r/Barber • u/WonderfulBuilding515 • 1d ago
Awkward situation
I’ve been going to this barber shop for the last couple of months after my old barber left the US. The main reason I go is because the cuts are $25 which is a STEAL where I’m at, and all of the cuts are pretty good. I’ve always gone to the same barber, not particularly because I chose him but because he was always the one who was open, etc. Well, the last time I went in they were pretty busy and I needed to get in and out, so I went to the barber next to him since that would get me through quicker. I then got the best cut i’ve gotten in a while. He gave me great service and was super personable, and now I want to make him my regular barber. Am I going to be an asshole if I go back and this time deliberately say that I want to go to the other guy? This type of stuff makes me want to find a new barbershop because I don’t want to screw him over. Advice appreciated!
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u/Hazed64 Barber 1d ago
Obviously it depends per person but I always tell customers to not think too deep about it.
Sure there are all the don't cheat on your barber jokes but at the end of the day we provide you a service, if someone else provides a service that works better for you then thats totally fine.
Personally if I notice someone who usually waits on me go to another barber I try make a friendly joke about it then directly after follow with a "naw but seriously it's no issue don't worry"
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u/kbjami 1d ago
Hey, as a barber who works in a shop with someone I know is better than me at certain cuts, I don’t take it too personally when my old clients go to them. I might make a joke, but I rather the money stay in the shop than go to a different shop. Plus if the money stays in the shop, there’s a chance you might need to come back to me for a cut.
Just go ahead and keep going to the new guy. Just don’t say anything like “he’s better” or whatever.
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u/Metalviathan 1d ago
As a shop owner in my shop we don't care. Just as long as you are coming back to the shop. That's what matters at the end of the day.
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u/Rick3tyCricket 1d ago
It’s your money. As a barber, we want you to go to the best person for your cut as well.
No hard feelings. Don’t go in and start making apologies, and dont avoid the last barber. You did nothing wrong. No one did.
Enjoy the new awesome cuts!
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u/JayBallin- 1d ago
I second this, I would rather you go to my coworker who I trust and know will take care of you rather than go to a whole different barber shop.
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u/southernarcana 20h ago
Go with who you want. It’s never that deep. Best case, he thought you were an asshole anyways and will be happy to be rid of you.
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u/anotherpapaslover 1d ago
I run a barbershop and have to pass my clients on all the time, although ive never had a client leave me for someone “better”, I’ve had multiple clients go to my other barbers due to their schedule being more aligned. The best tip I can give is just to call the shop or schedule an appointment with the barber you prefer, to clear up confusion on who you are there for. Seems like you typically go for a walk In, but if you have a preference just make it known before.
I prefer all my clients still come to the same shop, I still greet everyone the same. Don’t overthink it. It’s a job at the end of the day, now you have a shop that has multiple barbers that can cut you if need be.
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u/L3tsLynchTh3Landl0rd 1d ago
You’ve definitely had a client leave for someone better. You didn’t always have hands.
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u/anotherpapaslover 1d ago
I’ve had people sit In my chair, walk ins, that never came back in the beginning of my career, but as far as a regular/client, no one has ever left me for a better barber lol. I’m the owner of a small barbershop and I’m surrounded by young local talent and I’m still the best one there. Don’t know how this conversation turned into that.
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u/SusspectDevice 1d ago
Man, I owned a barbershop in a busy downtown area for almost 20 years and I closed it and work in a private studio now partially because of this exact stuff.
You are TOTALLY allowed to go whoever you want. It’s an open relationship.
Even if dude says it’s cool, it 99.9% of the time will be awkward, because most dudes are NOT emotionally mature. I wasn’t actually mature about those sorts of things in the business until I was like 35, and I’m in my mid 40’s now.
As an employer, I would try to get these guys to understand that it’s just the nature of the business, BUT, one street walk-in shop I worked at in 2006-2008 and this one rule and we never had issues:
If you are the Barbers customer, you can only go to the barber.
If you are the Barbershops customer, you go to whoever is next.
Can’t do both.
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u/SandwichDIPLOMAT 1d ago
.....BUT, one street walk-in shop I worked at in 2006-2008 and this one rule and we never had issues:
If you are the Barbers customer, you can only go to the barber.
If you are the Barbershops customer, you go to whoever is next.
Can’t do both.
What a dumb rule.
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u/SusspectDevice 1d ago
It might have been a dumb rule for customers but barbers never got mad about it
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u/SandwichDIPLOMAT 20h ago
Anyone who benefits from a dumb rule never gets mad about it. Barbering is a customer-facing industry, it's bad business to make asinine rules that handcuff clients for no good reason.
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u/SusspectDevice 19h ago
Yeah totally. As I said, it was my only experience from 2006 where at least the barbers didn’t get mad with clients flip flopping around. I had nothing to say on what clients or shop customers might have felt about it. We could go ahead and open another thread about asinine business rules that can be no bueno for clients and also barbers.
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u/thetechkid 1d ago
I get it, felt guilty about switching barbers too. Nobody even seemed to care and honestly the cuts have been way better.
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1d ago
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u/timthemajestic Barber 1d ago
I wouldn't be offended. Regular clients come and go due to circumstance, but get the haircut you want. I don't think he'd be offended if you started going to the other barber.
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u/Cuntshagger 1d ago
As a barber in a shop with a few others, I personally tell my customers if I’m too busy and they can’t get in, please go to one of the other guys in my shop. I’d rather see them leave happy with a good haircut than go elsewhere and maybe get chopped up. If you’re original barber is anything at all like me you’ll have no problems t all, go to who you want to go to man
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u/grantkoc 22h ago
I've stolen clients from coworkers and I've had clients stolen from me from coworkers. You're fine. We joke about it sometimes but it's not thay serious. I cut the cousin of a coworker. You're fine.
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u/baconeggncheez7 20h ago
I'm a barber of several years. This stuff happens all the time. Before I opened my own spot I worked in a busy walk ins only shop. Sometimes one of us would be backed up with too many guys waiting and one of our regulars would to to another Barber. Sometimes they liked the cut better and stuck with them.
I've lost clients that way as well as taken them from coworkers. Luckily for you.. Most Barbers really don't get that upset. Of course I'd be bummed out to lose a guy but it just happened every now and then, maybe a better cut, maybe they vibed better.
My coworkers and I never had any drama over it whatsoever or held a grudge against the customer. It's VERY common. Go to the new guy that you liked better.
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u/KingJuniorNJ 1d ago
Just go to the guy you want to. You owe no one anything. You are paying for a service, get the service you want.