Quality of customer service in Hungary

As a retired cosmetologist who worked in both high end and smaller barber shops I have to say the customer service in salons in Hungary is a bit shocking.

I believe it could be because as a foreigner the staff may think you will not be coming back for services so they do not care.

Used to get haircuts at Hajos Salon. Went there a good 6 times or more.

My stylist was often not in, on holiday without calling to cancel my appointment first. I would go in and if I wanted a cut I had to take who ever they pawned off on me.

Stopped going there;Tried Toni and Guy salon, they no longer are in business , no surprise there; Stylist was fine but the assisting  staff was rude. Waited for my cut with my husband, we stood in the lobby because all the chairs and a couch were being used by  jr. staff on a break. Rude and unheard of in the US.

Went to several of these so called, Posh salons, all a bit off with customer service.

Went to a shop that was recomened by a lady in a beauty supply house.

Odd stylist but she got the job done, nothing special but alright.

First visit to her was odd. Had an early morning appointment at 8 am.

Got there on time, she turned us away saying to come later!

As we were half way down the block, she runs after us saying it was her mistake and to come back. She had mixed up the times.

Went once or twice more, the last time took the cake!

She stopped mid cut     a good 3 to 4 times to chat on her phone. Then some women came in to sell items of clothing!

She again stopped mid cut to look at the sellers wares!

Never been so mad while getting a cut.On top of that I knew she had lost where she was in my haircut. Terrible cut.

Another time we tried a salon owner operated in the 5th. A male stylist.

He was so, so but what creeped me out was his salon decor.

As you laid back in the shampoo bowl for a wash the ceiling had oil paintings up up from friends of his for sale.

OK, get it but they were all female nudes!

WTH??

Long story but I have trained my husband to trim my hair.

Another thing, I notice they almost never offer a mirror after the cut. I ask and if I see a tag or uneven area I will tell them so; The faces they make is beyond professional, ego instead of good service. I am polite when I point out any mistakes they made; Also a good warning tip is if they pull out a chair for themselves to sit on while cutting, be sure the cut will be uneven.

Us foreigners always get treated differently to locals.   It's also the same in Austria. 

Usually we get charged more.

I never noticed this in Germany or The Netherlands.

It could be as high as 50% more hereabouts so keep stumm and let your local person/SO do the talking.

Tradesmen also lie about solutions and possibilities so do research beforehand.

So true even at a simple farmers market, if we are serious about buying anything I know my role, shut up, walk away at least 10 feet and wait to know the prices.

It is sad, never seen that treatment in the US for anyone.

Get so sick of mumbling to my husband if something catches my eye.

I feel I will never really fit in here.

One thing though, in official settings like the tram, subway etc; Ticket agents leave me alone and just say welcome.

If you came for the service - this is the wrong place to be.

I had 3 instances over almost 20 years here where the service was correlated with the amount you paid. Going to other places now feels so unfamiliar in terms of services provided.

5 star service here is 3 star elsewhere at BEST.