Cost Cutters

On 6/18/20, I called Cost Cutters in Erie and made an appointment with Maria Chambers for a haircut on 6/26. Like everyone else, my hair was out of control from the pandemic lock down and I was looking forward to getting a long overdue haircut. On 6/26 at 1:41 p.m. (my appointment was at 2:30) I received a phone call from Maria. She seemed angry and told me that there was no way she could cut my hair that day, I should have told the one on the phone that my haircut takes more time than what is generally allotted for a haircut. I was caught off guard and didn't know what to say. She was ranting about all the preparations and hoops she has to jump through for her appointments as if I should have known. When she completed her somewhat loud chastisement, I was silent. At that point I was biting my tongue (something she should learn to do) to keep from biting her head off! That seemed to make her uneasy and she reluctantly offered me an appointment for a couple days later. I accepted and told her I would see her then, but I didn't say good-bye, just hung up. I guess that offended her.
My appointment was on 6/28. I arrived five minutes early. Her work station seemed ready and I was wearing a mask as required. There was one other customer and two hairdressers in the salon. It wasn't busy at all. I believe it was Joshua who acknowledged me and told me that she would be right with me...three times. I noticed her in the break room seemingly walking about, sitting, maybe having something to eat . Finally, 15-20 minutes later, she moseyed out into the work area and let me know she was ready for me. It struck me that this was a deliberate act on her part in retribution for my bad behavior in not using the proper salutation in ending our previous phone call. She didn't engage me much in conversation but was talking to the other two stylists about COVID masks, etc. I paid her in cash, her preferred method of payment, and added a $10 tip as I always do. It was a good haircut.
Now to my final appointment on 9/26. Let me preface: I generally get to the salon at least five minutes early. She is seldom on time but I've never been bothered by that. I often wait for 15 minutes to a half hour for my service. I've never complained. I was five minutes late for my appointment. For the first time in three years she was waiting at the front counter for me. The waiting area was filled to COVID capacity and her eyes were bulging out of their sockets. "You're late!" she snapped pointing her thermometer gun at my forehead as if it was another kind of gun, "I'm only five minutes late, " I answered. It seemed that we had the attention of the entire waiting room crowd. She continued her rant as she flamboyantly motioned to the ones awaiting their appointments and told me to hurry up. I sat down, and then I lost it. "You know what?" I said, "You go ahead and take care of the rest of your customer and I left. Her reply, a smug "Okay."
I've been seeing Maria for at least three years. She's somewhat rude in general, but nothing I couldn't handle. She has cancelled me a couple times with very little notice and she always seemed to have a valid reason...I've never questioned her and set up different appointments to accommodate her. I've even brought her cookies in the past to show a little extra gratitude. It was worth getting a good haircut, but no more. Trying to publicly embarrass me in front of her other customers was the last straw for me. I wonder if she bullies others like that. If she doesn't, she'll have to find someone new, because she's used me up...I hope I never see her again!