About a year ago, I went to get a haircut at my local barbershop. The barber seemed friendly and once it was my turn, he got to work quickly. He finished in no time and I thought to myself that he must be pretty skilled. He removed the smock and told me he was done. When I asked to see the back with a mirror, his expression shifted, and he said he had noticed something. He put the smock back on and started making adjustments. Then he showed me the result.
Here is something worth knowing about me. I am not difficult or demanding, but I do care when someone does not put in the effort their work requires. I also dislike being placed in a situation where I feel pressured to stay quiet about a job that clearly was not done well. The barber had left several long hairs near my ear, and the fade did not look even. I pointed out what needed to be fixed and asked him to correct it. We went back and forth a few times before I felt the result was acceptable. I am not asking for perfection, but when something is your profession, there is a reasonable expectation of quality.
Several weeks later I returned, hoping to see my regular barber. I had no intention of going back to this other barber after that first experience. As it turned out, my regular barber had left early. That was frustrating given that I had made the trip specifically to see him. The other barber then told me directly that he did not want to cut my hair again. His reasoning was that I expected a good haircut, and that simply took too much time for his approach. He said he preferred quick cuts and that most customers were satisfied with that. He made it clear that if I wanted speed, he was the right choice, but if I wanted quality, I should look elsewhere. He mentioned doing five clients in the time most barbers handle one or two.
I was genuinely surprised to hear that from someone in a service profession. I considered speaking with the owner but did not want to create problems for anyone’s livelihood. Still, it was frustrating because it meant one fewer barber I could rely on at that shop. They previously had another skilled barber, and the owner himself does solid work. However, this other barber is now the only partner, and his motivation does not seem to match his ability. He is capable of good work when he applies himself, but that does not appear to be his priority.
It is hard to understand how a professional can openly say he will not serve a customer simply because that customer expects quality work. That is not the kind of attitude that belongs in any service environment. I have held off on saying anything for now, but I am seriously considering speaking with the owner. People deserve barbers who take pride in what they do and hold themselves to a consistent standard of quality.
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