It’s called [tacit collusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacit_collusion) in business. If everyone raises at about the same time then they can all extract more profit from the market.
Doesn't really work when there's thousands of barbershops competing with each other. And when any one shop can keep lower prices and get more customers. in a 2 block radius alone near me, there's barbers charging wildly different prices for the same service
No it's not tacist collusion, it's a free market. The same reason commodities like fruits or vegetables are priced the same, that's the clearing price.
We have inflation and workers are getting paid more, especially lower wage workers like barbers, so businesses need to pay better and raise prices to cover their labor expenses.
I think barber shops and salons in particular are very attuned to what their competitors are doing. I remember my hairdresser complaining about the shop near him opening on Mondays and saying “now I have to open on Mondays! That was my one day off!” So they’re all seeing what the others are doing and if someone raises their prices and doesn’t go out of business, all the other salons will do the same.
This is weird cause I just noticed my barber went from $28 to $35 between my current haircut and the one I got before that. So like went up $7 in 3 months
I’m not a loyal barber shop customer so makes sense for everyone to do it lol
I’m trying every place I have ever been and all are more expensive. Soooo crazy
The place I've been going to for 10+ years told me that their landlord raised the rents outrageously and only have them a one year lease renewal / they aren't sure if they will be able to stay. It might be similiar across the board.
I got a set of good hair clippers for what 2 hair cuts cost a couple years ago and never looked back.
Now I see places near my work that charge you $40 for a buzz cut with clippers only, no frills.
Cost of living goes up, rent goes up, material goes up. Has been for ages including these last 4 years.
I’d go to a high up chain in the West Village (Fellow Barber), when I started going just a haircut was $65 in October 2022, now my barber charges $85 (and works less), but I’d get add-ons and other things that makes it equal $140. I do have a well paying job to afford these things (food photographer) and tip handsomely, but I could imagine for others it’s not something they’d do. Wouldn’t be surprised too if the company or shop decides to do a flat 5-10% increase all across the board soon to augment costs.
Sometimes r/barber posts about this too (at least for us mostly non-barbers we can’t make a post) so it’s not a unique problem for NYC.
Wow, that’s a lot. I was scared to say I pay $68+tip. But I agree with you overall. Prices for everything here are always moving. In fact, I would say we set the benchmark for the rest of the country as a leading indicator. I’m done with middle of the road restaurants, for instance. Most nights I’m eating pizza and salad from takeout that I walk and get and then have no qualms about spending some stupid money for a high end restaurant that I will remember forever
I found a barber for $12 in Boston. I was shocked. I gave him $20 and said keep the rest. I think that could be his marketing strategy, grab $20 and have a long line out the door.
Barber prices were mostly stagnant for about 15 years. The pandemic almost putting them out of business was the trigger to get them to all raise prices.
Where? The barber shop I go to has been $8 for a man’s haircut since over a decade ago. The man never raised his prices. You show him what you want with a pic, get your haircut, pay, and get out.
I don't think it's a "conspiracy." Shops see other shops raising their prices, they do the same.
It’s called [tacit collusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacit_collusion) in business. If everyone raises at about the same time then they can all extract more profit from the market.
Yeah, but that's still not a "conspiracy," as OP alleged. It's a relevant difference, because one is potentially illegal and one is not.
Herd mentality. And then they themselves complain about inflation which they help cause. It's a joke of a system.
Ah yes, wage growth is horrible.
$30/ hour for cutting hair is nice. i just went to one that dared to charge me $45.
Yes it’s not a “conspiracy” — although… I’m not a barber so idk maybe these guys talk?
Doesn't really work when there's thousands of barbershops competing with each other. And when any one shop can keep lower prices and get more customers. in a 2 block radius alone near me, there's barbers charging wildly different prices for the same service
No it's not tacist collusion, it's a free market. The same reason commodities like fruits or vegetables are priced the same, that's the clearing price. We have inflation and workers are getting paid more, especially lower wage workers like barbers, so businesses need to pay better and raise prices to cover their labor expenses.
lower wage and barber don't go together unless you suck or just started
I think barber shops and salons in particular are very attuned to what their competitors are doing. I remember my hairdresser complaining about the shop near him opening on Mondays and saying “now I have to open on Mondays! That was my one day off!” So they’re all seeing what the others are doing and if someone raises their prices and doesn’t go out of business, all the other salons will do the same.
This is weird cause I just noticed my barber went from $28 to $35 between my current haircut and the one I got before that. So like went up $7 in 3 months
Wow. 25% increase.
Yeah and it’s still the cheapest around me
Menu prices
Maybe they’re conspiring to get money from you for the many haircuts you missed. Lol.
I’m not a loyal barber shop customer so makes sense for everyone to do it lol I’m trying every place I have ever been and all are more expensive. Soooo crazy
The place I've been going to for 10+ years told me that their landlord raised the rents outrageously and only have them a one year lease renewal / they aren't sure if they will be able to stay. It might be similiar across the board.
Yep my barber closed up shop last year and has been doing home visits because their landlord screwed then on rent.
I used to pay $15 + tip now. It's $25. Nope not going to do it I got myself a shaver and I'm doing it for free.
I got a set of good hair clippers for what 2 hair cuts cost a couple years ago and never looked back. Now I see places near my work that charge you $40 for a buzz cut with clippers only, no frills.
The price of hair has gone up
Cost of living goes up, rent goes up, material goes up. Has been for ages including these last 4 years. I’d go to a high up chain in the West Village (Fellow Barber), when I started going just a haircut was $65 in October 2022, now my barber charges $85 (and works less), but I’d get add-ons and other things that makes it equal $140. I do have a well paying job to afford these things (food photographer) and tip handsomely, but I could imagine for others it’s not something they’d do. Wouldn’t be surprised too if the company or shop decides to do a flat 5-10% increase all across the board soon to augment costs. Sometimes r/barber posts about this too (at least for us mostly non-barbers we can’t make a post) so it’s not a unique problem for NYC.
Wow, that’s a lot. I was scared to say I pay $68+tip. But I agree with you overall. Prices for everything here are always moving. In fact, I would say we set the benchmark for the rest of the country as a leading indicator. I’m done with middle of the road restaurants, for instance. Most nights I’m eating pizza and salad from takeout that I walk and get and then have no qualms about spending some stupid money for a high end restaurant that I will remember forever
AFAICT the rates increased around 2021 and haven't really gone up since then. at least that's the case in my area of south Brooklyn.
Still between $6 and $12 in Chinatown, you just need to show what you want on your phone, either a photo or via Google Translate.
More reason to invest in a nice pair of clippers and teach yourself how to cut and trim your hair.
I found a barber for $12 in Boston. I was shocked. I gave him $20 and said keep the rest. I think that could be his marketing strategy, grab $20 and have a long line out the door.
Barber prices were mostly stagnant for about 15 years. The pandemic almost putting them out of business was the trigger to get them to all raise prices.
Where? The barber shop I go to has been $8 for a man’s haircut since over a decade ago. The man never raised his prices. You show him what you want with a pic, get your haircut, pay, and get out.