Hey all
Found a use for this blog. Going to pivot it to describe my process with this hair salon - probably will be 2 year story.
The entire series here is not meant to be an allegation or defamation of sorts. This will only be used against them, if they prove to be a scam, and not holding up to their side of the promise, regardless of reasons, including bankruptcy. Though I know that the law would probably say it's the consumer fault if it comes to the latter.
Basic Info
Blk 301 Ubi Avenue 1 #01-245 Singapore 4000301
Initially, I went yesterday morning for my hair cut, as it wrote $6.
When I paid, I was told that was senior citizen rate and it as $8.
Attempt 1 - hair cut package
To be a member of theirs, each hair cut was $5 but to pay upfront $50 for 10 sessions. I bought it.
Attempt 2 - hair treatment trial
The Malaysian Hair in charge (He) came to say my hair loss issue is quite bad, and would need immediate treatment. He quoted a trial price of $90. He was very pushy but I raised my voice and said I was in a rush.
Attempt 3 - cheaper hair treatment trial
When I hesitated, the China store manager (She) made it cheaper. She countered if I were to pay a deposit of $10 now, I can get the treatment at $80. This meant I pay another $10 and pay $70 when I do the treatment. She said she has the power to give further discount because she is the boss.
I paid the additional $10 yesterday morning.
He said that it would only take one session to resolve it. But obviously I know it would take 10 sessions. But I still went for it because I know my scalp condition needs help from the stress I was getting at work. I was ok with this lie because his Chinese may not have been very accurate.
I went back today evening for the hair treatment which I chatted with him. Firstly, I apologised for my morning behaviour as I was rushing for a community event and I didn't factor in time for him to upsell me. He told me that there were foreign workers who demanded a certain hairstyle, seen online, and checked his work, and yet doesn't have the money to pay up as his wallet only has $20. The foreign worker was given a hair wash too. He was supposed to be charged $30. I exclaimed the customer should not have taken advantaged and demanded so much. I thought I had struck good rapport with him.
Attempt 4 - 10 session
To pay for 10 sessions at my special price $90 = $900 but I need to pay for my $80 price today and not a $90, which after some time then I got her to admit her memory serves her wrongly.
Attempt 5 - 11 session
I originally wanted to pay $880, which is 9 sessions at $90 + 1 session at the additional $70 today (with $10 already paid yesterday). Reason for this not possible was the system doesn't allow anything below $900, so they need to upsell me for a 11 session package instead of a 10 session package. This would be $900 + $70 = $970.
Claim 2
Special price of $90 due to anniversary promotion, which ended last month. She "did not know that he would still extend the promotion to me". But what anniversary is this if they have only just been around since Sep 2025 (6 months ago) >> check link yourself
JS HairSalon & Beauty PTE LTD >>> now I'm scared.
Claim 3
They said they have 4 other outlets, Toa Payoh, Bishan, Yishun and recently Tampines. But their card - which might be outdated, showed 3 Yishun outlets, and 1 Toa Payoh outlet in addition to the current one I'm in. But they opened 5 outlets in 6 months?!
Claim 4
I was being shown (should have taken pictures) I would be undergoing deep cleansing, and removal (something i forgot), and the treatment. He said he added the supersonic high frequency to open up the hair follicles, for free for me because my condition was that bad. It was supposed to be another $100. And she "was very surprised I would be given free".
Claim 5
And he also claimed that this high frequency will make hair will auto grow out by itself. This awaits to be seen.
Claim 6
While he was doing my trial treatment, he said that customers saw improvement within 3-5 sessions. And that was what I wanted.
Attempt 6 - 15 session
However, Claim 6 did not hold water when they brought up the idea of 15 sessions. When I wanted to keep to the 10 sessions, the following ensued.
Attempt 7 - 17 session
It was then that 2 x free stem cell treatment will be done, to prevent relapse for life. (Claim 7) This meant that I will have 15 sessions + 2 x free stem cell sessions. This would be 15 sessions at $90 = 1350 + today's session at $70 additional + 1 free session = 17 sessions at $1420. (did you see the 2 free stem cell sessions became 1 free session? I decided to let it slip because it might be what was used in the treatment and not the number of sessions.)
Once again she expressed huge surprise I would be getting a free treatment.
I once again questioned on the possibility of having 14 sessions at $90 and + today's session at $70 additional + 2 free session, but I don't know if their Chinese is so lousy and their English is even worse, I let it go.
Claim 8
It was then they wrote 3 things (I forgot all but the third item was ASP or AMP). I initally asked which was the stem cell treatment, then he said, it was the third one. Afterward just before I left, he said it was the first one. And apparently, my first session already had the stem cell therapy.
Attempt 7 - 20 session
Suddenly 10 sessions was no longer magically enough, 20 sessions was required for a total relapse prevention for life. (Claim 9) It was then I decided to pay the $1420.
Attempt 8 - 25 session
Suddenly 20 sessions was no longer magically enough, 25 sessions was required for a total relapse prevention for life. (Claim 10) This was because their hardcopy had 25 rows, which was new information to him. (He literally "how many is this" then he turned to the back and oh wow 25. So why not we do up to 25 and use finish this card?)
Now I wonder what is the truth = 3 , 5, 10, 15, 20, 25? Then now she said results would differ according to individual.
Their new tactic is just pay an additional 8 sessions at $90 = $720. And of course they tried the various perspectives, total for 25 sessions - how much it would be per session.
But remember Attempt 5, where I was not able to pay anything below $900? and what about all the other miscelleanous I had paid?
Claim 11
It was also said that every month when I come back for the treatment, a free haircut, outside of the 10 sessions I had purchased would be given.
Claim 12
Referencing back to the $900 package with 10 sessions, she "forgot" about the extra $10 she helped me to save, she wanted to recredit as 2 more haircut slots. But I jogged her memory.
Suspicion 1
Their amount could be manually entered. To prevent cheating, usually, the amount to be paid is obtained from their connected POS (think self ordering kiosk at any fast food restaurant) so how is Attempt 5 valid?
Suspicion 2
Sales tactic of being surprised that the other party gave freebies, and the other party reduced the price. Then both parties say actually the other party is very kind to give discounts.
Suspicion 3
Sales tactic of one foot in the door. Once one person ok for something, then upsell. But shouldn't it be at the next session instead so it won't be so overkill?
Back to Attempt 8
Until my body got stiff, and it started to tremble by itself, and i got rashes through my chest and neck, which was what they saw. It was a fawning response (instead of fight or flight). But I had to request for a refund before they quieten down. Unlike how she said she was unable to invoice anything below $900 (Attempt 5), I know that chargeback could be administered.
Just before I left, the store manager (she) still wanted to push me to purchase their lymphatic draininge services to reduce inflammation due to "low immunity" - wasting another hour of my time. And if they didn't stress me with their highly questionable contradictions, would I have had those red flushes?
Of course her concluding statement is that she can give more discount in future.
Which meant, I should have just left with that 11 sessions instead.
How is the number of red flags = 3 suspicion + 12 claims +8 upsell attempts = 23 potential allegations, more than the number of sessions I have to go for? I guess this meant go for shopping centre ones would be more trustworthy, or at least operated by locals.
I spent 2 hours there today. 96.30 -8.30 pm) And from the timestamp here, it showed that they still tried to upsell me the additional 8 session for 1 full hour after. How ridiculous use of time.
Lesson Learnt (That I haven't covered earlier)
Go by the interest free instalment plan because it meant that they are not scamming your money and leaving..
- of course check when the company was registered - simple google search.
What I should receive (hopefully)
- haircut 9 more times, without any expiry date, can be used at any of their branches.
- treatment 16 more times, without any expiry date.
3 components in the treatment
- green bottle + white bottle + spray (one of them is the stem cell treatment - what they claimed to be the most important factor)
Total damage this weekend: $50 + $10 + $1420 = $1480
Will update after every session. Hopefully, it doesn't waste my time to write more rubbish.
