Tanning Salon Ousting!

The following is the LONG version of a press release regarding this somewhat ridiculous and very interesting turn of events from earlier this week. The description of the play by play below is an approximation of the events as they unfolded, but it gives you an idea of how it went down.......
"Lincoln, CA (PRWEB) March 3, 2008 -- Imagine the excitement, your going to get your first spray on tan! You have never known anyone to have one before, but who can forget that hilarious episode of "Friends" when Ross can't get it right and ends up with a black front body and a white back! So, you think, "I'll get it right and it's gonna' look FANTASTIC!" Your so excited, you bring your camera along so you can catch the first moments of your new dark and sexy look in the mirror. You walk in the door and ask for help with your camera before you go in to get the spray. Just think of the total shock and dismay you would feel when they tell you...... "too bad, but not only is the camera not allowed in the door, but we've been getting so much bad press lately, that we have to call corporate to get permission before we can even allow you to be a customer here...... have a nice day!"

Well, it didn't happen exactly like that, but that was pretty much the gist of what one Sacramento man's experience was when he and a friend brought along a camera to document what should have been a cool and very positive experience.

Josh Golden of Lincoln, CA and Cole Wellendorf of Tucson, AZ are currently working on a Documentary entitled "Fitness Captured". Being that they are in the final days of the project, Josh thought it would be nice to get a great looking tan for the pictures to be taken of his body on the final weigh in day. Being that his friend Cole had traveled from such a long way to help with the project, he also thought it might be nice to give him the gift of tan before he headed home the day after the weigh in. Upon arrival to the Lincoln, CA tanning salon, Josh walks in ahead of Cole to ask if they could bring in the video camera. The girl behind the counter decides to call the manager just to he on the safe side before going in. Moments later, she has the manager on the phone. She does not say that the two gentlemen were there for to get a tan to film a documentary, she just told the manager that two guys were there with a camera to do a story(Mind you, she does not specify if it is a still shot or video camera, she just say's "camera") and that they want to get some before and after pictures in the back of the salon before they dress to go outside. The manager decides to play it safe and say's that corporate would have to approve a camera on the premises. A respectable decision. Josh then tells the girl, well , we're doing a documentary so we can have a camera out there (he gestures to the outside window) anyway without permission. He goes outside to tell Cole they can't take the camera inside, but to get the camera ready to do footage prior to entry. As Cole gets the camera ready to do the footage of Josh going into the establishment, the girl informs Josh that while he was outside, the manager calls back and just flat out tells her that because of some "bad press" they have been getting lately, not only will they have to get corporate to approve a camera, but the two gentlemen will NOT BE ALLOWED TO BUY A TAN! "Are you kidding?", Josh exclaims, "Your not going to take our money and let us even have a tan?"

As ridiculous as that sounds, that is pretty much the way it went down. Seemingly, without even knowing why they were really there and what kind of camera it was, the manager flat out refuses to allow service to a couple of guys simply because they brought a camera along for the ride! Does this mean that any of us who want a picture of our "hot off the press" spray on tan need to stay home? What about camera phones, are they to be left at the door?

OK, let's be fair here, the girl at the counter didn't give the manager the whole story over the phone while Josh was standing there, but perhaps when he called back, he may have asked her a few questions that she may have answered in such a way that spooked him. Perhaps he just did not understand the guys were there to do a happy, positive, feel good, segment of a documentary meant to inspire people to look and feel better. Perhaps he did not know this was an opportunity to overcome some of the "bad press" they have been getting and that he should have offered the spray tan free of charge to these two guys who were more than happy to pay for them. I personally welcome this "manager" to come out and tell his side of the story. Perhaps the girl at the counter missed the gesture to the window and thought these two were bringing in the cameras anyway. She did express concern about being in trouble if they turned on the camera to her, to which Josh just replied, I'll blur your face it if it ends up in the shot. So who knows if the girl or the manager really understood what was going on. Let's face it though, take 5 seconds to type "California Sun Centers bad press" in a google search, and you may not be getting results linked to the "bad press" the manager was referring to, but you are bombarded with links to reviews that one after the other talk about the less than desirable service among other complaints.

We are not here to be negative or to cause anyone or any entity problems, but when a service oriented business stands in the way of something so simple as having a picture taken, that is when the breakdown of society wins and those of us who remember the simpler times of the proverbial good ole' days need to step up and do something about it. I am Josh Golden, I was the one that wanted nothing more than to get a tan. If they had simply politely asked me to put the camera away and come on in to get a tan, I would have not been happy, but I would have found a way to be OK with that. I can respect that. However, when I am there to play by the rules, and simply wish to exercise my rights, I feel it is insanity when I can't enjoy the benefits of a business that is there to put a smile on the faces of the people they wish to serve!

So, that is why this story is being told. Let this be a warning to you all..... Next time you want to catch that hot body spray tan fresh off the press, HIDE YOUR CAMERA!"