Well girls I'm back from the tattoo artist...

HangingInThere · #1 October 4th, 2007, 09:18 PM

Well, sad, angry, a bag of mixed emotion. I made special arrangements for all of this, set an appointment and left with no tattoo. I called ahead to let them know I would be about twenty minutes late and ask if this would be a problem and she said no. So I picked up my sister and go their at about 20 minutes past my appt time. Needless to say the tattoo I had drawn was going to cost more than what my budget was because of all the detail I had put into it and then some of lines where to thin for color fill so they needed to redraw it. I wasn't sure about this to begin with since their was so much emotion tied into what I drew but decided I would settle for what they could come up with. However, to make a long story short they took a walk-in in front of me and I spent 2 1/2 hours past my appt time waiting. The gal up front had already taken my money and left to run an errand otherwise I would have walked but decided or was forced to wait patiently. Afterwards when I told him I should really be heading home instead of starting my tattoo he said well let's reschedule. I told him no, I live to far to reschedule since I made a special 1hr trip because my family reccommended them. He was still set on just having me reschedule and said it was my fault because I showed up late. I was ticked to say the least since I called before to make sure it wasn't going to be a problem that I ran late and on top of that , that he took a walk-in before a schedule appt. He said he needed to fill the gap and since we were working out the redraw of the tattoo he needed to put someone in that spot, but the problem with that was he said the guy in front of me should only take an hour and he ended up taking almost two. Anyway I left made and upset and wasted an afternoon in which I had to have a sitter for my kids and drive an hour to get there. I really don't think they realized how much they inconvienced me but in the long run I'm kind of glad as I probably would have settled for a tattoo that I would have not really been happy with.

I know some of you gals saw the original drawing of my tattoo but I changed a little and thought I would share. The second drawing is their rendition of my drawing to cut back cost. They told me $250 for what I had drawn and $150 for what they drew. What do you think and did I make the right decision in walking out? I think I did, but just curious as to your opinions.

MinDB · #2 October 5th, 2007, 04:41 AM

well, i think it really all depends on where you go and how big the tattoo is--and detail as far as color.
i can understand their pricing, because the one it top has a lot more detail, which would cost more.
i know mine is pretty large with even less detail and they drew it--it was $120.
have you tried going to different places to see what they would charge?

Frangipani · #3 October 5th, 2007, 07:47 AM

I think you made the right decision. This is something that will be on your body for the rest of your life. You should be totally in love with it. If you are having 2nd thoughts about it before you get it, you will probably really doubt your choice later. I think walking out was the best thing you could have done, to be honest.

As for the tattoo artist-I can't believe that they made you wait like that and then were pretty rude to you by saying that it was your fault for being 20 minutes late. Granted, a redraw can take a while if it is a really detailed drawing, but theirs really wasn't.

For what it's worth, I like your drawing more.

greenchild · #4 October 5th, 2007, 08:00 AM

I think you made the right decision. If they are rude to you and make your experience unpleasant, that's what you'll remember when you look at the tatoo (or at least i would!), and then I think you would be less happy with their drawing. their drawing is nice, I still like yours better.
Did you reschedule with them or are you going to look for another place?

MelissaT1973 · #5 October 5th, 2007, 08:58 AM

Courtney, I am sorry your experience did not go well. I agree with the others that it needs to be a positive situation and that the design is what you want. If you want to get the cost down, I think you should tweak your own drawing (unless you really don't want to make any changes). Tattoo artists (reputable ones) do know what they are doing and talking about so the person you saw could have some good points but that doesn't mean you should take their rendering.
GL and I can't wait to see a picture!!!

*Bobbie* · #6 October 5th, 2007, 12:41 PM

Courtney.... I am sorry the day did not go as planned. I know if it were me I would have gone home and cried for hours and then felt a little better. I hope you are feeling better by now?

Honestly..... I do NOT like the new drawing. I would find a new place or go back just to talk about the drawing and why it wouldn't work...then start over again and draw one that will work. Your drawing was so much prettier. And the main thing is it was yours! Even if you have to change it, let it be you who changes it... not someone who clearly doesn't understand just how much this means to you. About the cost...honestly a couple years from now you will not even remember how much it cost. I say save up the money and wait if you have to to get what you want. This is too important to just "give in" because you were there and had the money. Maybe you can email the place and discuss your drawing that way?

I hope in the end you get the tattoo of your dreams

HangingInThere · #7 October 5th, 2007, 01:28 PM

Thanks gals your thoughts validated what I had already been thinking. I will not be going back there as there are several places that I can go that are a lot closer to home, I only drove that far because my mom and sister had both used them and the came highly reccommended. I did take some time to tweek my own drawing and address some of their concerns which were genuine. My stem and a few other features were too narrow to fill in with ink so I widened the stem changed the leaves and lessened the of the wings. Here is my tweaked version.

Now tell me what you think?

*Bobbie* · #8 October 5th, 2007, 02:04 PM

Much better!!!! Are you still going to use the words? I really liked that part of the original.

HangingInThere · #9 October 5th, 2007, 02:14 PM

I don't know, I might write them back in but yesterday they told me they would have to be bigger or the lettering would be lost. It also depends on the cost. If I can't afford it now, I can always save up my money and add the lettering later.

ktanker · #10 October 5th, 2007, 04:06 PM

You made the right choice in leaving. I would have probably left sooner. They need to be more sensitive.

Sabina · #11 October 5th, 2007, 06:27 PM

OMG Courtney! I have been there girl. I waited five hours just to have the names filled in on my wings. They are so inconsiderate of other peoples time. You might want to go around and ask about pricing. I know with my tattoo one place quoted me 500 (no I am not kidding) and the second place quoted 200. And the 200 place was a much better artist. They don't have a price list on what they should charge so you can bargin as well by telling them another artist will be doing for way cheaper. It's a bit of a game but I really, really love YOUR tattoo and I don't think you should compermise about it. I hope you finally do get the perfect tattoo!

HangingInThere · #12 October 5th, 2007, 08:25 PM

I would have left sooner too if I hadn't already paid. After I paid and the girl up front left to do errands I was kind of stuck there.
But that's behind me now and set appt for the other guy who had been reccommended right here in town. Just talking to him on the phone I felt much better as he stated to me that he didn't care what happened at the other tattoo place that he would give me a lot more detail for less money than most other tattoo places around. I also don't think I will have to worry about him canceling on me or making me wait because he was more worried about my commitment and even took a deposit to assure that I would show for my appt. I feel much better about this guy he was very straight forward with me and much more professional. My aunt and cousin have both had tattoos from him so I feel confident that I will get what I want, but I am also going to be just as straight forward with him in that I will not settle for less than what I already changed the tattoo to be. I am actually ok with what I will be getting because I think the wings look more natural anyway with fewer straight lines and it means more to me to know that it was my hand that drew it out and not someone elses rendition. I go tomarrow at Noon so we'll see what happens. I will keep you all updated. The only downfall is that I don't have anyone to go with me. Dh told me to ask my sil but I feel like I already ask her for too much and we see each other almost everyday since we are home preschooling together. Besides that I wanted to be able to take someone with me who has BTDT and my sil doesn't have a tattoo, where my sister who went with me the other day has two. I wish I didn't have to go by myself but maybe its just meant to be this way. I'll update you gals again tomarrow, hopefully this time with a completed tattoo.

Sabina · #13 October 6th, 2007, 07:16 AM

Yeah! I am so glad you are going to get what you want. Don't worry about going alone, you can just close your eyes and think of angels then. I can't wait to see it!