SavvyCat M.

JM Salon and Spa

Is it appropriate to write, "They suck" here? I found a very good stylist at this salon, but the owner was so insufferable I couldn't bring myself to keep going back most of the time. I even asked if there ever was a time the owner, Judith, wasn't lording over the place, and she said no. Judith Martin, is a braggart of highest proportion, and never fails to seize a moment to expound upon her talent and virtue as a businesswoman and beauty artist. But the salon is poorly staffed, poorly equipped, poorly lit, and poorly maintained to the extent I'm surprised they haven't been shut down.

The "stations" are fed electricity through an elaborate means of extension cords and surge protectors. You cannot see your color or cut for the overly high-mounted dim lights with no supporting fill. Forget going in the summer, for she's too cheap to provide sufficient air conditioning for the comfort of her clients. The last time I was there--and I mean the LAST time--she said my usual person had gone and one of her "best" new stylists would take care of me. The girl looked like she was barely 12, and worked like she was still in hair school. When she asked if I wanted a full washed or just a cut via spritzing I knew I was in trouble. I was NOT at Supercuts! I was going to leave, but Judith said she'd do my hair herself. Now I know why she's an owner and not an active stylist. It will grow out. That's what they say, anyway.

If ever I track down my former stylist, she has my business. As for this dump, run away. Run very fast.

Charles van Duyne Office Of Md Pa

I was researching doctors to select a new OB/GYN and found this doctor to be skilled, conveniently located, well-educated, etc., but before setting an appointment I did what most people do these days, and that is to drop the name into Google. Much to my dismayed, I found him prominently featured on lists of doctors who are anti-choice. I found it very hard to believe that someone who actually knows the stories of his patients, that we swould still deny them the right to choose the best path for themselves.

Just to be fair, I asked him in email if the information I found was accurate, and responded that he supports choice, he simply will not perform terminations nor refer to anyone who does. If that's not anti-choice, then what is it? It rather like a giant telling a child she can have a piece of candy if she can get it out of his hand. There's no chance of it. I continue my search for a compassionate doctor evidenced by deeds rather than words.

Perry's Grill & Steak House

We had our company holiday party for 11 people here. Out of the gate they didnt have three of our wine selections. She couldn't keep up with anything. She brought the red wines we ordered alone, didn't pour for all of the people who said they'd take red (myself included). The white wines came about 15 minutes later. The champagne nearly room temperature according to three of us, but waitress said it was probably just us because it came from the cooler. Mixed drinks coming from the bar weren't any better. Service was erratic and she simply could not provide service to meet our needs. And we arent picky! The appetizers were slow, as was the food. We ended up asking for bread while we waited; it wasnt offered. The menu described the steak Diane as coming with rosemary potatoes and seasonal vegetables but its not your steak with sides. It's your steak with over-grilled vegetables underneath it. Their family style manner of serving sides for two or more created chaos at the table since she placed them in the middle and no one knew what they were or who ordered them. When she came around with the dessert menu, she didn't offer dessert to everyone. We all were talking and I didn't know an order was taken until the other orders arrived. The dessert I *would have* wanted took 20 minutes to prepare, so I passed. I ordered hot tea with milk, English style, and only got the tea. I asked about the milk, and she came back with a nice tall glass of milk, which was a mess to pour. It's not like we were out of our seats milling about. We were all engaged in conversation and stayed put, and paid attention the few times she addressed the table. I thought maybe the issue was a waitress inexperienced with large groups. Reading the other reviews, it seems status quo. I didn't see the bill so I can't speak of price and accuracy for all of this, but whatever it was is too much. Mandatory gratuities for large parties should be outlawed.

Steven A. (Tony) Swaldi, M.D.

Dr. Swaldi has a small, unassuming practice, but comes with decent credentials. He doesn't rush, letting you explain your issues and explaining his recommendations thoroughly, including medications and what to expect. Just be careful not to be palmed off to the nurse practitioner. My experience was to be charged for an extended visit as when I see the doctor when I only went in for a 15 minute pressure check with the nurse practitioner. When I asked about it he said, "I am convinced from your message that we are not likely to be able to meet your needs as a health care provider. I suggest you shop around for a better deal."

Las Colinas Surgery Center

The services were mostly competant, the personnel behind it all, absolutely not! Arrogant, uncooperative, and completely unprofessional. I'm investigating pursuit of a claim of fraud. They billed for something that was not done and have refused to provide any backup to their claim after several requests, and then turned it over to a collection agency. The unfortunate thing is that my OB/GYN, Cynthia Mace-Motta, is a co-owner in the facility and has done nothing to intervene. I had to drop her as my doctor and find someone new who did NOT use this facility for their outpatient surgeries.

Borynack, Zachary A., Ph.D.

I initially enjoyed my sessions with Dr. Zach, even when I didn't enjoy them, if you know what I mean. He's compassionate and a good listener, he has very helpful information and solutions, and he doesn't seem at all jaded by his profession. But we had a falling out when he repeated something to me that I allegedly said, that I know for a fact I did not say. He insisted he's trained in this and that, etc., and claimed I was trying to redefine my past comments to suit the current issue. But he was simply wrong, and completely unwilling to acknowledge the possibility he was wrong. I understand that some time goes by before he can write his notes from the session, so you'd think he's allow that he might have been incorrect. He claimed he didn't judge, but this misunderstanding exposed that perhaps he stereotypes. I left his practice feeling as though I wasted the money from 6 months of therapy.

Dallas Medical Skin Care

I bought two packages at this clinic--one for microdermabrasion and one for fotofacial. Everyone is exceptionally nice and professional, but I was not pleased with the results of the fotofacial. I had four sessions and did not get the results I was expecting for even minor redness. The microderm, however, is to die for. It seems pricey, but they do so much more than any other package you can get. Forget "facials," they don't do anything close to what microderm can do for the price.

I am planning to guy another package as soon as I get a small financial matter out of the way. I deserve the pampering. You do too!

PROS: Clean professional clinic and staff
CONS: Some scheduling problems

Lute Riley Honda

My car was totaled by someone driving while talking on a cell phone. I had looked at the redesigned Honda Civic online and wanted one, but wasn't planning to buy a new car for a few years. But in September 2005 I had to buy a new car and that's what I wanted. The problem was that none had been delivered to the Dallas metro area yet.

Marc Dupuy at Lute Riley search around and found one he could get in for me, so I was the first to get one of those really cool coupes in Dallas. Whee! :)

The experience was great. They explained every little thing and didn't treat me like a stupid woman. Because the car was so heavily desired, they wouldn't budge on the price, but they were very flexible on the financing and went out of their way to beat the financing I had prearranged with another bank before I went in.

Service has been pretty good, except for a nasty issue with their body shop. Please see my review on the Lute Riley Body Shop and STAY AWAY. Otherwise, I think you'll have a good experience with the dealership. Just take the car someplace else if something cosmetic happens to it.

PROS: Flexible and Fair
CONS: Really BAD Body Shop

Lute Riley Body Shop

I bought my 2006 Civic from Lute Riley Honda, and about 6 months later the paint began to peel on the bumper. I took it back to them, as the dealer, to repaint it under warranty. They, of course, sent it to their own body shop.

When it came back a week later, the color was two shades darker. I can't even imagine how anyone at that shop could have thought they would be okay with any new car owner. I sent it back to be redone. After a week I got the car back, and the color matched, but the level of luminosity in the metallic was nearly flat. When the sun shined on the car everything lit up but the bumper. I took it back a third time. After another week of waiting I called the shop to see how it was going. The manager, Jared, said they weren't happy and were doing it again. That makes number FOUR! I asked if they were just adding layers to the paint or stripping it each time. He said they were stripping it.

When I got the car back is was better, it's closer, but I'm still very unhappy. Obviously they can't manage to match paint even when we're in the middle of the model year. I got a million excuses as to why they can't match it, but I think they're just incompetent, evidenced by the first time I got it back. If I had known I'd effectively ruin the look of my new car, I would have applied touch-up paint to the peeling spot. It was in a place where you could barely see it.

UPDATE: Almost a year later and I fractured the paint after I scraped a curb when I got a flat tire. It also chipped out an area of paint about 2 x .5 inches. The paint looked awfully thick, so I took it to two different body shops for their opinions. The consensus was that Lute Riley DID NOT strip the bumper each time they repainted. The paint it very think and several layers. So they're in competant AND liars. No one at Lute Riley--the dealer or the body shop--is ever even going to do so much as change a wiper blade on this car again.

Manning Chiropractic

Dr. Manning is one of the best chiropractors I've seen. His scheduling is very flexible, rates are reasonable, and he's a great listener with an easy, comfortable personality on top of it. The office is very low-key and freshly decorated--not stark and sterile. The only reason he's not a 10 is that some days his being on the second floor with no elevator doesn't seem like the best idea. But, heck, you can woof a shot and get a great burger just downstairs at Jake's.

PROS: Genuinely Nice Guy
CONS: On the second floor with no elevator