A Closer Look Reveals Bargains at Hand

Walk down almost any block in New York City and you will, without fail, find the same businesses—a Starbucks, a Duane Reade, and a nail salon.

With this in mind, I set out last weekend to get a pedicure that was easy on my feet and my wallet, and—most importantly—to find out whether or not, with the overwhelming abundance of options, it was possible to find a salon that stands out among its numerous competitors.

Having recently perused an old issue of Time Out magazine that featured eight salons with reasonable prices, I picked the one closest to Columbia, located just off 72nd Street, and headed for the subway.

Using Columbia local establishment Golden Nails’ pedi price of $20 for reference, I arrived at Nails & More expecting a to find a lower rate—one that would at least make up the difference for my $2 MetroCard swipe each way. Walking through the door, I was instantly greeted by a friendly flurry of activity, and in what must have been 15 minutes flat I was deposited back at the entryway, feet pink from soaking in the warm soapy water, the freshly painted hue still drying on my toenails. Clean, efficient, and busy, the salon was clearly a neighborhood favorite—but if I’d been hoping for an inexpensive find, I was fated to be disappointed. The price tag was exactly the same as the $20 job I was looking to outbargain Golden Nails.

For those of you still waiting for wise words on good deals, stay with me—there is a broader point than what shade of polish goes best with a depressingly sun-deprived foot and where you can find it. With a nail place frequenting every corner, one has to wonder if it is possible to find an option significantly cheaper than the rest—and is that option worth the trip?

Walking the two blocks back to the subway from Nails & More, I passed at least three other manicurists, and one in particular caught my eye. It boasted $17 pedicures on a handwritten sign, and the narrow stairway that led to the second floor salon was ominously dim and grungy. Sure, I could have saved myself three dollars; whether or not I would have escaped with my toes unscathed was another question.

While on the whole I was satisfied with my experience—and pedicure—at Nails & More, more valuable to me was the lesson I was left to contemplate over the subway ride home. Sometimes the search to save money ends up costing more than making use of your best­ and nearest option. Though I could have saved a few dollars hiking downtown in search of a deal, it may have been better to just cross the street.
—Sara Barbour