deborah m.

I tend to stay away from "nail shops"; personal preference. I have years of experience in nail care to include the use of gel nail polish. I typically do my own. I am also quite familiar with appropriate tools, technique and necessary hygiene for safety. My first visit here occurred when an item of clothing of mine stained my clear gel nail polish a dark grey color a few hours before I had an important event to attend. I rushed in and was pleased to find that a pleasant young man, quickly yet skilfully, shaped and polished my nails beautifully. I was very pleased.

A few weeks later I came in again on a Friday. I had a doctors appointment just up the road in 2 hrs. I walked in to see how busy/full the shop was. Two employees were doing hand work on customers, three were doing pedis and one woman was waiting ahead of me. When I told the gentleman I wanted clear gel polish he said "ok, no problem there is just a little bit of a wait".
Sounded wonderful to me!
Clearly in hindsight I realize "little" is subjective.

45 min later a gentleman comes over and removes the old gel polish from my nails and then begins a pedicure on a woman who had an appointment (not a walkin like myself - though "walk-ins welcome IS posted).

Now 60 min later an older woman finishes a mani on a woman-and gestures to me to come to her table. She motions for me to place my hands onto the towel covered in nail dust, wet spots etc that she used on the previous client. I say "no, please change that". She does not, she simply removes it and puts it in a hamper and motions for me to put my hands on the now towelless but yet to be cleaned table. I do.

She then proceeds to file my natural nails with either an 80 or 100 grit file... these should NOT be used on natural nails-way too rough. Any esthetician would know this. Any nail or makeup enthusiast would. My nails were being ripped into a rough, jagged shape and--she was fine with that. She then inspected her "work" and instructed me to go wash my hands. She then started setting up to polish.

I asked her if they had a finer grain file--like the one used on me at my previous visit. She said "no". I politely asked her for the file and very gently reshaped my OWN nails. Then I washed my hands. I came back to a soaking bowl and instruments... I declined having my cuticles soaked or cut. So we proceeded. She buffed, polished and cured my nails w CLEAR gel. She also repaired one that was torn.

In the end... I had black specks in the cured clear polish of 4 nails... and indentations in 2 nails. It waa 20 minutes until my appoinment time now...

I spoke to the, manager showed her the specks and dents... said "we will fix now". I told her I had a physicians appt in 20 min and an event TONIGHT (why Id wanted these freshly done). I mentioned the improper use of the board and she actually argued that they do this "alll the time". She said "you should tell her you dont like". I told her that I had but each time she filed they got more jagged, and shorter. Convo w manager was going no where so I paid, tipped and left.

Later as I thought about it I decided it would be fair to requesest a refund\ stop payment on the card I used. I call my bank (usaa) and rep. Says that it is still in pending status and vendor JUST needs to provide her with credit card transaction approval code to stop it. We do a 3 way call... so that bank can get approval # for transaction to cancel. Since money has not left my bank yet and is in "pending" status -their bank is not yet involved. Too easy for them at this point. However once we ask and explain... the tone of the call QUICKLY changes...

They begin to come up with excuse after excuse and are filibustering as if I had just proposed a bill they were vehemently against... a very loud, angry man comes on the phone and begins to yell and refuse. He orders my bank rep to speak to her supervisor (she WAS the supervisor), he tells me that I am (I might add that I was in uniform on my way home from work *a soldier* when I was in the shop earlier that day) "not worth sh** and better never come back in again". My reply to which was "you CERTAINLY dont have to worry about that". I also said "you can choose not to refund my money- but this is not over." He ultimately did NOT refund and so this isnt over. I am now posting this story to EVERY review site I can find. Once I have done that, contacted the BBB and the SC DOL- it will be over- for me.
Also I think you should all know that this man said to us...(pertaining to myself) "well I have everything about you right here, your name, address, your number and all your credit card information"... in a very threatening manner. My bank rep said "Sir we dont provide that during transactions and will NEVER provide it to you-yet he insisted he had it.

Stay far away. I intend to tell my story to any one who will listen. I am especially concerned about their cleanliness and lack of integrity.