Great Clips in Rochester, MN

This "online check in" system is very misleading. I checked my two kids in using the app, then when we got to the store we also checked in at the counter. My estimated wait time on the app was 10 minutes left even though there were 7 people checked in online ahead of us. My son was able to get his haircut right away but then while my daughter was waiting more and more people came in that were checked in ahead of us online so we had to wait. I understand that Great Clips is trying to use technology better, but they failed with this system they have in place. It really set a sour mood for our interaction in the store, on both sides. It almost seems like they quote the wait times very optomistically to get more customers to come in, or they just haven't figured it out well enough yet. The workers in the store seemed frustrated with the situation too. Other than that they performed both haircuts adequately, on par with what we would expect from a great clips.

I had been going to this location for a few years. The results and treatment were always good. That all changed on November 4th, 2016. It was a Friday in the early afternoon so I decided to download and try their app to get into line before arriving. When I entered the shop a gal asked if I had checked in, I answered yes. This was the first time a stylist had never stopped what they were doing and came to the counter to confirm things were crossed and dotted. When my turn came up another stylist called my name as I was putting a magazine away. She assumed I wasn't there and let another customer go before me. Another stylist noticed this and commented to her about me. Then the gal who earlier asked me if was checked in came to the counter. I asked her if I had to do something else when I entered the shop ( being the first time I used online check in ). She told me this was just a communication error - with an attitude. I told her that when I came in I was asked if I had checked in and answered yes. She stood her ground and made me feel like a second class citizen, then walked to the back to do whatever. I thought of just walking out, but didn't. The gal who cut my hair was pleasant and gave me an acceptable haircut. But the gal who treated me like dirt lost a customer and bad word of mouth forever.

They had the "Walk in appointments available" sign out, so I walked in. They said it would be a 45 minute wait. As I was waiting, 6 people came and went. Looks like I was being punished for not checking in online. After an hour I gave up and left. I guess Sunday afternoon after church is the worst time to try to get a haircut. And if you don't check in then you are out of luck.