Is This Fair If I Only Just Booked?

[bluefortress]

I'm in a predicament (again) minor thing but it's still a predicament 

I rang up today and made an appointment at the hairdressers at 15:30 ish for the same day they booked me in for 17:45. 
 

At 16:30 I rang to ask if I could rebook for another day as I wouldn't make it home on time and he said that I couldn't as I'd already booked now and they can't refill the slot. There is a 50% payment you have to make

He asked what time I'd be home and said I could rebook for 7 instead so I've done that but it's not ideal. 
 

I've been going to this place for 2 decades but didn't know they could be like this. 
 

What would you do?

[Neveracrossword]

Bluefortress, I have often felt it unfair that men's haircuts are so much cheaper - but it's been like that (in most places) for decades. I think you're a  feeling a little aggrieved, I think your hairdresser is being fairly rigid... and there's not much room to meet in the middle. 

[THECORBYLOON]

"if that's the case females must cancel a hell of a lot more appointments"

 

You've cancelled two appointments in the space of a couple of hours so you might be right.

[bluefortress]

I don't have a pixie

I can't go moaning about replies as I asked for opinions however since I've been asked to clarify my instinctive analysis.
- I think firstly its your use of language 'should' is a powerful word (could is gentler) but in its own is fine. However the wording of 'entire thing' and use of 2 exclamations adds massively to the strength of what you are saying. Almost adamant. If I have to add a visual representation to this in the form of a face I would pick a face that is wide eyed and telling me off (and for some reason this face also has glasses but I'm unsure why)

An answer comming across as less strongly opinionated might firstly avoid the above and try to look at the posters side too. Unbiased opinions often question both sides. But this is difficult to do if you have a strong opinion - which is fine, we need opinionated decisive people in the world. 
 

However text doesn't always reflect people's intentions and may come across different to different people  

 

[bluefortress]

Above post is in reply to Red : D

[Old_Geezer]

Put yourself in their shoes. You are running a business and rely on filling tome slots for profit. Someone books a slot then wishes to cancel late and pay nothing while you lose all. Or they think 50%  charge is sufficient even though you lost the other 50% having done nothing to deserve it. Not on, eh ? Obviously if they cancel well in advance the goodwill is worth accommodating them, but otherwise, no.

[Neveracrossword]

In response to your opening question... in common with most of the people who've replied, I'd have paid up (the 50%) and put it down to experience. And I'd know in future that appointments come with certain (fairly standard for the industry) restrictions.