Dog Stylists, Inc.

I know I've told this story before, but it bears repeating. I am terrible about punctuality so I don't expect my clients to arrive on the dot because the obsession with every minute leads to serious consequences. I had a lovely 1974 Volvo 164E, a model they stopped making in 1975. Mine used to belong to a bigwig at Duke University, my alma mater. When I was living in Baltimore, I was on the way home from work one day and going through a totally green light at an intersection off the highway when there was suddenly a 1989 Nissan Sentra right in my path. As I found out later, the driver was late picking up her kid from daycare and the standard practice at daycares is to charge $1 a minute for late pickups. I t-boned that little car, both cars were totaled, and the driver left her injured passenger to continue running on foot to pick up her kid. I didn't have health insurance so I didn't go to the doctor but I got banged up. I don't know what happened to the passenger. I lost my car, got next to nothing for it, and lost my job for lack of transportation because I couldn't get another car I could afford soon enough. Why is all this important? I don't ever want a client to take crazy risks to pick up a pet exactly on time. Life is short. Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so. Let me know if you're running behind but don't wreck your car or hurt anyone on my behalf.

With all the problems going on in the world, sometimes one thing brings us happy tears. I was grooming a client dog 5 weeks ago and noticed odd bruising on one hind leg that wouldn't be explained by a blood draw. I didn't find any bruises or petechiae elsewhere, as I have found on several other dogs with autoimmune disorders, but mom still took her to the vet just in case. The little dog had no platelets left and was in critical shape, but quick action saved her. Mom called today to set up another appointment and to thank us for our knowledge, diligence, and caring.

Years ago I read an article about effective advertising and communicating with clients. One of the key points was avoiding the use of the words "No" and "Not." That being said, I do my darnedest to keep these in mind when posting about stuff relating to my beloved salon and its clients. This has been a very weird time lately, so here are some positively stated thoughts. I have already mentioned the credit card 3% charge issue, so I will reiterate: in order for me to refrain from raising prices on everyone, I must pass this cost on to clients. It is a very tiny amount. A mere pittance for every individual client, a burden for me when I have to pay the entire amount every month. Yelling at me, trying to bargain, glaring at me, and scolding me for being unwilling to eat the fee after you have just told me about your vacation and travels to visit the grands and you have yet to grace your hardworking stylist with any gratuity whatsoever will most definitely earn you the opportunity to learn what you have lost the next time your baby has a butt crumb.

If you must partake of Peruvian Marching Powder, please dispose of your baggie corner at home rather than in my lobby. The shop kitties just had to pick up a white chip.

If you must partake of the Sticky Icky, we can smell it on you and are unwilling to accept any excuses for why your pet is a mess or offer you a hardship discount.

If you would like an appointment, please leave us a message. We always check messages and respond as soon as possible, once we have tended to all of the immediate concerns, cleaned up messes, checked in the clients standing in front of us, and mixed our shampoos. It is exceedingly difficult for us to accommodate clients who call 18 times in a row (yes it has happened) but refuse to leave a name or message, and it tends to make us stubborn. Voicemail is your friend. Remember, leaving a polite message falls under exhibiting exemplary client behavior.

Barking orders at my employees is verboten. That will also earn a client the opportunity to learn nicer manners at another less patient salon.

:)

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