Pros 
Cons A Mixed Bag of Snipped Ends: Examining Golden Scissors’ Reputation
Golden Scissors, located in Springvale, VIC, operates with convenient hours – open daily from 9am to 5pm (with a slightly extended 5:30pm closure on Saturdays) – and boasts wheelchair accessibility, alongside being deemed ‘good for kids’. However, a glance at customer feedback reveals a deeply fractured experience. While possessing some positives, a considerable number of patrons report deeply unsatisfactory service, leading to a current Google rating of 3.4. This review explores the consistent themes emerging from those who’ve trusted Golden Scissors with their hair and beauty needs.
It's worth noting the diverse range of services offered, from basic haircuts to more complex treatments like foils and permanent straightening, meaning experiences fluctuate wildly depending on the specific service received and, crucially, who performs it. Below is a breakdown of commonly mentioned positives and negatives:
- Positive Experiences: Quick service is a recurrent compliment, with many noting its speed. Fantastic hair washes and generally good results from foil treatments are also highlighted. Husband’s and son’s haircuts appear to be reliably handled.
- Negative Experiences: Hair damage (particularly from permanent straightening), unskilled execution, communication barriers (specifically with English), rude staff conduct, and inconsistent pricing are all persistent issues.
The Rough with the Smooth: Detailing Service Complaints
The most striking aspect of the reviews is the prevalence of negative interactions, particularly concerning the handling of customers’ hair. Repeated complaints center around a lack of gentleness and apparent lack of skill.
Here's a breakdown of the major concerns:
- Aggressive Handling: Multiple users experienced rough hair washing and blow-drying – reports of scratching, bumping the head with the faucet or hairdryer, and forceful pulling are numerous. One customer vividly described the experience as “painful” and felt their head wasn’t treated with the necessary care.
- Communication Issues: A recurring theme relates to miscommunication, specifically linked to language barriers. Several reviewers stated that despite clearly showing pictures of their desired style, the stylist failed to deliver, resulting in disastrous outcomes. One customer lamented, "He didn't understand English well and I even showed him a photo…he did not listen.”
- Unexpected Dismissal: A particularly troubling account details a stylist abruptly stopping a hair service mid-blow dry to attend to another customer, leaving the initial customer with wet hair and a feeling of being disregarded.
- Inconsistent Pricing: Customers reported wildly different charges for the same service (side fading) within a short timeframe (10 days), leading to accusations of unprofessionalism and price gouging.
- Hidden Damage & Lack of Transparency: One family member only discovered severely uneven and potentially damaged hair after leaving the salon, with no warning from the staff regarding potential issues with the bleach or cut.
Examining the Staff & Potential Training Concerns
A specific staff member – an Asian man in his 40s – is repeatedly referenced in negative reviews. While identifying individuals can be sensitive, the consistency of complaints surrounding his work raises serious questions. Several reviewers described his skills as lacking, with phrases like "He didn't have any experience…just picked up a pair of clippers and hoped for the best" appearing frequently.
Beyond this one individual, the lack of apparent staff training or quality control is a major underlying theme. The owner's response (or lack thereof) to complaints is also flagged as problematic. Customers consistently report a dismissive attitude and an absence of apology or concern for their negative experiences.
| Staff Concern | Frequency | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of Skill | High | "horror movie" haircuts, uneven cuts, damaged hair |
| Rough Handling | High | Scratching scalp, forceful blow-drying, bumping head with tools |
| Communication Difficulty | Medium | Misinterpreting requests, ignoring reference images |
| Unprofessional Conduct | Medium | Dismissing customers, inconsistent pricing, lack of empathy |
Accessibility vs. Customer Care: A Delicate Balance
Golden Scissors’ commitment to accessibility (wheelchair-accessible entrance) and being family-friendly ("good for kids") is commendable, suggesting an intent to cater to a broad customer base. However, these positive attributes are overshadowed by the pervasive complaints regarding service quality and staff behaviour.
The salon's location in Springvale and its long operating hours are appealing, but these conveniences are ultimately undermined by the risks outlined in the reviews. The consistent reports of damaging treatments, poor communication, and a general lack of client care suggest that Golden Scissors requires a serious reassessment of its training procedures, quality control measures, and customer service protocols. Potential customers are advised to proceed with caution, perhaps opting for a simple haircut and carefully considering which stylist they entrust with their hair. Waiting times are frequently mentioned, but given the experiences shared, a long wait might be preferable to a quickly-but-poorly executed service.