Conference misery::feline_v1

    Marybeth,
    
    It sounds as though this "groomer" is taking out his frustrations for
    not being able to handle Beau on you and your fiance.  He is probably
    feeling a lot of guilt over not doing the grooming part so this is his
    mechanism of coping.
    
    Is the person you dealt with the owner of the shop?  If not, go back
    and demand to speak with him/her.  There are no excuses for handing you
    a wet cat!  And, no groomer worth their salt bathes before brushing and
    shaving/combing out matts (correct me folks if I am wrong).  If they
    could not handle the complete job then they shouldn't have done
    anything more than call you, explain Beau's recalcitrant behavior, and
    *given you a choice* of the bath and nail clipping.
    
    I ESPECIALLY have a problem with his attitude of cash only and no cash,
    no cat.  How utterly unprofessional!  If it were me, I would pursue
    this situation with a vengence!
    
    Worst case, you chock this up to experience, don't use the groomer
    again, and proceed to make their name mud in the process!!
    
    --Roberta
    

    I would absolutely call the better business bureau.  They may not be
    able to help you get any money back, but when potential customers of
    this place call in to ask if the BBB has complaints, at least they'll
    be warned.
    
    Is the person you dealt with at the groomers the owner, or some
    hired help that the owner may not know is behaving like this?
                              

    The guy was lucky it wasn't my cat, or I would 
    have knocked him down and walked over him to get
    my cat from the back!!!
    
    Do report him to the BBB, because your complaint gos
    on him record!
    
    L

    First off I think the person was wrong not to call you if he was 
    experiencing problems with your cat.  Even if the trouble started
    � way thru the process, I still think he should have called...and 
    I don't think he should have charged you.
    
    But since he did charge you, I can understand why he didn't 
    want a check.  Let's face it folks, checks bounce....espicially
    in todays society, and it is easy to put a stop payment on one too.
    This person felt he should have been paid for what ever trouble
    he had to put up with, and since he knew you were unhappy, what's
    his guarantee that the check will clear?  (Unless you were a good
    customer who has always paid by check).   
    
    If this person was the owner and he continues with these pratices,
    he wont be in business for long.  People wont put up with it today, and
    in that line of work he can't be selective and groom only the best
    behaved animals.
    
    If this person was an employee, I'd have a diplomatic conversation with 
    the owner.

    I always try to give people a little leeway for having a bad day, but
    since you paid by check before I can't understand why there was a
    policy change.  As for the fee, I suppose it depends on whether you're
    paying for materials or labor or what.  (Maybe you're really paying for
    the soap and hot water for the bath, but the labor for the grooming is
    cheap?)  But if the cat was supposed to be trimmed before being washed,
    either this was done in the wrong order, or after having trouble
    holding your cat down for a trimming the groomer washed him anyway.
    
    Besides the money, mannerism does matter.  If this person was really
    rude, I hope the cause of his frustration was a few puncture wounds
    from your cat! :^}  Find out where the person who usually does your cat
    is.  (If this was the same person, I'd find another groomer.)  I'd try
    to talk to the management before the Better Business Bureau; they'll
    probably try to settle it amicably to keep your business if you're a
    regular (like maybe never ever let this guy groom--or attempt to
    groom--your cat).  If they don't, then go to the Better Business
    Bureau.
    
    Lisa Dean and Snoopy

    I feel if you have always paid by check, and the checks have never
    bounced, then to change the policy for this one incident is highly
    unprofessional.  Maybe I'm a scrooge but I wouldn't give him the
    benefit of the doubt even if he *was* having a bad day.  In business,
    the customer is always right, even if they aren't.  Anyone who runs a
    successful business will treat regular customers well since they are
    the ones who usually send referrals.
    
    Best bet here is if this guy isn't the owner/manager of the shop, find
    that person and explain how you were treated.  Chances are, the
    situation will be rectified rapidly without any further prompting from
    you.
    
    I think -1 has a point about finding the regular groomer.  Some people
    are more adept at handling problem animals than others.  If the man
    you dealt with is also the person who tried to groom Beau, I'm not
    surprised that he failed at it :^).  Once the regular groomer is
    located, maybe you can take Beau back and get your money's worth, then,
    if you feel justified, never use their services again.
    
    

    	If the grommer is not listed with the BBB, your complaint will land
    on deaf ears. Call the BBB first, ask them if they are listed, and if
    they are, then do it in writing. A business does not have to be listed
    with the BBB as I found out once.
    Mike

    If a business isn't listed with the BBB, complaints to the BBB can't
    result in disciplinary action, but the complaints will be on file
    if someone calls in and says "Do you have any complaints against
    business X?"
    

for the future:

no groomer would wash prior to combing - I used to groom and I KNOW that...

second, you must work with Beau, at home where he is most comfortable, to
take regular combing - that means at least twice a week.  I would start
with short sessions, and talk to a vet assistant, or someone at a groomer
shop (ANOTHER shop from this one) to learn the best way to handle the
comb and what kind of comb to use.  Beau is upset about combing because it
always hurts - it always hurts because he has mats - he has mats because
you don't comb as much as you should, or as thoroughly as you should...
because Beau gets upset.  You HAVE to break this cycle.  I have 4 cats,
three of which are long-haired: angora, birman, and Javanese - I have
all trained to take the combing required to keep them healthy by working
WITH my roommate.  She holds and I comb, carefully, but fully to remove
all staters-to-mats, any debris on the skin, etc.  I don't care if they
protest (of course, they do because THEY didn't choose when), Marge
holds firmly and I comb.  We put a giant towel over 3 folded up towels
on the counter so the cat can lay somewhere warm and comfortable, and
we can stand comfortably.  I have this ritual 3 - 4 times a week and
it takes us approx. 30 minutes to do all 4 cats.  No furballs hacked
up on the carpet for weeks....it's worth it.

I also do daily brushing with lots of affectionate talk and that is
called, Hannahbrush or Dillybrush, or [cat's name]brush....it works
to keep their coats shiney and gives us quality love time.

Right now, I would suggest you take Beau to a vet to have the mats
removed and then start combing - at least twice a week.  You and
your boyfriend can consider this "quality time" with your cat....and
find a better groomer.  When you take your cat there, specify that
he is a problem and that you don't want him bathed until the fur is
combed out, PLEASE (say it nice, but be firm).    

    On the other hand, a person who is insecure around cats can panic the
    cat.  I was amazed at how calmly my first (ex-feral) cat behaved when I
    first took him to the vet I now take my cats to.  He had been to a
    couple of other vets before and the office scenes were a madhouse --
    paniced cat, paniced vet.  One vet even picked him up by his tail
    momentarily before I could react.  This is not all Beau's fault,
    I'm sure.  Probably it's not even mostly his fault.
                             

    
    Thanks for all the advice.  The man who we dealt with was the owner.
    Even if he wasn't the regular groomer there is no way I'm ever 
    taking Beau back there.  I did get the name of a groomer recommended
    by one of you (thanks!).  Beau is more relaxed with us when we
    brush him, even though I always walk away from brushing him with
    lots of scratches!  I guess I'll just keep plugging away!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Marybeth
    

A couple of hints to the home-groomer:

Sometimes, something seems simple - yet, it isn't quite so easy.  I found
out years ago that I was causing discomfort for my cat be not using a comb
in the correct manner - cats have very delicate skin and it can be painful
to use a stiff bristled brush or comb in a manner that "rakes" the skin..
I learned to keep the comb flat to the cat's body while combing - that
simple technique change has made a world of difference in my animals'
reactions to grooming.  Now, they complain, but I know I'm not really
hurting them.  I always comb "flat" to the body on the short hair, and
comb "out" from the body on the longer coat.  It will get the tangles,
but not the skin....of course, the skin gets pulled if you work out a
tangle - that's why I spend so much time combing these days - I hate
to pull the skin and hurt them so I keep tangles away.

I also found that a brush doesn't keep tangles away nearly as well as a
gentle, thorough combing with a good metal comb (no sharp edges or points
of plastic to tear skin).  I brushed Hannah every day (I still do for
Hannahbrush love sessions), but she still barfed fur balls....now, I
comb her daily and we don't get furballs....she also gets her evening
Hannahbrush so she knows she is loved - it feels good to her - but it
doesn't solve the fur problem so we comb.  Before I had cats, I cannot
imagine what I did with all my spare time...