Would you pay $180 For A Consult???
Would you pay $1000 Deposit Fee??
Would you pay $1695 For A Fox Design Sketch???
In this article we will nose dive into the depths of this true and unfortunate situation. By the end of this article you will know all of the inside scoop.
Allow me to start off by getting you all up to speed on what is going on here.
The client stated that everything started with a $180 dollar non-refundable consult fee, the client paid for the consult fee and scheduled a zoom consult for a Friday. The client showed the artist her reference photos as to what she wanted for a half upper arm sleeve. They talked a bit about the tattoo and the client relayed some details such as her wanting the fox to look like it is running. The client proceeds to tell the artist that fox is her favorite animal and she wanted some watercolor on the tattoo.
The client was given 3 option design fee’s by the artist. The client confirms that the artist charges a design fee for their tattoos.
Option 1 the first design fee was $1500 plus tax and the client would get a concept sketch and you can make 1 minor change and a final design that you will review.
Option 2 was $3500 plus tax that came with 2 concept sketches and a couple of changes and a final design review again.
Option 3 was $6000 plus tax and the client stated she would get multiple sketches and lots of reviews and lots of changes, as well as a canvas for the concept.
The client proceeds to explain that it was to her understanding that these prices will be going towards the final price of the tattoo fee, but the client thought wrong.
The client stated she was blindsided, she didn’t really know what to say, so she went with option 1 due doing to it being the most affordable. At this point the client confirms that the artist did in fact have reference photos of what she wanted to get tattooed. At this point the client is still confident that the tattoo artist will make her a beautiful piece.
When Monday came around the client stated that she had received a concept sketch from the artist and it was nothing like what the client had asked for. I will show you the photos here below.
Above is the image reference the client had sent to the tattoo artist during the first part of their consultation. Below I will show you the sketch the client had received from the tattoo artist after the consultation on Monday.
The client proceeds to explain that the concept sketch was nothing like what she had wanted. The client proceeds to email the artist immediately to tell her that she wanted a full fox with a tail. The client stated that she wanted the fox to be the main feature. The client wanted less flowers and the fox to be more forward.
The client proceeds to explain to the tattoo artist that she is aware she picked option 1 but this isn’t what I had asked for with the reference images she sent to the artist.
The tattoo artist proceeds to tell the client that she was going to charge her the difference between option 1 and option 2 which is $2260. The tattoo artist proceeds to tell the client that she was not clear that she wanted a full fox. According to the client’s reference photos she sent her the client feels as though she could not have been anymore clearer. The tattoo artist did not ask the client if she wanted a full fox, the client feels as though she felt she didn’t have to say she wanted a full fox based on the reference photos.
The tattoo artist and the client went back and forth in a string of emails shared.
Here is what the tattoo artist had to say to the client.
So at this point the client has paid her $2695 dollars for the consultation, for the design fee, plus a $1000 dollar deposit to book her actual tattoo date. All while the tattoo artist is telling the client that she wants another $2260 in order to just re-draw her sketch, even though the client sent reference photos and explained what she wanted.
The tattoo artist proceed to tell the client that is is her communication skills and that she did not communicate exactly what she wanted.
Below is what the client had to say to the tattoo artist.
The client proceeds to express the unfair and bad business practices the tattoo artist. The client stated that the artist should make her clients aware prior to booking the consult that the tattoo artist is going to ask for a design fee on top of the tattoo fee.
From here the tattoo artist kindly comes back and tells the client that she can do another option. This other options is where the client pays another $1695 again for option 1 instead of the $2260 so the tattoo artist can make her another sketch as shown in the image below.
The client is expressing that she is trying to get the tattoo artist to understand that the client was not aware when booking the consultation that the client was going to have to pay for the design fee and the client urged the tattoo artist to put that information on the tattoo artist website letting clients know that they will indeed be charged a design fee.
Here is what the tattoo artist had to say.
Let’s keep in mind that the client has already paid $2695 for the consult fee, the design fee, plus the 1000 dollar deposit for her actual tattoo date to be able to book the date.
It was at this point the tattoo artist told the client that the design fee is optional although the client was never told that it was an optional fee. The client stated that the tattoo artist presented her with 3 options asking the client which one she was most comfortable with. The client stated she should have walked away at this point and proceeds to take accountability for her actions.
The client states that she is the person that will eat the wrong meal that comes to her at the restaurant, thank you for a bad haircut type of attitude. The client proceeds to take accountability for her actions all while the tattoo artist has not budged and or shift in any sense.
The client proceeds to explain how she felt the tattoo artist could have been clearer with her from the get go as she did not know there was an option 4. The client stated that the tattoo artist never went over an option 4 with her. The client stated that she was only presented with option 1,2, and 3.
The tattoo artist proceeds to explain to the client that she didn’t like the reference material that was sent to her by the client. The tattoo artist stated that she did not like the position the foxes were in. The artist started that one fox looked like is was scooting.
The client stated that the tattoo artist proceeded to make the issue about not being able to afford the tattoo while not acknowledging any of the clients concerns. The client stated she can’t give her any more money when she feels like the tattoo artist was not being up front with her from the beginning.
Here is what the tattoo artist had to say.
There is a bit cut out here and for that I apologize. The client proceeds to explain from here she called out the tattoo artist for not telling her there was a 4th option and the client asked for a refund because she did not get the 4th option from the beginning.
Here is what the client had to say to the tattoo artist.
The client proceeds to explain that the tattoo artist says to the client that she would have rather not seen the design ahead of time they would have ended up in the same situation where the client did not like the sketch.
The client stated it may have happened that way but the client would not be out $1600 dollars that she paid for the design. The client stated if she was going to end up in the same situation she would rather have kept her $1600 and seen the design the day of to decide if she liked it or not.
Here is what the tattoo artist had to say to the client.
The tattoo artist proceeded to tell the client that she has been patient with her and the client made nasty comments to the artist which the client denied.
The client confirms that she was not rude or mean nor did she call the artist any names. The client just told the artist that she did not agree with the way her fees were explained and that the client was not made aware that there was a 4th option. The client was unaware that she was able to move forward without paying the design fee. The client expressed that she really wanted a tattoo from her and that she is a great artist.
The client confirmed she picked option one and proceeds to blame herself for picking option 1 which was the cheapest option she was presented with.
The tattoo artist proceed to tell the client she was not going to refund anything and that she has did her duty. I will let you see it for yourself.
How would you been feeling right now? Drop it in the comment section below.
From here the tattoo artist tells the client that she is not going to refund anything to the client. The tattoo artist tells the client that she is not going to give the client her creativity for nothing when the client feels like the sketch was done in 10 minutes and she also feels it was nothing like the references she sent to the tattoo artist. The tattoo artist also stated that she will also be keeping the clients deposit.
The client proceeded to explain to the tattoo artist that she is not being nasty. The client expressed that she wanted to be heard, she does not think that she was clear and the client would have picked option 4 had she known it was an option that was available to her.
The client expressed that she paid $1695 for the fox sketch is good compensation for her time but the $1000 deposit she gave her for her tattoo session that will not be happening, she would like that deposit returned.
The client also expressed that it would be nice if the tattoo artist took some responsibility and stated that she maybe forgot to mention option 4 or something to this extent. The client expressed that the tattoo artist is a professional and she would prefer more questions as they did meet on zoom for half of a hour. The client expressed she could not read the tattoo artist mind and felt she did not have to express that she wanted a full fox, when she sent her full fox reference images.
The client expressed that had the tattoo artist had sent her a beautiful sketch of a full fox she would be moving forward and getting this tattoo. Unfortunately we are in this situation and the client is now out $2600 dollars.
Furthermore the client proceeds to explain that the tattoo artist told her that if the client wanted to get tattooed in a grungy basement, biker shop, back alley, she will be able to do that for a cheaper price.
The tattoo artist proceeds to tell the client that she has been taking a lot of business courses and states that this is the direction her industry is heading in to ask for these fees for designs. The tattoo artist proceeds to explain that she is a pioneer while paving a way for the rest of tattoo artist’s so they can eventually charge these fees for themselves.
How would you feel if you found yourself in this situation?
Who was in the wrong here?
Should this tattoo artist refund the client ?
How would you have handled this situation?
How can a client avoid something like this?
Have You Encountered A Tattoo Artist Like This?
Let me know in the comment section below.
Let’s help each other and provide some useful feedback and tips to those who are doing tattoos and or getting tattoos.
