wrigley down to a "lab look" back in August without telling me) has been booked for FIVE weeks to do the sanitary cut on Wriggs - face, feet, potty places and inside ears. We purposely waited this long so he could be fresh for Christmas. I hated what she did last time (with the shave) but figured I would give her a chance because I've liked what she has done in the past. (His siggie picture)
So, I bathed him and blew him dry and brushed him today, getting him all ready to go and I got a phone call at 1:45 saying that she just couldn't do the appointment because she had a bad morning with dogs being sick or something and it put her behind and she had four dogs in front of Wrigley (his appt. was at 3:00). So, as disappointed as I was, I was getting ready to ask when we could get him in when she goes on to say that she is totally booked up until almost the 1st of the year. WHAT!!!! I've had this appt. for five weeks!!! I need him to look nice for Christmas and i have family coming i that haven't seen him since last Christmas. I tell her this and she suggests Petsmart (which is about 40 minutes from here - I've NEVER used them before so I have no idea how they would do and I know they are much more expensive. Plus, Wrigley gets carsick on longer trips - so I told her that wouldn't work). She told me she was really sorry but she was just too busy today and everyday until Dec. 29th at 2:00 - when my visiting family will be leaving by the way.
So my question is: is that normal groomer etiquette? I totally get needing to change an appt here and there, but to cancel an appt booked SO far in advance at this time of year and then NOT be able to reschedule before the holiday...what do you guys think? Am I wrong for thinking she should stay late or come in early to get this done for me?

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plumcrazy

· #2 · Dec 17, 2009

Oh, boy... I'm not a groomer so I don't know if that is a normal/accepted practice or not, but this is one of the reasons that I'm doing my DARNDEST to learn how to do at least the basics myself.

I'm pretty comfortable doing Lucy's face, feet, tail, sanitary and taking care of her ears... I practice all the time (she thinks I'm loopy, but because it has become a regular occurence, she's really, really good for me on the table!) I'm so sorry that your groomer put you in this bind! If I WERE a groomer and I had a good customer who had a longstanding appointment cancelled, I'd find a way to squeeze them in even if it were before or after regular appointments! I hope you can work things out!! Good luck!

KPoos

· #3 · Dec 17, 2009

Well, considering that face, feet, and tail with an experienced groomer shouldn't take very long, I think she should have squeezed you in. I'm not a groomer either but that was poor customer service if you ask me. Petsmart would be fine for what you want done but I can understand the hesitation of driving that far. What I'd do is call and book the appointment for what you want and then wait there until it's done and make sure you tell them that all you want are those areas and that you will be waiting so they don't make you wait forever. They are pretty good about working with people, at least here they are.

Fluffyspoos

· #4 · Dec 17, 2009

If you already bathed him, blowed him dry, and brushed him and she's just doing face, feet, tail, and a sanitary clip.. which shouldn't take her longer than 20 minutes, she should have worked you in regardless, especially if you made an appointment for it. At my work, that type of service could be done on a walkin.

puppylove

· #5 · Dec 17, 2009

Well I took Jackson to Petsmart on a suggestion. I talked to the groomer who was recommended to me. She made the appointment. When I came back for the the groom, I discovered that she had given me to another groomer! She wasn't even coming in that day. I was very unhappy but left him anyway with my instructions. While I'm not really unhappy with the end result it was not what I asked for.

I will not be going back there mostly because of the scheduling. She should have told me that she was giving me to someone else. What's the point of asking specifically for a certain groomer if that's not what you get?

She's probably an excellent groomer and will never miss my business. It just seems like poor client service.

gwtwmum2

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 17, 2009

I did call a local small vet that has an inhouse groomer. I've never used her before but she seemed nice when we spoke on the phone and she told me I could bring him in first thing in the morning and she would make it work! The only negative is that usually Wrigley has a #30 blade on his face and she wasn't comfortable with that - she wants to do a #15. She said she thinks it will look nice. So I'm hoping I like that length as I really do prefer a nice sleek look. But honestly, the fact that she is in town - and willing to listen to what I want and work me in makes me VERY appreciative!

Fluffyspoos

· #7 · Dec 17, 2009

I wouldn't be comfortable doing a #30 on the face either, I normally do a reverse #10 on poodle faces.

Aidan

· #8 · Dec 17, 2009

I believe a 15 blade is standard for most groomers. I'll do a 30 on Vega but wouldnt touch Dodger with it and I wouldn't want any other groomer to either. A 15 blade does really well though.

Anyway, I personally believe with your appointment so far in advance she should have gotten you in even if it meant her staying late. It's not your fault that her dogs got sick or perhaps she just didn't "feel like it" which is what it sounds like to me...

Things happen, but you also owe it to your clients who are depending on their appointments especially around the holidays. I think that was very poor attitude on her part. I hope this happened for a reason and maybe you end up finding a better and more reliable groomer out of this experience!

Good luck to you!

KPoos

· #9 · Dec 17, 2009

Fluffyspoos said:
I wouldn't be comfortable doing a #30 on the face either, I normally do a reverse #10 on poodle faces.

I did a reverse #10 on Harry's butt and it came out really short. I'm thinking of doing his face over in a reverse #10. I think I'd be able to get those wild hairs that grow weird.

Fluffyspoos

· #10 · Dec 17, 2009

Yeah I like doing reverse blades, because you have a better chance of not leaving lines or missing spots.

gwtwmum2

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 17, 2009

Oh good - you guys have made me feel better about the #15 blade. She said something about reverse but I didn't know what that meant.
I'm hoping tomorrow's groomer and I click, because I'll be more than happy to support someone else. I feel like this original groomer over booked and then didn't feel like making the extra effort on something that was her mistake.

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Trillium

· #12 · Dec 18, 2009

I'm not a groomer either but i sure would be unhappy at that kind of customer service. I just booked appointments for 2 spoo face feet and tail and one spoo full groom and got in in less then a week. That was with my regular goomer.

KPoos

· #13 · Dec 18, 2009

gwtwmum2 said:
Oh good - you guys have made me feel better about the #15 blade. She said something about reverse but I didn't know what that meant.
I'm hoping tomorrow's groomer and I click, because I'll be more than happy to support someone else. I feel like this original groomer over booked and then didn't feel like making the extra effort on something that was her mistake.

If you go against the grain of the hair instead of with it cuts it shorter.

Olie

· #14 · Dec 18, 2009

KPoos said:
I did a reverse #10 on Harry's butt and it came out really short. I'm thinking of doing his face over in a reverse #10. I think I'd be able to get those wild hairs that grow weird.

Do you use you 40 on your laube?

KPoos

· #15 · Dec 18, 2009

Olie said:
Do you use you 40 on your laube?

NO, I'm too scared. Did you see Harry's bum? That's a #10 in reverse. I'm afraid of those high numbers for some reason. I use the #15 on the Laube though.

Olie

· #16 · Dec 18, 2009

KPoos said:
NO, I'm too scared. Did you see Harry's bum? That's a #10 in reverse. I'm afraid of those high numbers for some reason. I use the #15 on the Laube though.

I used the 40 on both Suri and Olie........It did fine but the lower numbers dont seem to cut real well??

Fluffyspoos

· #17 · Dec 18, 2009

I loooove my #40 blade, but you have to be careful with it. I DO NOT use it in reverse, you can give them razor burn, and I normally just kinda glide it over the skin, I never press with it.

flyingduster

· #18 · Dec 18, 2009

Ugh, she did have poor customer service skills. I am massivly super busy at the moment (13 dogs a day working alone.) and some of my appointments can start running into each other more than I intended, putting me behind a bit, but generally that will end up meaning either lunch eaten on the run, or a later finish. I'm not going to cancel an appointment from people that I have taken pains to get them slotted in well in advance of the silly season!

Though on the same note, I had a customer (who didn't have an appointment) also state to me that he thought I should be working harder and longer hours if the work is there to be done (ie, his dog) and surely I couldn't be just turning work away; if it's there, I should be simply getting it done. Obviously he didn't realise I was already doing beyond my capacity anyway, and that I am pushing myself possibly a tad too much right now, even though I told him that. *sigh*

So yes, she was wrong to cancel a standing appointment, especially for a wee tidy up that wouldn't have taken long, and personally I would have worked late to fit you in if that was the case. But at the same time I'm now slightly touchy about people *expecting* us groomers to be working long hours just for everyone else, but that's more for those idiots who never made appointments ahead of time.

I use a 30 in reverse on Paris' face feet and tail all the time, but I'd never use it on a client poodles face unless specifically requested and they knew their dog could take it. I have on occasions used the 30 on some poodles feet to get 'em slick, cos feet are tougher than faces!

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WonderPup

· #19 · Dec 19, 2009

This might sound weird to you but did you happen to complain or were you obviously unhappy about wrigs last groom? Don't get me wrong, I don't mean anything like did you flip out and act like a fool LoL though every groomer alive has had that client before, Im just curious if the groomer knew you were unahppy.

The reason I ask is that it sounds an awful lot like she is trying to drop you as a client either because she doesn't like grooming your poodle or because she took it personally that you weren't happy last time around. The best way I know of to get rid of a client is to pull some crazy stunt with their appointment like that... especially around christmas.
I would never do it of course I'm more blunt - go away and don't come back. LoL. No just kidding, I'm more polite than that but I would never book and then cancel an appointment for anything other than a medical reason - mean I was the one who was sick. If I don't want to work with you I just refuse your appointment and I'll tell you why, most of the time I have a referral for you too on who you CAN call. On the rare occasion I have had clients who are just freaks, the real yell and scream at you drama drama type. In those cases I don't tell them why, I just tell them I am booked sorry you'll have to call back because I don't open my appointment book past a certain number of weeks or months. I can't book your next appointment three months from now on a wednesday, I have no idea what I might be doing and might want to take some time off every now and again.

Some groomers put up with a lot of crap from clients around christmas but most of the time it's from people who didn't listen back in October and Nov. when they were told the christmas appointments were booking up and they'd better go ahead and reserve one. Then they call around the 15th and guess what... So sorry I'm booked. I bend over backwards most years (haha not this one obviously since I can't bend over much at all) to work late and squeeze as many people in as I can. I would NEVER turn away a dog who had already been brushed and bathed and only wanted FFT... thats crazy. It would take just a few minutes and done - easy money. Duh thats a no brainer to me.

Hahah, all this comming from the groomer who's dog is unclipped, dirty, and kind of matted at this very moment

Oh well... it'll be fixed tomorrow, help is on the way!

FD, that story kind of cracks me up and makes me mad for you all at the same time. I can't stand people like that, and people who tell me "well you're a groomer thats just part of the job" refering to their dog trying to take my face off at some point. I can't believe it but this week one of my "best" clients, who I have griped about before but cannot at the moment afford to lose because she behaves MOST of the time and I llove the dog actualy called me on my cell after being told by my husbad I was in labor and delivery because there was a complication and complained that this might get in the way of getting her dog groomed before christmas. Sorry??? WHAT?? Did you seriously just imply that a bath and a haircut is more important? She brought the dog in on Thursday she insisted it be thursday after I told her I really needed a day to myself after three days being poked and proded at the hospital and friday would be better. Whatever, I decided to just get it over with so sure come on ahead on Thursday. When she picked the dog up she had the nerve to complain that it had taken so long this time (well dumby you're dog was a month overdue b/c u no showed for two appts and sheesh I needed to take breaks) and mentioned that she wished I had just gone ahead and had the c-section Monday so I could get back to work...
Rofl, ummm yeah sure, it's real likely I would have been able to groom your dog this week if I had just had surgery for one and two ummmm delivering a baby 11 weeks early is kind of a big deal...

John and I have talked about it and he was REALLY upset and made me promise that as soon as Nicholas is born and settled and I'm back in business she is gone. As much as I love the dog and as nice as the lady can be sometimes I just cannot forgive that.

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Aidan

· #20 · Dec 19, 2009

Wow wonder, that is some nerve of that client to do that to you. I hope you do drop her as a client because to me that isn't forgivable and shows how little compassion she has for anybody other then herself.

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