My tourist friend ripped off in Sydney

[haydensydney]

So I have some friends from London staying with us for a few weeks, one being a expat kiwi and his boyfriend being a Romanian/Spanish mix who has extremely limited english skills (and I mean very limited).

Whilst our kiwi friend was off doing work stuff yesterday, his boyfriend decided to go for a wander around Sydney when he decided to get a haircut.

Apparently my friend was in the hairdressers for little more than 5 minutes as the hairdresser got some clippers and finished the job. The hairdresser then typed $110 into a calculator and showed this to my friend. Startled at this cost, he tried the best he could to ask why it was so expensive (whilst at the same time unsure whether this was typical pricing for haircuts in Australia). The hairdresser put up a fight and my friend ended up paying. In cash. With no receipt.

When he asked me if this was normal, I said absolutely not. Not even in the most exclusive salon in town would it cost this much (ok maybe it could, but not for a clipper job). He then mentioned that the salon was 'very dirty' and only had one asian guy in the shop who was the hairdresser. I tried to garner more information from him re: location of said salon, but being new to town he really didn't know.

It annoyed me that operators in Sydney would take advantage of a tourist and I had thought that this sort of thing was limited to a number of dodgy overseas destinations - but not here in Australia.

Have you heard of tourists being scammed here on our lofty shores?

What would you do if you were in my situation and had heard this same story?

 

[Hvr]

If I knew where it was I would take my friend back there and get a total refund. Failure to comply might have the police attend (although for what is a civil offence they might not want to attend). Another tactic is to stand at the entrance and warn people about to enter what the prices are, that might just get the attention of the store operator.

Of course if you found out the operator was for example a motorcycle rider it might just be best to move on.

Unfortunately if you can't find it then I don't think there is anything else you can do.

 

[haydensydney]

I feel like taking my friend back into the city and try recreate his path through the city and try find the a**hole. Really annoyed me.

 

[petermac123]

I near guarantee that this 'hairdresser' is in the Darling Harbour shopping centre. Had the exact same experience. Though he tried for $90 at first, and I got him down to $55 - scammer!

 

[opusman]

Why would he not ask how much it cost in advance? Seems like a rather random thing to do

 

[jetlagger]

I feel like taking my friend back into the city and try recreate his path through the city and try find the a**hole. Really annoyed me.

That is a blatant rip off..
Best to get some signboards of legal dimensions & stand outside the said store, I'm sure you could find it. to 'silently" protest ( advertise ) that a simple 5 minute trim is $110.
I would enjoy witnessing the response from this action. :mrgreen:

 

[Simo]

I am sure you know someone who could print some signs up.

IOf nothing else go down after closing time and put up one big sign saying $110 hair cuts then in red and big writing "SPECIAL" for tourists.

 

[Sethor]

My mum got ripped off on a holiday in Melbourne, she decided to get one of her rings reset at the jewelers who swapped out some of the diamonds with ones of lower quality.

 

[jetlagger]

I am sure you know someone who could print some signs up.

IOf nothing else go down after closing time and put up one big sign saying $110 hair cuts then in red and big writing "SPECIAL" for tourists.

That's clever target marketing :evil:

 

[jetlagger]

My mum got ripped off on a holiday in Melbourne, she decided to get one of her rings reset at the jewelers who swapped out some of the diamonds with ones of lower quality.

Not cubic zirconia I hope.

 

[Sethor]

I've also had the infamous Melbourne cabbie credit card ripoff pulled on me, which eventually got refunded.

 

[Hvr]

I am sure you know someone who could print some signs up.

IOf nothing else go down after closing time and put up one big sign saying $110 hair cuts then in red and big writing "SPECIAL" for tourists.

May as well invite ACA or TT along to film the story.

 

[jetlagger]

May as well invite ACA or TT along to film the story.

Just a tad different to chasing the dodgy tradies around

 

[under the radar]

if you do find out where this 'hairdresser' is...post it on here... i'm due for a 'clipping' ...i despise those that prey on the vulnerable

 

[AVC]

I feel like taking my friend back into the city and try recreate his path through the city and try find the a**hole. Really annoyed me.

Go after hours. Take a housebrick with you.

I like the spraypaint suggestion though. I don't know if I would try the "anti-spruiking" without backup nearby

 

[simongr]

I am sure no-one here would advocate vandalism though.

 

[kalboy]

My wife's suggestion. (We have 2 Salons) Go back and buy a half dozen bottles of product, give them $5.00 and walk out the door...

 

[mella2007]

Horrible Hayden. Unfortunately dishonest people all over the world and here in oz we have just as many dishonest business people. I'd be definitely be trying to work it who it is and threaten legal action, A current affair or something

 

[mannej]

Horrible Hayden. Unfortunately dishonest people all over the world and here in oz we have just as many dishonest business people. I'd be definitely be trying to work it who it is and threaten legal action, A current affair or something

Unfortunately with no receipt being issued, I fail to see what the threat of legal action will do...

 

[mella2007]

Unfortunately with no receipt being issued, I fail to see what the threat of legal action will do...

Yeah I know Mannej but sometimes fear of something, when someone knows they've done something wrong can work (or at least leave them scared and sleepless for a few days)