The SWAG Shop — Local services in Atlanta

I won't lie, the only reason I picked this spot is because of the owner but man did they drop the ball.

I was stress and need to freshen up. Listening to Trigger warning, I decided to give this place a try. I booked my appointment online Thursday night. I picked the wash, cut, shave and added a neck massage. Basically every service they offer with the first person available. I get a text saying my request is submitted. Okay, I can support local business and treat myself to something nice. Win-win.

The next day no word from them on my appointment. I give the store a call in the afternoon, wondering if my appointment didn't go through. The woman that answers the phone asks how she can help. I tell her I'm checking on an appointment I booked. She then asks the time, of the appointment and then the person I booked with. I don't know, I check my email and tell her "KFresh". Never asks my name, I could be someone else than who I am. She informs she can't "confirm or deny I have an appointment. He's in charge of his own schedule..." "Okay, I don't care who I'm with just want that time." She tells me she'll check with him and call me back. Okay, strange but it's Friday.

Fast forward to Sunday about an hour before my appointment. I'm getting ready to go when I get a text that my appointment is confirmed. Now, they charge half the service if you cancel less than three hours of the appointment. I wonder to myself if I had to cancel what would happen. I was planning on it but they lock me in with no time to change my mind. I check google maps to get there, Google says it's closed today. I call thinking this was a mistake, the young lady informs me they are open just by appointment only today.

I get there on time, it' just me, one guy in the chair, the guy cutting his hair and woman. Enter the place, I get a very cold greeting. The woman asks how she can help. I say I have an appointment, doesn't ask my name. So, If you want a free cut, just show up and say you have an appointment. She tells me KFresh is finishing up and will be with me. I sit down. The young lady leaves. So it's me, KFresh and his client.

Now forty minutes go by before he finishes up this client. I get going a couple or even ten minutes over but forty. While I'm sitting there a bunch of kids comes in, like 10-15-year-olds looking for a hair cut. KFresh says he'll get to them and have a seat. I'm thinking that's odd since my services are supposed to be an hour long. KFresh finishes the guy cut and looks at the kids. Telling them "He would get to them but his appointment showed up." Starting to feel like I crashed some event I'm not welcome at all.

He tells me to sit in the chair(without cleaning up) and ask what we are doing. At this point, I'm more stress and try to make a joke about my look. He's not being sociable and I can tell he clearly wants me gone. He then takes a phone call, it only lasts a couple of minutes but with the forty minute and the cold reception, I'm looking at the door. It then dawns on me, he doesn't know what I was getting. I use to work in a massage joint at the front desk. I know how people are supposed to be check-in and how you hand of the client. He comes back and asks if I want a wash. I tell him "Yeah, that's what I paid for." KFresh "You haven't paid for a thing yet." I tell him I got the wash, cut, shave and massage. He informs me there is no massage. That's what I click on. He then says that services is coming later and it's a hand massage and something he doesn't do. I don't really care if I get the massage but I'm done. I told him I'm calling it.

With relief, he says "Cool". Gets the apron off and before I can get my coat tells the next kid to hop in. Doesn't apologies or any customer services at all. I don't care if you're appointment only or not but have more staff there to handle everyone's needs.

Killer Mike, I don't know if you will see this but I took your challenge and your staff failed. I never write reviews but this was too much to let go....

The only reason I gave 'em four stars is because they charge an extra $10 to the original shape-up/lining price ($15) if you want temples tapered because it's considered a "cut," which I think is crazy; I have locs, so I never get a full "cut," just a lining. Otherwise, Terry (T) is awesome, nice, and pays attention to detail. Every time I walk out, I look so good, I should be on Love & Hip Hop. Overall, the shop is welcoming, *and they accept debit cards if you don't have cash. They get crowded, so be sure to make an appointment online (sometimes you'll still be waiting awhile if you arrive on time because they get busy). Also, be sure to park in the lot diagonal to the shop across because it's free, *not the one directly across from the shop because it costs. The parking-pay machine doesn't give change, so always pay with a card if you *have to pay. (I learned the hard way by giving a $20 bill to pay for 3-hour parking ($5), and I didn't realize it didn't give change until after I put the bill in).

A plus is it's next door to K. Michelle's restaurant, Puff & Petals, so, if you're feelin' yourself, you can walk next door and have good...

I was impressed with the shop and the environment. I asked for a drop fade and put that in my notes when I booked online. The barber cut the top of my head perfectly, beard on point! Showed me the mirror but had my chair turned sideways so I just looked at the front and the beard and was impressed as we carried a conversation. Got home and looked again and he cut the back completely off and gave me a regular fade but the top looks like the beginning of the drop fade. I tipped $25 bucks because I care about people who provide service to the community. He could have spoken up so that I could have gotten something else since he mistakenly cut off my hair. It’s my fault for trusting who I thought was a professional but wow I expected more. I had planned on coming back but...