Too Fat To Tan: Woman Refused Service, Then Refused A Refund
Norton, OH – An Ohio woman was refused tanning services at a local salon in Norton because of a newly implemented weight-limit policy.
Kelly McGrevey has since filed a police report against the owner of Aloha Tanning, Justin Hileman, due to the appalling discriminatory treatment she received when she tried to use one of the tanning beds or get a refund.
After taking a brief tour and purchasing a tanning package at Aloha, Kelly returned the following day to tan and was turned away, alleging the worker was enforcing a new weight-limit policy which only permitted a maximum of 230 pounds in the acrylic laydown tanning beds.
Prior to the package purchase, Kelly had not been informed of a so-called weight-limit. She asked to see said-policy in writing whereupon the worker said “No.”
When Kelly, who expressed being absolutely humiliated, demanded her money back, nearly $70 in prepaid monthly dues, the attendant refused to refund it, stating it was not part of their policy.
The weight rule isn’t actually a written decree but is supposed to be disclosed to patrons when the staff feels they may be “too heavy” to tan in the standard beds. This is because of the fragility of the units. The tanning beds are literally UV bulbs shielded in acrylic panels.
The weight limit is in place to protect both the client from injury and the establishment from the cost of having to repair or replace a damaged bed. Per Aloha’s refund policy, only a manager can issue one.
According to a WKYC Channel 3 News report, the Aloha salon has an F rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). As a means of reaching a mutual appeasement, one of the unnamed managers told WKYC Kelly still has the option of using a stand-up tanning unit, which happened to be inoperable the day she came in for service, but they refuse to directly refund her money, instead suggesting she cancel her credit card.
At this point, all Kelly wants is her money back and for people to be aware of the type of treatment they can expect from the establishment.
[Image via Shutterstock]
