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Vent: The guy who told me I was charging too much for a fade
Had this older dude come in last Tuesday, sat down, didnt say a word until I was done. I do a solid mid fade, took me about 30 minutes, clean lines and all. He looks in the mirror, nods, then hands me $15 and says 'that should cover it for a simple cut.' My price is $30 for a fade, always has been. I told him nicely that it was $30 and he just stared at me like I was robbing him. He grumbled about how barbers in his day charged $5 and that I was just some kid with clippers. I held my ground but it stuck with me because he seemed genuinely mad, not just cheap. Where do you draw the line with customers who think your time isnt worth the price? Has anyone else had a customer try to lowball you after the cut was done?
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faith_thomas1mo ago
I read somewhere that older folks often price things based on what they cost in 1955, not today.
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matthew1661mo ago
You're just some kid with clippers" kind of says it all, really. The guy probably grew up when a barbershop visit was a whole neighborhood ritual, not just a quick stop at some trendy spot with an Instagram page. If barbers back then built loyalty by keeping prices low and drinks cold on the counter, then thirty bucks for a half hour cut might feel like a slap in the face to someone who remembers five dollars covering a shave and a conversation. Maybe your time is worth more, but his memory of what the service meant is worth something too, and neither of you got that from the exchange.
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julia5491mo ago
Wow, wait, $5 for a shave AND a conversation? @matthew166 that's wild, I didn't even know cuts were ever that cheap, that really puts the whole thing in a different light.
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