When just about every waking moment of everyone’s day is spent in front of some sort of electronic device, it’s hard to really nail down whether you should really cut clients off when they’re sitting in your chair. Most techs can agree they have no problem letting guests talk or tech during a pedicure, but a manicure is completely separate territory. Here are a few viewpoints to consider from the completely lax to the totally strict, and everywhere in between. Choose which policy feels right for you:
Cree Mangiarelli: “I have clients that actually work during their appointment: phone calls, emails, etc. As long as I have a hand to work on, it’s no big deal. Our job is to provide a great service and keep them coming back. If they want or need to be on the phone, rude or not, we get over it.”
Jessica Marie Henson: “I’m not the boss of them. 90% of my clientele is under the age of 30, so if you tell them they can’t use their phone, they will never come back. As long as I have one hand, it’s totally fine.”
Coriana Burke: “I see the whole ‘clients choice’ thing. Totally get it. But the one point I don’t think anyone has mentioned, is that your phone is as dirty as a toilet seat. You put that thing down in all kinds of places, and you probably play Angry Birds on the toilet. What’s the point of sanitizing clients’ hands before a service if they’re going to put their clean paws all over their dirty phone? It defeats the purpose and introduces a whole slew of bacteria into your service.”
Annette Anjema Sykaluk: “Absolutely not. Keep it for calls you are waiting for if you must, but that’s it!”
Nickie LaManna: “Sometimes you just have to let the client know, politely, that for best results they should put the phone down.”
Sarah Kirkland: “If a client walks in on phone, I tell them no phone calls allowed in the spa! It’s very rude. If they stay on the phone, cut their time. Sorry, but my time is very important. I’m not running behind because they can’t get off the phone.”
Carolyn Jacobs McCully: “Well unfortunately, yes, I let clients use their phones. I don’t want to upset them. But if they smear a nail, or the gel polish has lifting problems, I charge to repaint or fix the mess.”
Jennifer Bodnar Lambert: “I don’t mind, unless it’s the hand I’m working on. But most clients will stop immediately if I need that hand. If they are busy on their phone, it’s less effort I have to put in to keep conversation going and I can get my work done! Sometimes it’s actually a nice break!”
[Image: Wikimedia Commons]
