"Convert the World to Your Methods"

not happy 1, originally uploaded by jill y.

Tips for getting a great tattoo:

1. ask for a quote
2. confirm work and time line involved

I have a lovely tattoo on my right arm (showing left in the photo), in a beautiful Art Nouveau design of wheat and rosebuds. It shaded with black and grey ink, with white ink. Over time, this has turned to a bluish- grey. I commissioned a complimenting piece for my other arm. Same style, wheat, this time with open blooms and barbed wire.

I booked my appointment and went through the back and forth of designs. I was not told of the fact my chosen artist was booked to the yingyang or offered a 2nd booking. I sat for the initial outline and when told I would wait 7 months for a 2nd appointment, asked for an alternative. She would see me after hours at an increased rate from 160/hr to 180/hr. I agreed.

side note: my 2nd appointment clearly interfered with some plans with a friend as the friend showed up and was told, "sorry, Jill has an appointment." Said friend returned with an hour left on the session. After paying $700, the friend said, quote: "Now get lost!" and right in front of the tattoist. Clearly it was fucked up attempt to cover her annoyance of her "friend time" interrupted by my tattoo booking. The next day I saw the same girl in a grocery store and point blank told her to her face it was "really rude", "made me feel like shit after sitting for a 4 hr tattoo and $700 later" and "it had really bothered me and I was glad to get it off my chest." I do believe the choice to speak my mind has affected the future course of my tattoo.

After my piece healed, it was hard not to notice and wonder what exactly I had paid for. The lines were noticeable fainter, paler and washed out. Lines that had been tattooed TWICE. This is not fun on sensitive spots. So- I called to discuss. Being that my tattoo artist is "so booked up", you can't just walk in and talk to her. The receptionist said to write an email so I did and because I continue to be pissed at the $1100 dollars I "spent" getting this amount of work, the rudeness of her friend in front of her, and the lack communicated "time lines" or cost.. I'm posting the emails unedited except to remove names.

From: Jill

Sent: April 1, 2008 8:52 PM

To:________

Subject: wheat tattoo

Hi ________,

I meant to write this a lot sooner than today.

Without trying to offend you- I’ll just jump to the point.

I’m having a few concerns with the tattoo on my left arm. The issue is the current cost and darkness of the tattoo. It is noticeably paler than the older tattoo on my right arm.

This concerns me because I have sat for the initial outline and another session to shade. My understanding was that there would be further sessions to shade the barbed wire and color the flowers.

The tattoo line work has been done twice and shading once but the result is much fainter and paler and the 2 tattoos do not match in tone. Because I have paid approx $400 for the outline and $700 for the 2nd session and with the result- I’m not happy with it.

I did mention to you that I wanted the flowers to be a light washed color and showed you some drawings in a Charles Rennie book, but it has always been my intention that the 2 pieces match in look, design, tone and shading and I thought you understood that as well.

I’m not sure where to go from here. I would prefer that you sat me for no charge to have the tattoo brought up to match the other arm in shading- minus the shading in the barbed wire and color of the flowers.

Please let me know what your thoughts are on this and where we can go from here.

Thanks,

Jill

From________

Date: April 11, 2008 1:09:03 PM PDT (CA)

To: ________

Subject: RE: wheat tattoo

Hi ________,

I haven’t heard back from you regarding the email I sent earlier.

I have attached pictures that show the issues I am unhappy about.

I would like to hear your response about this. I don’t know if I should come in to talk to you directly as you’re pretty booked up. However, I do need to move forward as I want the tattoo to be completed. Are you willing to help me resolve this situation?

I hope so.

Thanks for your time,
Jill

From:________
Sent:April 15, 2008 8:42 PM
To: ________
Subject: wheat tattoo

Hi Jill.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you as I was away in Ontario and just got back. I take care of all ________'s correspondence so it was not that she was neglecting to respond.

She has now read your e-mails and has asked me to relay the following information.

________absolutely did understand that you wanted the two pieces to match in look, design, tone and shading but as you wanted the 2nd arm to be shades of grey as opposed to black lines and shading (or the colors of the original) it is a process which takes time. The look would have always been somewhat different as the first arm had green and white in it, but would have been complimentary and well matched. She was clear on your intention for the flowers but they had not yet been started.

The cost for the 2nd session was $80 above what it would have been at the regular rate and was proposed by you as compensation for getting in immediately and not waiting the full 8 months for a standard opening.

For ________ there is the additional issue of your missed March 12th apt with no notice. We were unable to fill that spot on such short notice and so lost income on that day.

________ understands that at this point you are unhappy with your piece but feels fully confident that by the time your final session was complete your pieces would have been completed as per your original request. She does not feel that there is cause for her to complete your tattoo free of charge. She is willing to finish your piece but it would be at her regular rate and in the time frame that her current bookings allow. She understands if you choose to get your piece finished elsewhere as the two of you seem to have reached a point where your views differ significantly.

Please let us know if you would like to book a further apt and if not she wishes you well.

Thanks

________

From: ________
Sent: Tue, 15-4-2008 9:14pm
To: ________
Cc: ________
Subject: RE: wheat tattoo

Hi ________

Thanks for the response.

I'll take a moment to comment back...

The entire look of the 2nd arm was to match the 1st, as Teresa understood in "look, design, tone and shading". My first arm is shades of grey with white and black line work. Currently, the basic black line work of the 2nd^ndtattoo is noticeably paler than the other arm and has been tattooed twice. Regrettably, it was not discussed openly the “time it would take”.

My right arm or 1st^sttattoo does not have green in it. It was done with black, white and grey ink in shades of grey and a very light pink in the rosebuds.

I apologize for missing my booked appointment but as that was booked after hours; I am unclear how Teresa lost income on that day with the short notice preventing her from filling the spot. I was unaware she normally booked after hour appointments and only did so by special request and additional cost. Once again, my apologies for any inconvenience.

I am surprised that an expression of my disappointment, and the request for discussion along with what I felt might be a solution is met with a statement that our view points “appear to differ significantly”. I was hoping to be able to meet a compromise of sorts, if possible.

I continue to be disappointed in the result of the current tattoo with the length of time and cost incurred thus far. With ________'s response of how to continue forward and with the consultations I have had with other tattoo artists of the work, I feel that I am better suited to have the tattoo completed in a more agreeable timeframe, to my schedule and wallet with someone else.

Thanks again for relaying the information and the follow up.

not happy 2, originally uploaded by jill y.

By the way- both these tattooes cost the SAME- $1100.00, but she stands behind her work??

So let this be a lesson. Ask what they are doing. How long they are doing it for and how much they think they will eventually milk from your wallet. If their friends are point blank rude in front of their customers- think again about where you take your business.