Golden Scissors

My first experience here was in fact very good. Of the three barbers they have working there, it was the most elderly one (although only about 50) who served me. He asked what I wanted, I told him, and he skillfully delivered that request over the next 40 minutes through great care and precision. He also took the time to throw-in some extra attention - such as a quick nasal trim, and removing loose hair by way of fire - a nice touch. This man is passion about his work, and the results show.

So why the overall score of 2? Well, unfortunately the above professional barber has the misfortune of working alongside a young punk who is yet to usurp any of the personal and professional qualities of his aforementioned colleague.

I visited on Friday 29th August and found myself allocated to a young man wearing a white blue-striped shirt operating the second chair in from the window. Upon sitting down, the apathetic enquiry and emotionless expression on my "barber's" face immediately rang warning bells that this bloke really didn't give a **** about the job ahead. Foolishly, I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and provided him with the exact same instruction that I supplied to his colleague a month before. Over the next 15 minutes he proceeded to hack away without any sign of diligence, and even spent much of that time staring out the window and at the little girl being carried around the room by her mother, while his automatic motions found themselves stuck on repeat. After ten minutes he asked if that was alright - I said no, and asked him to even-up the lopsided sides. Five more mindless minutes of haphazard snipping, and he was done. He then tried to talk his way out of the standard after-services offered on my previous visit. In the end I got a second wash/rinse, but that was the end of it - nothing else offered except for a trip to the door. This guy has no skill or passion for his work, and if I was his manager, he'd be out of the door. A real shame.

I have enjoyed several good haircuts at Golden Scissors but on my last visit the barber decided to thread some excess hair and managed to draw blood! Instead of admitting so he tried to cover up the error and it was only until I returned home that I saw I had two thread lines of blood at the top of my cheek. The stinging sensation was not great so I decided to return to Golden Scissors the following day and after being prescribed some lotion by the resident barber I awaited the arrival of the manager who it turns out was the guy who had given me the haircut the day before. He told me that the scarring would go away after a couple of days and when I pointed out to him that any other barber would not have charged me in the first place he reluctantly agreed that I could have the next haircut free but then asked me to leave the premises. What he didn't realise is that I could understand every word of the disparraging exchange he was having with the other barbers in his native tongue which angered me further. The place is good when mistaes are not made but as can be seen customer service in the event of the above incident or similar is appalling.

I will report back further after I have had my complimentary haircut!