It isn't pleasant to have to write this reiew…read more
HVTC is a very clean, professional operation. The artists were great, and I never had any bad experiences with anyone, until the one that triggered this review.
I booked with Jaosn Carpino, and made a $500 deposit. I want to clearly state: I did not pay close attention to their cancellation policy, probably because Ive been tattooed so many times that I assumed (incorrectly) that all shos were the same.
So, when I missed the appointment and I was told that they would keep the entire $500 (I thought incorrecly that it was $150 per session missed) that it was criminal. I said so to Nicole at the desk. She then clearly explained the policy again, and I listedned, as upset as I was, and understood. I was in the wrong, and they were not.
She then told me that I would have to email Jason to see if "he wante to continue" which I thought was odd. I receivedd a very curt email back from Jason saying that due to my behavior with the shop, my grumbling about Square (I had complained on the first day that my phone pinged a dozen times early in the monring and that I wasn't a fan of Square) and because of my overall negative interatction, that he wasn't interested in continuing to work on me. (This is about a $10,000-$15,000 job by the way).
The only real "conflict" i had was with the young guy that answerd the phone and who called me looking to move me to an earlier appointment. WHen he called, I was shuffling out of JFK airport, and he had a big agenda, and wasn't really listening to me. I told im it was a bad time, that I couldn't answer right then because I was in transit from internatinoal travel. He went on with the dates and times. I told him again that I don't have the ansers, and when he still kept pushing I said somthing like "Look, I don't have the time or wherewithal to answer you right now!"
This led apparently, to deeply hurt feelings. It triggered an email from Jason about an "unpleasant" conversation with the kid, and I emailed back that nothing of the sort happened, I wasn't rude, I just couldn't give him the answers to his agenda. As it turned out I could not accept the appointments being offered, so we didn't go with them and that was that.
I never at any time was rude to anyone. Direct perhaps, but I think that comes off as rude. I tipped Jason in cash, which doesn't seem to factor into his evaliuation of me as a customer (read, he didn't give a shit) and apparently eveyrone at the practice was so butt hurt by their interations with me and got so triggered that they decided to terminate all future appointments and move on.
Fair enough. I don't work for people I don't like either. But to paint a picture that I was rude is just incorrect and unfair. The whole problemm stemmed from the kid that initially called me to reschedule or move up my appointments. Even from day one, he was kind of a douche and wouldn't even make eye contact, didn't respond to my introduction or any pleasantries/small talk.
Pretty disappointing because everyone seemed pretty cool, but I think there's a bit of "Mean Girls" pomposity that comes off immediatley. Like, I've worked with some of the world's most prominent and well-respected artist. I've missed an appointment with one of them too! There were no tears and retaliation though. Just a polite warning.
