Customer Cancels Reservation Due to Menstrual Pain... Business Owner Says "No-Show" So Deposit Refund Not Possible

Same-day Reservation Cancellation... "Lost 30,000 Won Because of Menstruation"
"Refund Naturally Not Possible" vs "It's a Health Issue, Refund Should Be Given"

A woman's story about canceling a hair salon appointment on the day due to severe menstrual cramps but not getting her deposit back has sparked a heated debate among netizens.

On the 30th, a post titled "Exposing Hair Salons That Scam Reservation Deposits" was uploaded on an online community, drawing attention. The author, Ms. A, found a hair salon that styles hair according to her preference through social media (SNS) and made a reservation. The salon required a 30,000 KRW deposit to prevent no-shows, and Ms. A agreed and paid the deposit.

However, on the day of the appointment, Ms. A started her period and was unable to visit the salon. She explained, "I have unusually severe menstrual cramps compared to others, so I have to lie down with a hot compress for a day or two," adding, "Since it takes about an hour and 30 minutes to get to the salon, I just couldn't make it."

Ultimately, Ms. A called the salon three hours before her appointment to cancel and requested a refund of the deposit. However, the salon responded, "This case is considered a no-show, so we cannot refund the deposit." Ms. A expressed her frustration, saying, "Menstruation doesn't come with prior notice, and it just happened to start on the day of the appointment, so I lost 30,000 KRW of hard-earned money as a deposit."

She continued, "I even asked to reschedule to fit the hairstylist's schedule but was refused," and said, "I didn't skip on purpose; I couldn't go due to unavoidable health reasons. I want to ask whether the salon's policy is justified and if it's normal not to get the 30,000 KRW deposit back."

Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "They keep that time slot open and can't take other customers if you cancel, so of course, they should keep the deposit," "Are you seriously posting this because you feel wronged?" and "It's funny that someone who no-showed is asking for their deposit back." A self-employed person, Mr. B, who operates a reservation system, commented, "These days, female customers often no-show citing sensitive reasons like 'menstrual cramps.' I understand the pain, but it's true that a few exploit it, which leaves a bad impression. Until now, we've refunded with goodwill, but as no-shows increase, it's becoming difficult."

On the other hand, some netizens said, "It's not like something else came up; they canceled because they were sick, so the salon seems inflexible," "I understand the feelings of someone with severe menstrual cramps," and "They don't seem to know how to run a business. If it were me, I'd first ask if they're feeling okay and then ask them to come back later."