Absolutely mannerless!. Review on Lakme Beauty Salon - Mumbai

To start with I sincerely wish there was an option of zero or no stars too in the product rating as my heart aches giving one star to Lakme Farnchisee outlet of Himayatnagar..It doesnt even deserve this one star ! I have written so many reviews on this forum but no brand has ever frustrated me this much.

I have been a regular customer of this outlet in Himayatnagar in Hyderabad and have availed their numerous services.I dont find these guys as professional as one of the best beauty parlour chains should be but I never bothered.

The rooms in the saloon are shabby...the changing apron they give never looks washed...there is someone or the other knocking at the door when some job is going on inside..

When it came to selecting a saloon for my Bridal make up and package...I had no other option but to go for this one as I wasnt aware of any other good brand names in the city and also the last thing I wanted to do was try them out on myself.So as luck would have it...I chose Lakme.The staff was very courteous when I visited them and explained me about all kinds of packagesOne thing I found strange was that there was never any rates catalogue that was shown to me and on my part too there was a mistake...Now I feel I should have been intelligent enough to ask them their rate card or something instead of trusting them on their brand name.Anyways through out the package and discussions and all that I never saw their rate card..whatever price the female over there quoted I blindly accepted...something which pinches me even today.

So I started taking their services...I had two make up sessions arranged..one for my engagement and another for the wedding.No doubt that the female attending me was very good at her work but at the same time these people are shrewd too...they never lose an opportunity to trap a customer into availing more services.

On my engagement I looked gorgeous ( thats what everyone said :)))) and she had done a very good job).For the wedding she provided me two options 1) get the make up done in the parlor 2) avail their outdoor service which would enable me to have the make up done at the marriage venue itself for a cost of 1000/- EXTRA.I was okay with the second choice.The female requested me to either provide some transportation or get her into an auto as it would be 8.00pm by the time she would get out the wedding hall ( she booked the slot 6pm to 8 pm for me).Note that it was merely a humble request from her side.I said fine and got busy in my marriage stuff.

She turned up late at around 6.45 pm on the marriage day...that did not bother me as the baraat was late and I had ample time.She finished her job and requested if she could call her husband up from my mobile.I said fine..she did and I guess he asked her if he could come and pick her up coz she replied that "nbo need to worry I would be dropped".Now it was 8.00 pm and Hyderabad is a safe city.This lady started grumbling abouyt how far her home was and hpow she needed to be dropped by some cab!I said look your house is very far..20- 25 kms from here...drivers are all busy...I would get you dropped halfway...you can catch an auto...if not...u can catch an auto fromm here someone fromm my side would help you..She simply refused.Her logic was that autos are not safe and she insisted on getting dropped by cab.I wondered that travelling in an auto is not safe but going alone in acab with an unknown driver is?How sick people can get when it comes to money.I was not in favour of getting her dropped as I had already paid Lakme extra money for their outdoor service and if they cannot take care of their employees pick up and drop how am I supposed to deal with it?

Finally I wanted to get rid of her pestering so I sent her to my mom...My mom also said whatever I said but she started creating a mess over there too...she started insisting that she should be dropped in a rude tone and said that she would have never come here otherwise...was she doing a social service my mom thought..

She didget dropped as no one wanted a girl creating a fuss in the wedding and the issue was resolved.My mom later told me that she was damn rude and that I should compalin about her.

I was furious at her attitude and rung up at Lakme soon after the wedding hungama was over.First of all the bunch of unprofessional girls there wouldnt hand over the phone to the manager..Finally one of them came up...I asked her for the franchise owners number she wasnt willing to give that too..I explained them the whole thing...She started saying that it was dark that day..the area was lonely..Now how was the whole franchisee knowing of this tale..surely this female had gone and told them the whole story.I hung up on that other girl and said I would go furtehr and take action.Soon after that I got a call from the make up girl and she started arguing about how she was normal and all that.I didnt want to speak to her so I just said I wouldnt like to even have a conversation and hung up.

I didnt get any call from lakme for the next 10 days.I didnt want to give up on them so I called up a chennai branch and got the number of their business development officer.I called her up...she was very courteous and I explained her the whole affair.She apologized on Lakmes behalf ands thanked me for having given that info.I got to know that lakme wasnt supposed to send these girls outside for outdoor make ups and that the franchise had totally gone against the rules.She was coming for a visit to Blore and she said she would liek to meet yp with me.She took all the details and promised to call me.

A few days later I received a call from the Franchise owner who very half heartedly hurridly apologised.She said she would even ask the make up girl to apologise if I wished.I said yes of course..for this she said.."shes not available right now..I would do the same when she comes back"and the call never came.

I dont think the business development officer was sweet talking to me but I never received her call.

I have learnt a lot of things from this experience

1) Always ask for rate cards..no matter what brand it is,

2) Insist on bills.

3) Never let these kind of unprofessional people representing good brands get away.

I still have a regret that I didnt hear an apology from the make up girl..and I never heard from the business development officer!

I hope someone from lakme reads this.