My hair needs some tlc and since Hari Raya is approaching, now is the perfect time to pay a visit to the salon for some works. So the week before Ramadhan, I purchased a coupon from Groupon for some chemical hair services at Hair Fancier Hair Salon. There are numerous deals on offer and this one particular deal by Hair Fancier caught my attention.
The package sells for RM98 and is redeemable at any one of the 6 Hair Fancier salons.
The 3-hour package includes:
- professional scalp scan and analysis
- chemical service either perming OR colouring
- nanoe hair repair treatment
- scalp defence treatment
- cut, wash and blow (add RM20 for hair length past bra line)
- complimentary RM100 head spa treatment voucher
With a price tag of RM98, this deal looks and sounds pretty awesome and worth it, right? So on Thursday 2 June 2016, I actually had a dental appointment in the morning. I then applied leave for the day and fixed an appointment at Hair Fancier Encorp Mall The Strand, Kota Damansara on the same day at 2.30p.m. I have never been to Encorp Mall and I thought I'd like to check it out while I'm there. The mall is a sad and sorry white elephant with only a handful of retailers operating including Daiso, Mr. D.I.Y, Hair Fancier, Sam's Groceria, Caring Pharmacy, Kenny Roger's Roasters and a few more. I should have gone to The Curve instead.
Anyway, I was greeted by the hairstylists and after explaining to me what the package is all about, they directed me to another area in the salon to have my scalp analyzed. They used a camera which is attached to the computer and showed me horror pictures of my scalp, which is sensitive, red on some spots and also unhealthy where the hair follicles are closed and the hair is thinning, according to them. Then they led me back to my chair and started to apply some water on my scalp to soften it. After that, my head was steamed for a good 20 minutes or so. After that, I went back to the other room to have my scalp analyzed again to see if there are any hair mites. Yes, mites. Hair mites. They started scraping off some skin on my scalp and placed it on a microscopic dish and put it under the microscope. They did show me the tools and dishes that they were going to use to proof that the tools are clean. Then the horror began again. Apparently I have hair mites. Not many but there are about 2-3 and an ovum, which will hatch into a mite. Eek!
They started 'lecturing' me about hair mites, the causes, the effects and most importantly, how to treat it. Then that's where the story begins. They started promoting me to do a hair mite treatment because hair mites causes hair loss, which, sad to say, I'm dealing with. Even though it is not severe, if it is not treated, it may just go downhill and soon, I may have a bald spot on top of my head. It doesn't help that I like to pick and pluck my white hairs! Sigh. The cost for the hair mite treatment? RM389. And that is the cost for one treatment. Remember in the package I have a RM100 complimentary cash voucher? *scroll above please* I can use that RM100 but I have to top up another RM298. No.freaking.way.
When I told them it's too expensive and is not in my budget, they started saying that I can't do any chemical treatment e.g. colouring because it will only make the mites active. Seriously? Don't you think those teeny tiny creatures would die of toxicity when in contact with chemical? Are you saying they are super creatures that can withstand chemical? I ain't falling for that, woman! They said if I don't want to do the treatment now, I can always come back another day. This time I was starting to feel frustrated because I took leave that day just to get my hair (and teeth earlier in the morning) done and there's no way I am taking another leave. Secondly I ain't coming back to Encorp Mall because it's like a ghost town. If I were to go to other Hair Fancier salon, I would choose Publika or The Curve.
I put my foot down and said No, I don't want to do the hair mite treatment and I want to colour my hair today. They had no choice but to follow my instructions. So I got my hair dyed, I got the nanoe hair repair treatment, scalp defence treatment, cut (I had to add the RM20) wash and blow and by 6pm I was done.
When it comes to paying, another story unfolds. I took out a RM20 note to pay and asked for the RM100 voucher. Out of the blue, I was asked to pay RM298. I was like, "What for?? I told you earlier I don't want to do the hair mite treatment because of the price. If I don't want to pay earlier, I won't pay now either! And What makes you think that I still want to do the hair mite treatment? I am sure there are other natural remedies I can use to treat my hair loss problem." She also refused to give me my RM100 voucher. Instead she said the next time I come, I can use it. I told her the next time I may not come to this outlet, I might as well go to Publika as it is nearer to my place. The hairstylist was quite persistent but I was even more adamant. In the end I told her "You know what, you ambik RM20 ni and you boleh simpan voucher tu. I tak nak." She looked surprised. She asked "You tak mau ka? You boleh datang nanti kalau you tak nak buat hair mite treatment you call kita cakap untuk change buat lain servis." I told her "You patut bagi I voucher tu, you kata boleh guna di mana-mana outlet. Tapi susah2 sangat, takpelah, you simpan voucher tu."
And I walked out of the salon.
To think of it I only paid RM98 and got what I wanted, which was worth it but the reason why I chose to buy a deal from Groupon is simply to save money. I know they are just doing their job to promote their business but at the end of the day, make sure you stand firm and know what you want and know your rights. Never ever fall into their tricks to make you pay more, pay for things that you don't want.
Anyway it is also good to know that there are tons of natural remedies to treat hair loss, which is so much cheaper and natural.
In case you are curious or interested to know more about hair mites, you can always google it. Or you can go to this website https://www.ungex.com/
14 comments:
Hi, may I know u went for publika branch?
Hi Huii Tenq,
I went to Hair Fancier in Encorp Strand Mall, Kota Damansara. I know there's one in Publika too.
Because this coming Thursday I will be Publika branch, I'm scare have a issue like yours
did u buy the deal from Groupon? I tell you what, if they push, persuade and insist on anything that you don't want, just give them a firm no. i believe they just want to sell their products and services but they can be very persistent and pushy, which is annoying. the worst part is, they won't take no for an answer. of course they will say that our hair condition is very bad, scalp is sensitive so we need the further treatment etc but just be firm and tell them what you came for and you are not willing to part with more money. good luck!
yea lor I bought with Groupon and saw many bad comment, regretted
Hi, do you need to print out the voucher or you can redeem through phone? Because I just bought the voucher and I am a bit confused is it I can redeem through phone
Glad I came across your blog! I was contemplating purchasing the deal. Sounds a little too good to be true. Aside from the aggressive sales approach, were they any good when it came to colouring?
Anonymous,
Please read the fine print on Groupon page whether need to print the voucher or not. I don't have the app on my phone so I always print the voucher.
Unknown,
I may be biased but I feel that they were not really happy with me declining their offer so I feel like they just did an OK job. But a lot of people told me that if we purchase deals for services like this or massage, spa etc, the shops also will do a cincai job since we paid so little for the services.
Oh gosh! I had a similar experience at Da Men mall just yesterday at their branch. Went for colouring and the same process took place...I told them no and then they asked why not u color your hair first then do treatment...I told them u guys told me it will be dangerous to color without mite treatment and now asking me to color first,sorry no thanks and walked out 😂
I went to their Starling branch. Wanted to go for a normal haircut and wash but they told me to do a complimentary scalp analysis so they can “figure out which is the best shampoo to use for my hair”. Lo and behold, they showed me the scans of my scalp that seem exactly the same as yours. A portion that is red. A portion that has closed follicles. A portion that had very fine hair. They said I needed a scalp treatment. Proceeded to scrape of my scalp cells to see if I have mites. They spent a good 2 to 3 minutes on the microscope that they finally found one treasure (mite). Proceeded to use scare tactics on me on how I will turn bald soon. After mreading your blog, now I know that’s just their tactics. Every other promo they have is just a sales funnel to their main product which is the mite treatment. Couldn’t enjoy my hair wash after that cos they were hard selling their mite treatment the whole way. Super uncomfortable.
Hi Rajeswary,
Sorry for the late response. I am glad you walked out girl! It looks like that is their tactic, huh?
Hi Anonymous,
Let us all spread this dirty tactic of theirs to other women so nobody will fall victim. I mean, business and marketing is one thing but if they are lying and cheating their customers, that cannot be tolerated. What you went through was exactly what I went through. Initially not a single mite was seen but after a few minutes, lo and behold, mites appeared on the screen. And they scared me with all kinds of bull****. Let's boycott this salon!
Ungex has no distributors in Malaysia since 2016 and anyone selling their mite treatment is either fraudulent or selling out of date products... please be aware and only buy directly from their website which ships directly from Australia!
Also for mite test, they are only alive for max. 52 hours so as long as it's not a video or somone elses sample they are showing you its probably correct.
I went to one of their outlets because i heard that they treat hair fall . When the 1st time i go, they show me that there's hair mite in my hair n they try to sell their package and keep convicing me that the hair will continue fall and worsen and eventually i will be bald if i dont do the treatment. Then, i fall into the trap. NOOOOO. I regreted it so much now. They convice me to pay for around rm5000 for their 12 session treatment and now after the whole package completed , they said that the mite need to be detox and they convice me to buy the pacage which cost RM 4000+!!! I strongly suggest to not go the salon as they're very pushy and continuously selling their package and even if we pay for the package their service is not that great tho. They are fakersss.
Ohya! I forgotten to say that, when i bought the package they say that they will check the progress every 3 weeks as i went to do the mite treatment every week but at last they keep saying that they will do it next week until the last session only they do the checking and when they do the checking they didnt even check properly they just simply scroll through and then say congratulation, the mites is gone!
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