A Texas spa employee shared an awkward an uncomfortable interaction she had with a client showing up late. “Has any one else dealt with something similar?!?!” Eleysia, an employee of Nalu Skin & Body, asked on TikTok.
The interaction was then posted on to the spa’s official TikTok account. A customer is heard checking in for her appointment at 2 o’clock PM. However, Eleysia than breaks the bad news to her: “Since it’s actually now 2:45 that’s 45 minutes passed,” Eleysia tells her client, “we do only have a 15-minute grace period we did have to mark you as a no-show.”
The customer claims traffic was an issue, as well as being unable to find the spa’s phone number in order to call ahead of time. Eleysia is understanding, but also makes it know they’re completely booked now.
“Not even with your other girls?” the customer asks. While offering to book an appointment at a later date—as soon as the following afternoon or two days from then—the customer is heard saying, “This is ridiculous.”
The customer isn’t satisfied with any of the time slots Eleysia offers. “No. I can’t do any of those times. I wanted today. What time do y’all close?” Eleysia reiterates once again they’re booked for the day.
“So what can we do now?” the customer asks. Eleysia, with the patience of a saint, tells her they can reschedule. When she asks what day works for her, the customer responds in an agitated tone, “Today.”
Finally the customer gets it, but not before asking about the $50 she paid to hold the spot. Eleysia has to break the news that she’d have to repay to hold a spot since that’s what the initial down payment is for.
And no, she could not use it to hold another spot. “That’s stupid, but whatever. I’m not coming back,” the customer says.
Viewers online call out customer for being entitled: ‘My stern voice woulda come out after the second no’
The response to Eleysia’s TikTok video was as clear cut as you could get. Others gave Elseysia for being calm and professional, though some argued she should’ve gone harder on the customer—and would be justified in doing so.
People were quick to drag the customer through the mud:
“She didn’t even bother calling to say she’s running late, but wants grace??”
“Yeah, you thinking you’re entitled to be squeezed in when you’re super late.”
“Do people think…you should cancel other people’s appointments because they were late to their own?”
“Nah you too nice. My stern voice woulda come out after the second no,” wrote TikTok user Tiffany. Eleysia liked the comment, saying she hates “confrontation with clients.” Tiffany understood, noting that Eleysia will eventually find her stern voice over time.
Another commenter, ABI WORLD, offered advice, suggesting Eleysia avoid saying ‘um’ to fill awkward silences, to make eye contact, and stay firm. “Even if you have to repeat the same phrase over and over,” ABI WORLD wrote. Eleyia did “great” otherwise, they added.
One view, TATYANA, also advised clients to treat their appointment like a flight. “The plane is not waiting 45 minutes for you.”
When you book an appointment for something, it’s good practice to plan for traffic and travel time. That’s just good time management. It isn’t the fault of a service worker to shift everything around to make up for it. And from the response to Eleysia’s TikTok video, viewers were feeling the same way.
