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Nail Salon Charges Extra for ‘Overweight’ Customers: A Business Blunder
Visiting a nail salon is often a delightful escape, where you can unwind and leave with perfectly polished nails. But that bliss can quickly dissipate if you happen to step into a place like Bella Nails in Memphis, Tennessee. Customer Lila Thompson found herself in disbelief when she spotted a sign stating, “Apologies, but if you are overweight, pedicures will be $45 due to service fees for our pedicurists. Thank you!”
Lila shared this outrageous sign on social media, and it didn’t take long for it to go viral. Let’s break down the absurdity of this policy. A standard pedicure at Bella Nails is priced at $25.30. So, they’re slapping a staggering 77% surcharge on customers who don’t fit their arbitrary weight criteria. Who even decides what constitutes “overweight”? Considering the average American woman wears a size 14-16, does that mean they’ll face this so-called fat tax? What about expectant mothers? Are they automatically subject to this extra fee just for carrying a little extra weight? Will indulging in a burger on the way to the salon lead to an additional $19.70 charge?
Local news outlet WREG News Channel 3 sought answers from Bella Nails. Salon representative Max Chen claimed they had never put up such a sign, even though the background and flooring in Lila’s photo matched their salon perfectly. Max did admit he had thought about a sign indicating higher prices for overweight clients but ultimately decided against it—not out of compassion, but because he’d rather refuse service altogether to those he deems overweight.
Max argued that his business has faced issues with broken pedicure chairs due to heavier clients, costing him between $2,000 and $2,500. While it’s true that all businesses face wear and tear, if your equipment is that fragile, maybe it’s time for an upgrade. As for the argument that heavier clients make it hard for nail techs to work, feet and toes are more or less the same size regardless of weight. It’s not like they need to use triple the nail polish on a heavier customer! This is nothing short of blatant discrimination.
Needless to say, we wouldn’t let this salon anywhere near our feet, but we can think of a gesture we’d love to show them. If you’re interested in more on topics like these, check out our other blog posts, such as this one. There’s always something new to learn!
In Summary
Bella Nails has sparked outrage with its discriminatory pricing policy, which charges overweight clients significantly more for the same service. This kind of business practice not only raises ethical questions but also risks alienating a large customer base.