StyleSeat - Salon Appointments

I have been using this app for 3 years. I have tried both the free version and now the paid version for the last year. This is a great site for when you need to have a professional looking booking site for your clients to go to and it really helps build your clientele as long as you are willing to pay the marketing fees etc. When I used the free version I had no problems being able to add my pictures after check out to collate with the style I just completed. Clients love seeing real time photos. My photos from Instagram also automatically synced to the site. I didn’t have to do double work and in this business time is money. Once I switched over to the paid account coincidentally I no longer benefit from either one of those features. I also do not receive text message notifications to my phone. This means if I am not constantly checking the app I could miss appointments or messages from my clients. These were all very important to me and not having them effects my business in a negative way. I have emailed support about my concerns more than 6 times and the response is “we are working on it”. However my monthly payment and questionably high fees continue to come out of my account seamlessly. I appreciate the connections that the app has made for me but the downside of things have really pushed me to create my own website. This was hard because I put so much time and effort in building my style seat site but my own website is necessary.

I’ve used this app for less than a year as a stylist trying to build clientele. While I must say this app is great for trying to bring in new clients… not so great for long term clients or even long term use. So starting off you have the option of paying $35/month (for basically their organized calendar) or $0 monthly but your clients MUST pay thru the app and you are subjected to extra fees. I chose the $35/month route. While at first I was allowing clients to book and pay thru SS, but then I noticed they are taking a pretty big percentage of my money for a company that I am paying $35 every month for. So I stopped letting my clients pay thru the app. Then SS created this system where if your clients book and pay thru the app then the stylist gets a higher search ranking. So of course for me that means my search ranking is low because I don’t subject my clients to their $1 booking fee (EVERYTIME they wanna book) and their extra fees that they like to tack on when it comes time to deposit my money. But then what am I paying $35 for? As a stylist we survive off of our service charges and tips… you mean to tell me I needa pay my booth rent + $35/month + fees PER service +taxes????? Like that, to me, is crazy! There is no reason why I am only seeing $35 of a $50 service! Once again WHY AM I PAYING $35 a month????? So to sum it up the app is great for new stylists looking to build clientele but as far as long term use I cannot possibly see how this app does any good for full time stylists.

I booked an appointment with a stylist, weeks out, and she called me 2 hours before my appointment and gave me a sob story. Now, I will wear a wig in between styles/salon visits but they are just not my thing—longer than a week or so. When I first came to Charlotte, a year and a half ago, I booked that same stylist a few times. Every time, she was either an hour or more late to my appointment or horribly over booked. I spent the entire day in her shop each time I booked her. So, when she asked me if I would come Saturday instead, I didn’t even consider it. I wasn’t going anywhere special therefore, if she had half of the professionalism she does talent, I would have just gone Saturday. Long story short, I get my hair done religiously and on schedule. So I needed an appointment fast. Not too many people in Charlotte seem to specialize in full sew-ins with a full frontal. That meant, I also needed to change my style. However, I live Uptown and I walk a lot - even to work. I was out walking after the stylist cancelled and I realized, I did not want to spend my summer in tracks. So, I picked out a feed in style that has a leave out. Marlene did that part with crochet. When I tell you it is the cutest hairdo ever! She did such a fab job, I’ve already booked my follow up appointment. I love the feed in pattern. And the best thing is that I will not have to spend a day taking it down like I usually do when I get braided styles. This may be a long review, but that is how grateful I am to Marlene. She’s an absolutely lovely stylist!