Definitely NO...you do not have to put up with a bad job...it's bad news for the salon if you tell everyone...instead of telling them.  And, yes, this is advice I have heard/read stylists themselves give to a dis-satisfied customer...especially a first-time one.

I don't know if they have any official policy; may salons have a guarantee and will cut your hair again if you don't like it. The salon I use does and they don't require that you use the same stylist, just a stylist at the the same level. (You can't pay for a regular stylist to cut it, say you don't like it and then have a master stylist redo it.) Even if they don't have such a policy, I'd talk to a manager, explain nicely that you're very unhappy with the haircut. Be nice and not insulting. Don't say "she's a lousy stylist and shouldn't be allowed near a pair of scissors.." Be more diplomatic and say something like "it  really wasn't what I wanted." Be pleasant but persistent. If they refuse, tell them that you're disappointed and will take you business to another salon and recommend that your friends do the same. If they really don't want to redo your hair then you probably don't want them doing your hair.
I'm sorry to hear about the whole experience. Deciding to change your style is a big deal for most of us, which makes it even more traumatic and disappointing when it doesn't work out.
 

Hi Sally,
I had a similar experience after the birth of my second child. I wanted something a little different and easy to manage. It was horrible. I went home in tears and my husband even said it was not me. The cut itself was not even. I called her the next day and said I was very upset with the cut. The point was to have a cut that was easy to style, I could not do anything with it. She said that she would look at it and even up the spots that needed it, but that was all she could do. I told her that I wanted my money back. She said no. I had my husband take a picture of that cut. All my friends and family that went to that salon stopped going, and whenever anyone would ask about that salon and if I ever had gone there I would say yes and pull out the picture. A picture says a thousand words, and when people would look at that picture none of the words were nice ones.
I do feel for you. I know that when I was letting it grow out, I went to a store like Claire's and bought little clips and other hair accesories to help control my hair. My Mom also told me to schedule appointments with a stylist early in the day . I try to be my stylist's first client. You know how you feel at the end of a long day at work, just imagine feeling that way with a pair of scissors in you hands. Good Luck!