Great Clips
Reviews and Complaints

I am a 15 year old male and I love long hair and it works for me, but when i do go and get my hair cut, the only place i know of and can afford is "Great Clips" or as i like to refer to it as "the butcher shop", ive been to many of these "Butcher Shops" and the result is always the same- TERRIBLE! I went a few months ago to get a trim, and this rude, old hateful hag, starts running her mouth to me saying my hair is "Too thick" and starts to tell me how her son's hair is better looking than mine, and how i cant "Pull Off" long hair, but i swallowed my pride, and took it like a real man, i was as nice as i could be, she was finished in 5 mins! I looked in the mirror and my bangs looked like she had put a square piece of cardboard up to my hair and used it as a model and gave me somewhat of a "mini-mullet", so i politely told her that i dident like it and requested that someone else cut my hair to salvage the remains, and she dropped her scissors on the ground and walked out, leaving me in the chair with my jaw on the floor, even though i received a refund and a free haircut, it still bothered me, and even though the manager did what she could to fix it, it still looked terrible, but i made no fuss, and i let my hair grow back out and i ended up having a huge mullet and long bangs as well, and i lived with it until i couldent stand it any more, and i went to another great clips in another town, and since i live close to the shore, i told the woman i wanted her to get rid of the mullet and make it blend in with my hair in the front, she was nice about it, and i mentioned that i loved to surf, and she said that she was now giving me a "surfer cut" and i told her, "No, i would like you just to cut my hair the way i told you too please" and she told me that it was the same thing, so i went along with her trying not to raise a fuss, and when she was done (in about 7 mins mind you) it looked like i just walked off the set of Medieval Times, it was awful, but i once again paid the woman and left, with my head bowed trying not to be seen, i do not recommend going there and expecting a "Great Clip" because i now know that their motto should be "In and out in under 10 mins"

Do not buy a franchise from this company! They grossly misrepresent the opportunities for you. There is no room in many of the markets for you to open a salon. They lead you to believe there are several opportunities for you but they will not let you review any of the lists until you sign the franchise agreement and give them $25, 000. I have been out large amounts of time, money and effort and after almost two years have nothing to show for it. Further they will not return calls and will not help you in finding a location. Never make the mistake that I made. Buy with a reputable franchise that is upfront, honest, doesn’t withhold information and truly has your interest in mind.

I was hired at Great Clips just couple weeks ago. They knew this was my first job out od cos school. I worked as receptionist only for 4 days until I went to their Great Clips training for 3 days. The class was 80 miles way for me so I stayed with a friend who lived closer. Still this cost me a great deal in gas not to mention 3 days away from my family.
After day 2 of class I checked my phone messages and saw my salon had called during that class. I immediately called back and wa very accusingly told by one of the employees there that the manager tried to get a hold of me to find out my hours for class. After telling her I was under the impression the trainer reported our hours attended as we were signed in to the computer there.
She patronizingly told me there was 'no way' they could do that as there are far too many people for the trainer to report it. Strange, there were only 13 of us in the area market attending and I was scheduled BY MY MANAGER to take said classes.
I asked 'rude employee' if she wanted to write down my hours since my manager was busy giving a haircut to which she told me
to call back. I said for her to have my manager go ahead and call me at her convenience. Rude employee said very snotty, "well ANSWER YOUR PHONE!"
Before I could even get the words, 'I was in class, ' out of my mouth, she'd hung up on me! HELLO?! We are not allowed to have our phones on in class
Manager called back, was polite and pleasant and Said 'Rude employee'
could be weird like that sometimes.
Day 3 after training on my way home I was told by my friend who wanted to come in for a hairc ut that she just called the salon to find out when I was working. They told her I was working on a day that I had off.
I called to make sure. Yay, me! Rude Employee answered. I asked her if I was working Friday telling her that on my schedule copy it said I was off. She just laughed saying, "Well, it may have changed."
"Without anyone notifying me?" I asked.
"Maybe."
"Well, how am I supposed to know that? I had plans to spend that day with my son who's leaving for a month, ". And also hadn't seen since before training.
"You just have to check, " she said.
This seemed odd to me. So...was she suggesting I call e ery day or hf day just to see if there'd been a change. I have NEVER heard of any business being run this way. As it turned out she said I was NOT scheded for Friday.
So, just to be clear how things are done there, I told her I had no problem coming in if called and I wasn't already otherwise committed for any given day for an appointment or other obligation.
To this she replied, "Honey, Great Clips is your obligation now."
She told me I should have requested that Friday off if I wanted to be with my son! Why would I have to when I already had it off?!
Whatever! I was on the floor as a stylist the next day. I averaged 35 minutes for haircut...a big no-no for Great Clips who wants to cycle clients through as rapidly as possible. I didn't have to work with Rude Employee, thankfully. Just me and a nice guy who's been there 4 months.
I asked him if what Rude Employee said was true and he said not rely, but that they might call you in if needed sometimes. Not a problem!
He made a comment about Rude Employee being hard to deal with sometimes. That made me feel better. That's 2 people now who have said she's a pain.
Next day I was off and was scheduled to work today at 10 to 4 or 6.
I studied up on my shortcuts for doing hair as per Great Clips training on my day off and headed in today.
Got my station set up, went to clock in and was stopped by Rude Employee who said, "You know you're not scheduled till 2, right?"
"The schedule on my fridge says 10."
I turned to look at their schedule and it said 2!
"They must have changed it, " she said.
"Without telling me...?"
"I guess...remember what I told you..."
NiceGuy employee offered to leave so I didn't have to drive an hour home just to come back at 2, and Rude said that no, she would leave as she was feeling nauseous. I was pretty nauseated at this unprofessionalism, myself.
I packed my station telling NiceGuy I was leaving. He said, "Nah, don't leave. I'll go."
I went to get the rest of my stuff out of locker where I saw Rude and floater ( whose schedule had been changed to mine that day) and said, "I'm out."
Rude said, "No, I'll leave."
I told her, "Nope, I'm outta' here. This is the second time something like this has happened in under 2 weeks. I'm not going to work for a company that's run this way. It's ridiculous!"
So, think about what you are getting into before working for this bottom of the heap salon. Maybe there are great very well-run great Clips out there, but do your homework on the shop first.

"You have to check
Ca

Ed

I was using a gift card from christmas Two days later my bank showed a charge $10.00 MORE then I sighed for They charged me for a gift card instead of redeeming it! So I called and was told ONLY a manger could to fix it So I said I'll be in tomorrow to do this Then was told a manger wouldn't be in for 2 days By this time I was so pissed off I told them well that doesn't work for me She then told me WELL I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU! VERY RUDELY ! I was so upset I told her well you can f#@$ fix it and SHE hung up on me! So 2 days later I finally caught the store manger She WAS THE SAME ### WHO CUT MY HAIR! All she said was Well I don't know how that happened I then told her of the rude gal I spoke to on the phone Okay now get this it was her daughter WILL NEVER GO BACK TO GREAT CLIPS AS LONG AS I LIVE All I can tell you now is watch out and check with your bank the very next day BEWARE!

Well I find it very saddening that I have two instances to report on. The first was a couple of months back, near St. Patrick day. I had taken my two children in to get a hair cut. We had a fairly long wait, which was not a huge problem, however it did make my two children (21 months and 4 years) a little bit anxious. When it was our turn the stylist was very upset that the children were laughing and having a good time. [This was very frustrating as we had just seen two stylist doing the same thing.] The hair cut received were satisfactory but defiantly not what I had expected. I later called and spoke with the manager about this and she basically said that my complaint had no validity so I then decided that I would start taking my children to a more kid friendly salon.

With it having been a couple of months I decided that I could go in and get a trim if I did not take the little ones with me. So I paid a sitter to watch them while I went to get a trim. When I arrived I sat down, and like the last time I was there, the stylist were very sociable to each other, I first thought well at least they are having a good time at work. Then they got a little louder and began talking about how "Amanda" had just got fired and snickering about this. Michelle (who just so happened to be the one that was in the discussion -- the other one I could not read her name) then came to take me back to her chair and I told her I was leaving. I do not feel as though the conversation they were having was appropriate in front of customers, everyone is entitled to their opinions and there is a time and a place for that-- the salon in front of customers is not the time not place. I felt as though on both occasions the stylist were very unprofessional. I will not be back to this great clips ever again.

First of all great clips makes there employees do hair cuts between 13 to 17 min in order to make a raise for the day. Second we would take more time on your hair if you would actually tip well! We only make min. wage! Third we are worked like dogs and don't get breaks at all. So if you would quit being cheap and tip maybe we would give you a good hair cut. You think a dollar is a good enough tip...please, we live off our tips. If I do 20 customers and they all tip me a dollar thats 20 dollars in 8 hours...are you kidding me. So next time you want to complain about your great clips hair cut maybe you should actually treat your stylist better.

they work you like a dog, with little or no breaks, having to do all the 5 steps from the time you check them in, to the time you check them out, and all within 13 to 17 minutes, you Never get your vacation when you want it, the pay is just at minimum wage or a few cents over, work you 6 days a week, and they way it falls, you get NO overtime, they schedule you for 38 hours, but then end up sending you home early everyday, where you only get about 30 hours a week or less, they make you put these stupid car toppers on your own personal vehicle during their haircut sales, make you drive out of your way to banks for change, without very little compensation for gas and wear and tare on your own car, they send you to other stores to work only a few hours, and there again, no gas mileage. and if you don't fit in with the clicks of the manager and her friends, then they find other ways to make it harder on you so you'lll quit, (this company finds ways to NOT pay unemployment, ) so they will keep cutting your hours if they don't want you there so you're FORCED to quit and hope to find another job. so the next time, YOU GO TO A GREAT CLIPS, THINk about these poor girls that get treatede like ###, so the money hungry franchissee owner gets richer and richer from your reasons to get a CHEAP haircut!

Please do not patronize the Great Clips in Berkeley, CA. I was charged and additional $45 because of "my hair texture and time it took to do my hair." I have very manageable curly hair and to be charged because of my hair texture is discrimination. The owner was rude and argumentative.

I am an African-American female that has been a regular customer of the Great Clips store in Florence SC for at least the past 6 years, if not longer. Not only do I purchase hair cuts from the salon, but I regularly purchase product and promotional gift cards as well. Typically the service I receive from Great Clips is to have the stylist "shape" or "taper" the back of my neck and nape area. I'd have this done about every 2-3 weeks because it would help me maintain my hair in between visits to my "full service" salon. While I never really cared about the race of the Great Clips stylist that would cut my hair, I always cared whether or not they understood how to cut and style African -American hair. When I initially began going several years ago, it was actually Caucasian stylists that serviced me, and it became one or two that knew what I wanted and how to cut my hair...a relationship that I'm sure many salon customers develop. Over the years, as the salon employed more African-American stylists, my visits became more frequent because there was usually someone on staff that understood how to cut my hair. However, I will admit that not all of the African American stylists in the salon could cut my hair to my preference. On those occasions, they usually realized they couldn't do the cut I want and would ask another stylist to cut me. Fine!

So it became the norm for me to ask for 1 or 2 specific stylists that I knew could cut my hair the way I wanted. I didn't mind waiting, and I didn't ask for preferential treatment. But a year ago, I was informed that I could no longer make specific stylists requests anymore, because the Florence management were enforcing corporate policy. Initially, I was upset (as I'm sure many other customers were) but one of the assistant managers assured me that any stylist in the salon should be able to cut my hair the way I like, and that if they didn't that they would always ask for help from one of the senior stylists to assist them. I understood the business model of the Great Clips "no wait" policy, and certainly didn't expect preferential treatment (especially because I know that I'm one of a few African American clients that they have). So I told her I would respect the salon rules and would give it a try. However, I did not return to the salon for several months.

Fast forward to Tuesday March 15th, 2011! I needed to have my nape area cut and tapered and decided to return to Great Clips! I loved the convenience and the cost. I was greeted by a Caucasian stylist I'd never seen before and she took me back to her chair. Though I was concerned as to whether or not she knew how to cut African American hair, I did NOT request a specific stylist. I assumed that if she was unsure or uncomfortable cutting my hair, that she had enough common sense to either ask another stylist to assist her, or inform me that she couldn't service me and send me on my merry way! I began explaining to her that I needed my back area cut, and that I needed it "faded" and "blended". I pointed to the area that I wanted cut, and even explained that it would need to first be scissor cut then blended down with a "#1" guard. She explained that she didn't do her blends with the scissors, that she did hers with the clippers. She did explain to me that the area would be really "short". I told her that was fine for a specific area, but that it needed to be gradually "faded" from the top down. She seemed to understand and sat me in her chair. But obviously she did NOT! The very first thing she did was shave very large section of the back of my hair off, with no blending or fading at all! When I asked her if she was blending the hair, she then began using the scissors. After about 5 minutes, she said she was going to get another stylist to assist her. At that point, stylist Lisa, who has cut my hair before, came to her station and began trying to "fix" the cut. Lisa worked in my hair for about 15 minutes, and I soon began to realize that there was a big problem that she was trying to fix.( Normally, it takes less than 10 minutes to cut my hair). I then asked to look in the mirror to see the back of my head...that's when I first realized there was a problem! A major section of my hair was shaved very close, and the cut was uneven! So instead of tapering the hair down and then fading into the low area of the nape, the first stylist simply took the clippers and shaved off an entire section of hair! I began to cry! The first time I have cried in a salon over a hair cut in many years!

I am 38 years old, a professional woman who was forced to return to work that afternoon, and probably for the next few weeks, with a haircut usually worn by young Punk kids! Lisa and one of the other stylists were very apologetic and compassionate, and agreed that I did not have to pay for the service, but there wasn't much more that could be done because the damage was done.

I didn't write this very long letter because I'm upset that the original stylist didn't understand how to properly fade and blend an African American woman's nape. I wrote this letter because I'm upset that she didn't have the common sense to realize that she didn't know how to style my hair BEFORE she cut it, and that she didn't ask for help from a senior stylist BEFORE she cut it (as I had previously been assured by management). I'm upset because she didn't have the common courtesy to apologize to me once it was obvious that I was upset and in tears. And most of all I'm upset because the store's owner/manager made an attempt to contact me to apologize.

So not only did that Great Clips location loose the $18 I'd planned to spend that day for services and products, but they also lost a minimum of $250 that I spent with them on an annual basis. All because I couldn't request a stylist with common sense!

I've worked for 3 Great Clips between 2006 and 2010. Each of course with the promise to be better than the last. The first one I worked for was in Bayville, NJ. It's no longer there because it was shut down by Great Clips Corporate. The manager, Lorraine who now works for "The Beachcomber Salon" in Point Pleasant, NJ, was stealing both money and product from the salon. When the assistant manager, who is a friend of mine to this day, told Lorraine she was "going to get to the bottom of it" (not knowing she was talking to the thief herself) she was fired the next day. I unknowingly was now scheduled for the night shift. After about a week of being verbally abused by Loraine I put two and two together and figured out what was going on. She was trying to frame me! So I quit. A yr later it was shut down and to this day every Great Clips in NJ knows about this.
The Great Clips I worked for was in Howell, NJ. I was assured that what had gone on before does not go on there. I was also assured that within a month or two I would be sent to training (if you don't go, you can't remain working there) within 2 months. Lets start with I was there 4 months and still hadn't been sent. Around month 2-3 she hired some new girls, who completely were a waste of time and space. They couldn't cut hair and we started getting re cuts and complaints daily. Of course they were sent to training above me who on a regular basis brought in 44%-63% of the productivity (everything was computerized). We were only expected to have a productivity of 24%-27%. My hours then got cut to accommodate the new hires. I had a mortgage to pay and explained this to Rita, the manager who sucked at managing, and all I was told was it wasn't my fault and it was the way it was. Then I was expected to come in on a whim when one of these new hires or anyone else for that matter called out, however if I called out I got ### on. I’m not sure if it’s known fact or not but in order to work fro Great Clips you must do a haircut in 13-17 minutes. Now I’m fast and have had my license a while now, so I’m not some spring chicken in this business, and still depending on the length and thickness this is impossible, at least if you want to give a good hair cut. Of course you get guys who literally get a baldy, this takes maybe 6-7 minutes going at a snails pace. However I’ve gotten reamed out because I came in under the hair cut time. WTF am I suppose to do? The 5 steps others talk about is juts a way to control their employees. Mind you once a month your manger does a rating based on all this to determine whether or not you can remain working for Great Clips.
Long Story short I ended up quitting and working for a Great Clips in freehold, lets say it was so bad I lasted 2 weeks. We were threatened that if we didn’t sell product we would be terminated. Mind you the product is over priced and we were forced to force it on people, which never works. Also you couldn’t sit down, other wise you had to clock out and go in the back. We had to clock out to take out the garbage. They put too many girls on at once, this way no one got productivity over the norm so no one could get commission. It was ran like a Nazi boot camp. They watched your every move via cameras that were hooked up to the computers at home. If you weren’t cutting hair you had to clean EVERYTHING. Even once you were done you had to start cleaning from the beginning of the 2 page chore list. I’m kind of a smart ### so in an hour on a slow night I cleaned everything then proceeded to relax in my chair to wait for customers. I received a phone call telling me I hadn’t cleaned. I then without the list in front of me recited it to the own and said if you were watching you would have seen me clean the shop top to bottom. I was told to do it again. The next day I quit. So I warn even those who are on the brink of homelessness do not under any circumstances work for this company!

I was hired at Great Clips in Tucson Arizona in Feb 2011. I was interviewed by two managers at two separate Great Clips, within a two day period. Keep in mind it's like summer here in Tucson, even in Feb. so, I was wearing half sleeves, both interviews.
I was called by Mandy, and told I had the job. (on a Sunday) Monday, I got a call from my family that my Mom had choked, and was rushed to the hospital, she was w/out oxygen for over 20 minutes. I was told it didn't look good, as she was in a coma, and to get back to my hometown (900 miles away) I called Mandy, and told her what had happened, she stated "don't worry, take care of things, you will have your job waiting when you get back. Before leaving that day, I went to meet a 3rd manager, to fill out my paperwork, I was given no start date at that time, except that they wanted me to start training right away. I filled out me paperwork, and read in the, what seemed like hundreds of pages, no visible tattoos, yet all my tattoos are visible, and were for all the interviews. I told her, and she said "well they must have known, hiring you" so that was that, and I left for my long drive.
four days later, while in the hospital, I received a text to call Mandy, I couldn't because I had not left the hospital for so long, I needed to charge my phone. She said to call her at six. I did. She said, very sarcastically, "oh, your phones charged now, huh?...well, we are no longer able to offer you employment, because you have tattoos" WHAT?! She saw them days ago...now that I'm with my Mom in a coma, all deals are off? Yes.
My Mom passed away, but just maybe she was protecting me from a tasteless, obviously, classless company, that are all about the bottom line, money, with little regard for the pain of losing a parent, or any loved one, for that matter.
I am glad, even though I now have to find another job in this economy, that I didn't settle for a 12 minute haircut company, with obviously terribly trained managers.
Great Clips, in my opinion, is shameful!

I will never take my child to Asheboro Great Clips again. The girl who cut his hair (Sonia) was so rude to him I could not believe it. My child was almost in tears when we left and he is only 5 years old. The girl obviously has some sort of issue with cutting children hair since they won’t be still the whole time, so why is she doing hair?

If Great Clips wants to keep their future customers, they might want to do something about this rude girl. I’m done with going there myself. I have searched for a number to call but can’t find one other than that location. Wonder why? Somebody needs to know about her.

Just had my hair cut at Great Clips - Tiffany Plaza - 7800 E. Hampden Ave., Denver, Co 80231. Explained exactly what I wanted. Senait, the person who just ruined my hair, was not listening to me. She cut my hair so short around the ear, and at an angle, I look awful.I had told her I want it long so I cound tuck it over my ear. I was so upset, another hairdresser took over, her name was Vanessa. She finished the cut. I was even more upset because they charged me.

I took a mailed coupon to me that was from Great Clips, befor receiving service I presented the coupon to the stylist she never mentioned to me that this coupon wasn't going to be honored at that location and proceeded in cutting my hair. Upon paying for my services I was told that that they wouldn't honor this coupon at this location (Lewisville, Tx) because it came from a different store location (Carrollton, Tx) Hebron Parkway coupon #SRL4ITZ haircut for $6.99. Althought that did look at my hair felt that I desire a Senior Citezen Discount a gladly discounted me $3.00 for my services from another stylist that had came on duty shortly after my services was completed .I made a verbal complaint while inside store but it unwarrant.I also paid in full for a gentleman that was with that paid in full $14.00 he is a Senior Citezen but since I didn't mentioned it to the stylist he had pay in full.She they are not allowed to a consumer age but clear looked me decided to discount my services. I was clearly unhappy with this store.

I work at Greatclips and the last month has been horrible.Our new manager said we were all replaceable and will b if we dont fallow her rules.She changed the schedule midweek and lied about it, we found the old schedule in the trash.she took our coats from the breakroom coatrack and put them in the lobby coatrack, so now a greatclips customer now owns a new designer leather jacketI got for Christmas.SHe throws away our food and says we cant keep there.But she keeps her slimfast back there.She has refers to the black stylists as N*****s ..yes thats right, the N. word.The stylists are oppressed enough at that Greatclips as it is. We make minimum wage and there are no health benifits or benafits of any kind, just tips.Ive worked for a greatclips before and know this is not how it should be.This new manager is toxic and will run all the stylist off and destroy the Greatclips business at that location.She is mean and has control issues

I was fired from Great Clips because I told my manager that I did not feel comfortable working alone on the weekend to close the shop by myself. My manager gave me a very bad haircut. My bangs were a short spike and she went scissor happy on my hair with the thinning shears. Great Clips was always on me to do the haircuts in under 13 minutes from the time the customer is checked in on the computer to the time they pay is clocked on the computer. They threatenened to fire us is we did not consistantly do haircuts in 13 minutes. The requirement to work there is to do a minimum of 3 haircuts per hour. And when it was slow, if you wanted to keep your job, you are supposed to clock out until a customer walks in. They also constantly threatened to fire us if we did not sell at least 10% in products sales. And their products selection was very limited to products nobody wanted. I was the only moral, married stylist who worked there. The coworkers there always offended me with their inappropriate conversations about going to bars, sex, and how they get away with cheating welfare, and also the ### they date.