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During the warmer months, I get a pedicure every few weeks, less often during the winter months.
Sadly, inflation has caught up with this female luxury, or should I say almost a necessity during the hotter months?
In my the area, the prevailing cost now for the most basic pedicure averages between $28 to $33 plus tip.
Gone are the little perks some salons would hand out, such as bottled water, snacks, and "loyalty cards." Loyalty programs gave a customer a free pedicure, after seven to ten paid services.
Worst of all are the initiation of "service fees," and "convenience" fees, when a customer uses a credit card or a debit card to pay. Although small, 1% to 2%, these fees are annoying and in some cases, possibly illegal. Due to the language barrier, it is impossible to discuss these fees with the people on duty in the salon. All they do is refer you to notices on your receipt and at the check out desk, recommending that you pay in cash to avoid any fees.
I am curious if any of the girls on CDH have encountered similar issues in the places where you live?
@catgurl we always pay cash so not sure about xtra fees. We pay forty dollars for a pedi and manicure each about every eight weeks plus tip. We spend our winters in the US and prices are slightly less but by the time we tack on the exchange, we pay more but don’t care. There are just some things a girl has to have no matter what. Lol
@catgurl
Just wanted to share the story of my experience yesterday. Yesterday I had 2 wisdom teeth taken out. The oral surgeon required full payment Just before the surgery. The original bill was just over $1300,but when I pulled out my checkbook the receptionist had to go to others for help. Turned out I got a 5% discount because I didn't use my insurance (which means they didn't have to file the paperwork). I don't have separate dental insurance and my health insurance doesn't cover extraction unless the tooth is impacted.
Just saying there are a lot of costs that businesses pass along to us and in some cases paying cash can save $$.
Cassie
@catgurl sadly in modern times everyone is just out to make a buck, they don't care how and they don't care who rip off. There are some who do still care but many don't, customer service has also become a thing that is fading, mostly due to poor training and the cost, sadly it is a profit driven world.
@catgurl I dress so infrequently that when I do (maybe about five times a year now) I probably overindulge. I also have four daughters so when I see what I spend on their hair and beauty regimes I try not to feel guilty about what I spend on myself.
funny story about keystone last March…I got a pedicure on my first day there at a place I hadn’t been to before. I also run so my feet and toes are a mess. The owner was clearly trying to upsell me when I got there, and there was a significant language barrier. I basically just started nodding my head yes, but told her “I need to be able to take this off myself in three days”. That part must have gotten lost in translation. The pedicure came out great and when I left keystone I did leave the toenail polish on knowing that it was still kind of winter so no eyebrows would be raised. A month later wife and kids were traveling and I booked an appointment at a spa that I go to every couple of months for a massage. Figured it was time to finally take off the toenail polish (toes still looked perfect!!) knowing I would be in a men’s locker room and getting a massage. The polish wouldn’t come off!! Turns out they were gels (I had heard of that but didn’t know exactly what it meant). I ended up soaking my feet in polish remover for about ten minutes and chiseling what I could get off. Toenails were a wreck and still had plenty of polish on, but it wasn’t nearly as prominent. Important lesson learned!!
val
@catgurl Hey Peggy, i had my first mani and pedi last month. The experience was awesome from start to finish. I paid £60, which is $77 roughly. It is a lot of money but taking into account I had the "works" including gel colour, it was worth the money for the service and understanding.
Hugs,
Samantha x x
@catgurl had a mani and pedi with my wife,( no color for me). Cost for me was $60. Choosing a salon is important that you feel comfortable and welcome. Went to one in Vegas,, and felt like I was treated like royalty.
@catgurl Prices on everything have certainly risen but for me, the experience of sitting there reading Cosmopolitan while getting a pedicure is priceless. I have waited too long to be my authentic self that I really don't want to deprive myself any longer. Sure, I am a thoughtful shopper who is perfectly willing to take advantage of a sale but Lauren wants what she wants!
As a runner, I daren't be seen barefoot (white feet, wrecked toes). I would love to have a manicure and have nails done but the practicality of keeping Anna largely under wraps means that is difficult.
I did have to see a podiatrist a couple of times after losing several nails which cost about £50 a visit
It is evident that on both sides of the pond there is an issue about inflation and what business charge. I myself have stopped using a salon due to charges escalating. The issue you have with your salon is that they want you to pay cash as that can 'disappear' and over here there are businesses, such as nail bars that insist on cash but the government is clamping down as this is an oddity with the cashless society and of course accountability of this money. I suspect if forced they will try the ruses you have seen and believe that they are in fact illegal as these charges for using credit card and cash cards have gone.
This topic plays well into my career knowledge. The fees for using debit/credit are legal at least here in the US. What the businesses are doing is covering the fees that they must pay the credit card processors. Typically Visa/MC/Discover charges 2.5% and Amex 3.5% and then there is usually a base fee of 0.10 for each transaction. If you dive deeper into those percentages it is a laundry list a mile long of fees adding up to the 2.5% and 3.5%. This is why at a bare minimum places want you to tip in cash, otherwise the tip gets hit with the fee as well. These fees are what also pay for the cash back and points programs. So if you were to only pay cash for everything then you would in effect be paying more than the next customer who paid with a card.
Simple solution is to pay cash at these places. Incidentally, I know of one nail salon that has an ATM machine just so customers can pay in cash.
Thank you for the explanation, Darcy! You are a sweetie!
That explains why a couple of years ago I saw a few nail salons specifically put signs out asking for tips to be given to the nail techs in cash.
@darcy97 Government of Canada credit/debit card information can be found with:
"Merchant surcharges, service and convenience fees, and discounts'
A month ago, I was surcharged for a small purchase at a convenience store. I didn't know that that was a thing.
My wife says that a basic pedicure is about $40 CDN here.
I used to get a mani-pedi about once a month but have been priced out of them recently. As you have mentioned, the base price + fees + tips all add up. I'm trying to learn how to do it all at home, but am not even close to doing a good job of it. I guess it needs a lot of practice.
I've never had a professional pedicure (yet) but my wife and I take turns painting each others toenails. Getting them painted professionally is something that I would like to try some day.
Do these places waive the 2.5% credit card fee if you use a debit card or do you get hit with the same credit card fee?
I've never smoked pot before but have purchased edibles at a few of the cannabis dispensaries in my area and they flat out refuse to accept credit cards. They want cash and will direct you to an ATM in the lobby or accept your debit card instead.
Inflation is horrible. The price jump on everything has gone up in the last few years. Even my property taxes jumped up $350. Grrr
That's what surprised me, I use a debit card to pay at nail salons and still get hit with their processing fees. From what Darcy said above, it is legal.
Darcy wrote a pretty good explanation above, as far as what is going on and why these small businesses find it necessary to charge fees.
My wife and I use to go for a pedicure about every 6-8 weeks. With the increase in price, fees, tips…well it’s a special trip now. I think the last time I went the price has increased 50-60 per cent. As mentioned above, there is a sign at the register for a 2.5% fee for using a credit card. The only bright side is that it has given me the motivation to be better at painting my toenails.
$55 in our neck of the woods. Sadly its been yonks since my wife and I have gone together. We like to have one as a date day.
I threw some green polish on my toes this morning. But. The pedicure attendant (me) wasn't that good at their job. The massage was really woeful.
My wife and I get mani-pedi's every 2-3 months. Depending on the time of year depends on whether I get color on my toes. I know it may seem silly but I get color in the winter but not in the summer (sandal season) as I am not out to anyone but my wife, therapist and one friend. I got a manicure with gels a couple weeks ago for $38, it was a treat from my wife. We went for mani-pedi's in Jun and it was $187 plus a $20 tip. My wife got gels on her feet and toes, I got clear regular polish on both. The salon we go to uses Venmo and we pay the tip in cash. They do have an ATM in the salon for customer use. It is a bit expensive but it is a treat we give each other evrey couple months. It is a fun way to spend some time together.
XOXO
Suzanne
It makes no difference if it is a debit card or a credit card the transaction still flows through a third party processor who charges the fees. Using cards is a convenience and as a result their is a cost to that convenience. For a small business those fees add up. The company I work for pays millions in credit card fees per year.
I actually like the businesses that charge the fee as it will slow the inevitable elimination of cash. And cash expenditures are untraceable. Every card transaction is recorded which I find a bit intrusive.
As for the cannabis stores many of them have no choice but to deal in cash. Reason being is that those that don't approve of those businesses put pressure on banks and card processors so they refuse to provide services to those businesses. Much like what happens to sex workers.
One could argue that businesses should work these fees into their pricing but that doesn't work...if I charge $10 for a service I would have to raise my price to $10.25, but then I would pay fees on a transaction worth $10.25 and would still lose out. You would forever chasing the fee until your pricing resulted in no more customers.
This is probably way more than anyone wanted, but I suspect you will see these fees charged back to you more and more going forward. So start carrying cash again - it will save you money.
Oh and treat yourself to the pedicure they are well worth it. Especially if you to struggle to reach that left pinky toe!
Darcy,you are correct about paying cash.I try to pay cash when Michelle shops and have received some strange looks from other customers when shopping enfemme.I caught that look a few weeks ago and remarked to the younger female shopper that it was one less credit card bill to pay.As the light bulb illuminated in her brain,I saw a look of understanding cross her eyes.After all,we still do control the use of our credit and debit cards.
I don't use cash, I don't carry cash and no one in recent years has had the slightest problem with that. I have also never been charged extra for using contactless card payments either.
Contrast that with Plymouth Pavilions, a music and sport venue, who, on top of the ticket price, charge a booking fee (quite common but annoying anyway) and also a 'fulfilment' fee.
I phoned them and asked what that was for and was told it was the charges they used for issuing the tickets.
I firstly replied that I thought that was what the booking fee was for, no, apparently that's for arranging the event with the promoter.
So the fulfilment fee? Oh, that's for us arranging the tickets.
But my tickets come by email! I argued. Yes, but someone has to enter the details.
I asked them why they don't just charge a price and how they split it up between them is their concern and I buy the ticket if if I want, or not, as I see fit. Oh, we like to be transparent with our pricing.
Ye Gods!! I don't go there at all now, purely for their ticketing nonsense.
Our city theatre charges none of these things, they give you a price and you pay it if you want to go; far more sensible.
Not that I'm knocking the system they use is the States but I'm glad that over here in the UK, the price on goods in a shop is the price you pay (generally, there are exceptions -- membership things and all that). The first time I went to America, I almost had a blazing row with the staff and thought they were trying to overcharge me as when I got to the checkout the cost was more than I expected. I was quietly informed about State and city taxes.
Still seems weird to me.
Plus, you tip EVERYONE, another foible I had to get used to the first time I went to Boston.
The Brits and the Americans are truly each other's evil twin.
Don't get me started on the French 
All in fun only,
Becca
Miss Peggy Sue, I love pedicures and get my toes done quite often. I have alway thought if I am going to wear sandals, especially gals sandals, my feet should look nice.
As for the cost, yep due to inflation and other reasons, everything has gone up in the past 3 1/2 years. Hate it! My solution, I do my own pedicures (wife's too) at home. Not a professional job but it will do, and I am pretty good at it. Every now and then splurge for a pedicure at a professional salon. I love looking at my painted toes!
I notice that you always have a nice pedicure as well, looks great!
Have fun with your pedicure!! Staci.
