MD
Melissa D
Active since Oct 2022
6
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
6 reviews3 months ago
Poor service & lack of customer care
I am extremely disappointed with BOA and the complete lack of accountability. Booking was already frustrating — calls keep you in queues until airtime runs out, and it took three days to get WhatsApp responses before a booking could even be made. On 4 January 2026, I was clearly told by Yasmina that the massage portion of the pedicure would be around 20 minutes. I booked based on this confirmation at the Riverside Rondebosch Mall branch. On 6 January, the technician contradicted this and delivered a rushed, low-quality service: · Ingrown toenail ignored until I asked · Scrubbing lasted less than 5 minutes · No soaking time · Massage lasted about 8 minutes · Treatment ended in 40 minutes where treatment was an hour The final result was unacceptable — uneven, bumpy polish and feet that looked untouched. This is not what one pays for at a professional salon. Attempts to resolve this were ignored. Calls went unanswered, WhatsApp messages were ignored, other branches did not assist, and despite being promised a callback from management, no one contacted me. There appears to be no owner or senior management willing to address complaints. I am requesting a full refund and am posting this as a public warning to others considering BOA. The most pathetic service I have ever received! No wonder they are so cheap. How do you have people with titles as managers but don’t get back to customers or sort the issue out.
0 replies
14 months ago
Poor disappointing experience
I previously had a terrible experience with a Hollywood waxing technician who burned me so badly that I had to rush to the pharmacy that same evening and was put on a course of medication. Since then, I’ve struggled to find a reliable place for waxing—until someone recommended Dream Nails in Canal Walk. Based on that recommendation, I decided to give them a try. I called on Monday to make a booking, but their phone line wasn’t working—something that, in hindsight, should have been my first red flag. I ended up communicating via WhatsApp with a lady named Mariet. The very first question I asked was whether their Hollywood wax included the grooves of the leg (bikini line) and the lower stomach area (just above the private area). Mariet confirmed that it did. I asked this specifically because some salons include those areas while others don’t, and given their high prices, I wanted to be sure. On my way to the appointment, my sister warned me to be cautious, reminding me of my previous bad experience. I reassured her, thinking, It’s Canal Walk—it should be fine. Upon arrival at Dream Nails, I was immediately unimpressed. There was no warm welcome or friendly atmosphere, which is something you’d expect as a new client. The front of the shop, with its foot spa chairs and nail bars, looked presentable, but when I entered the waxing room, I was completely shocked. The room was tiny, with walls that didn’t extend up to the ceiling, meaning I could hear everything outside, and everyone could hear me. There was a dirty wall shelf next to a kettle where I had to place my bag and clothes. There was no pillow for my head, and the plastic covering on the bed looked unclean—it wasn’t sanitized in front of me either. To make matters worse, the technician was dressed in casual clothing, including a leather jacket. How does a professional salon not have proper uniforms or hygiene standards? The space was so cramped that I couldn’t even open my legs fully without the technician bumping into me every time she moved. The wax was excessively hot, and despite telling her this, she continued without adjusting it. The strips got stuck on my skin, and she struggled to remove them. The pain was excruciating—far worse than any waxing I’ve experienced in all my years of doing this. And this is despite me having shared my previous burn experience with her beforehand. I had also reconfirmed with her that the wax included the bikini line and the area above the private area, and she reassured me that it did. I left in so much pain and frustration that I didn’t even check properly. It was only when I got home that I noticed all the remaining hair in the bikini line area. I immediately messaged Mariet on WhatsApp and followed up the next morning with photos as proof. Hours later, I received only a casual apology and was told to come back. When I explained that it was a major inconvenience due to how far I lived, Mariet responded that the technician, Privilege, claimed she couldn’t wax that area because it was part of my legs—despite me confirming with both Mariet and the technician beforehand that it was included. Since then, they have ignored me—no sincere apology, no accountability, and no offer of compensation. I am truly disappointed and disgusted that a salon in Canal Walk operates this way. I will never return, nor will I ever recommend them to anyone.
0 replies
15 months ago
Unacceptable Customer Service at Studio 88 Kenilworth Center
I know this post is late, and while it may seem irrelevant now, I want to share my experience at Studio 88 in Kenilworth Centre on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, so others are aware. Two weeks prior, I purchased a pair of Nike slip-ons for R600. They were incredibly hard and uncomfortable, so I decided to return them. The shoes still had the tag attached and were in their original box, just as they were when I bought them. I went to the store after 1 PM, and that’s where my frustrating ordeal with a shop assistant named Gillian began. She told me they had no cash available for a refund and that I should return during the week. I explained that I couldn’t do that as I didn’t have transport, to which she dismissively rep**** that I could send someone else. This was incredibly frustrating because it’s a long-standing issue at this store—they never seem to have money to process refunds. Annoyed, I left but decided to walk around the mall for a while, hoping they’d make some cash in the meantime. Just before leaving the center, I stopped by the store again, and they were visibly busy, so I tried once more. This time, Gillian processed my refund. However, while handing me the slip to sign, she said, "Melissa, rather don’t buy from us because you’re always bringing stuff back." She then added, "Do you want to cancel your other layby as well?" I was absolutely gobsmacked. What did my layby have to do with returning an unsuitable pair of shoes? I stood in shock for a moment before responding, "Do you realize I am a customer, and you’re speaking to me like this? I am well within my rights to exchange or return items, as stated in your 30-day policy on the back of the slip." I wasn’t misusing the policy—I wasn’t damaging or wearing items and then returning them. If I returned something, it was because it didn’t fit or wasn’t suitable. Plus, I often buy for others, and if they don’t like the item, I return it rather than waste my money. At this point, Gillian had nothing to say. I asked for the manager’s contact details, and she confidently wrote down a number on a piece of paper with her name in bold, as if she had nothing to worry about. However, when I called the number, Gillian herself answered! When I asked why she had given me the store’s number instead of the manager’s direct contact, she casually told me I could reach the manager the next day. This only made me angrier. I couldn’t believe that a retail store wouldn’t have a manager available to handle incidents like this. The next morning, Monday, November 4th, I called the store and spoke to the manager, Nicole. After explaining the entire situation again, she said she would need to speak to the staff to verify my claims. I found this offensive—what did I stand to gain from making this up? It happened at the front of the store, at the till, with loud music playing (which, by the way, is terrible for a retail environment). Whether anyone overheard or not was beside the point. Nicole apologized and said she would speak to Gillian. I wasn’t satisfied with this response and asked for the contact details of someone higher up. I was given the regional manager, Lwazi’s, number. When I spoke to Lwazi at 11:15 AM, he was shocked to hear that Gillian had essentially told a customer not to return. He agreed that this was unacceptable, as it’s customers who pay the salaries of the staff. He apologized sincerely and assured me he would investigate the matter. By 11:41 AM, I received a call from Gillian apologizing. Ten minutes later, Lwazi followed up to check if the store had reached out, and I confirmed that Gillian had apologized. Let me be clear—my intention was never to get anyone in trouble but rather to have accountability for poor service. While I accepted the apology, I will never support this branch again. The store was much more welcoming and professional when the old crew was there—never an issue, a hassle, or an unpleasant experience. Too often, customers feel afraid to speak up, but this is exactly why customer service in our economy has deteriorated so badly. There are so many people out there desperately looking for jobs, yet positions are filled by those who take their roles for granted. My message is simple: Never feel like you have to accept or tolerate bad service. Stand up for yourself.
53 replies
15 months ago
Irate customer service
I am extremely dissatisfied with the service my family and I have received at the Cell C store in Kenilworth Centre. On 10 November 2024, my husband and I accompanied my father to the store as he allowed me to use his upgrade for a new phone. We noticed a promotion offering two Samsung A35 phones for R600 per month, which seemed better than a single phone for R400 per month. We decided to take this deal. After the consultant, Aiden, processed the transaction, we asked about the activation of the SIM cards, only to be told that this deal did not include SIM cards, data, or airtime—a critical detail he failed to mention. This means we are now locked into a 36-month contract for R600 per month, with additional costs to purchase data and airtime separately, making the deal completely unaffordable and impractical. When we asked to cancel due to this omission, Aiden informed us it wasn’t possible. It’s clear this information was withheld to close the sale, and my father, not wanting any hassle, reluctantly agreed, even though my husband and I were very unhappy. To make matters worse, the deal included a promotion offering two smar****ches and two sets of earbuds. Here’s what we received: One set of earbuds on 27 November 2024, Another set and one smar****ch on 2 December 2024, The second smar****ch was never delivered due to an error Aiden picked up. He assured us the issue was resolved when I visited the store on 3 December 2024, but to date, it has still not been delivered. The service throughout this ordeal has been appalling. I had to repeatedly call the store, only to find Aiden unavailable with excuses such as being on lunch, out smoking, or fetching something from his car. Messages left for him were never returned. I was forced to retell my story numerous times to his colleagues, who tried to help but ultimately failed to follow up or resolve the issue. Most frustratingly, on 21 January 2025, I spoke to the Store Manager, Asma, and had to explain everything yet again. She requested that I send an email detailing the situation, which I promptly did, only to receive a blunt response stating she would investigate. To this day, I have received no feedback or resolution. While I understand delays can occur from suppliers, the complete lack of communication, poor service, and disregard for customer satisfaction is unacceptable. My family has supported Cell C Kenilworth for years, but after this experience, we will not return and cannot recommend their services to anyone. Avoid this store at all costs.
159 replies
20 months ago
Urgent Complaint: Lack of Response from MFC
My family and I have been loyal clients of MFC for years; every car we’ve ever owned has been through MFC. The service was always good—up until recently. I am deeply disappointed with the current lack of customer service. I have made multiple attempts to contact MFC over the past two weeks, including several phone calls and callback requests via their website, but I have yet to receive any response. On Monday, August 5th, 2024, I sent an urgent email regarding my car’s debit order, which was supposed to be processed on August 1st but wasn't due to personal issues. Despite clearly explaining my situation and requesting new debit order dates for the remainder of the year, I have received no reply. This is entirely unacceptable. I find it totally mind-boggling how MFC is quick to make harassing phone calls when a debit order bounces, but when a customer is trying to do the right thing and get help, nobody—especially someone senior—can be bothered to call back. MFC's lack of communication is causing me unnecessary stress, and I am now left with no choice but to escalate this matter publicly. I urge MFC to address this immediately, as I need to resolve this issue as soon as possible.
0 replies
42 months ago
Disgusted customer
At the end of September, I tried applying for a contract, and because my debit order bounced for the first time in 2 and a half years, I was declined. It was further explained that the premium of R299 + penalty fee of R70 was due. I was charged by the bank and Cell C for the failed debit order, absolute rip off. I phoned the Customer care centre the next day to confirm the banking details in order to make the payment. The consultant explained that I cannot pay Cell C direct because my account was handed over to SSDA Attorney's. I phoned them and was given an amount of R426.82 to pay. I was mortified that for a half a month arrears, I was handed over WITHOUT any prior notification. I received a sms with the banking details but no beneficiary name. I phone in again, to ask what name do I use, only to be told R453 was due. Asked why the amount differed in a space of 2 minutes I was casually told it is the charge for the first call I made. Who the hell made the call, not the damn Attorney's but me! I am truly appalled by this entire experience, utterly disgusted and shocked. How can you treat a customer of 2 and a half years in this way, and for 1 month non-payment. I will never use the services of CELL C ever again. I will be taking this to the Ombudsman for further investigation.
1061 replies
Review Distribution
5 Star
0 (0%)
4 Star
0 (0%)
3 Star
0 (0%)
2 Star
0 (0%)
1 Star
6 (100%)