If you choose to go here, be aware that their prices are high and they will not tell you the actual price unless you ASK right before they start tattooing you.
I've had many tattoos done and I have never had anyone LIE to me about the price of a tattoo. (They're going to say "we don't give pricing ahead of time" but unfortunately with me they did and they failed to keep true to it or explain to me the suggestions that THEY MADE, would cost me more.)
Here's my experience with Koneko Studio:
I sent a tattoo inquiry from their website. They immediately replied back asking for pictures and asking to pay a deposit. I replied sending photos of what I wanted and I also asked for an estimate. I didn't feel good about paying for a deposit without knowing an estimate for the tattoo. They did not reply back but they did send another email booking the appointment which I thought was weird since I didn't pay the deposit. I sent 2 emails after that asking again. They finally called me and told me that the estimate would be $800-$900. After that I was resent the email to pay the deposit and I paid it.
Day of the appt I came in and Addie came up me with 3 different stencils. Since my inquiry said large 6-9 inches I chose the large one that matched the photos I sent. None of the photos I sent were small. I said I liked it and she went back saying she would get things ready. She then came back up to me with a larger stencil and asked if I liked that one better. (I did not ask for a bigger stencil, she herself suggested one). I did like the bigger one better so I chose that one. She asked me more about how I wanted it done and I referenced the photos that I sent and said I wanted exactly what I had sent.
During the tattoo process itself, everything went perfect. Addie was great to talk to. She was funny and nice. She took a breaks and sprayed my arm with numbing spray which made finishing my tattoo up easy.
At the end when I paid for my tattoo she asked if I paid the $150 deposit. I said yes and she did some things on her phone and put the final price for me to pay. She charged me $1250. I felt uncomfortable but I paid it because I am just very awkward, shy, and non confrontational. I also felt very conflicted because I loved my tattoo and I didn't want to question her work and make her feel like her art wasn't deserving of that price.
Today I decided to look at their tattoo reviews. A lot of people had the same complaints saying they won't give you a set price and that they charge a lot for their tattoos. Their responses to people's complaints were awful. After reading so many reviews complaining about the same thing I felt justified in my feelings.
I then decided to email them and explain to them that I was really upset that my tattoo was $500 more than what I was told.
(I attached photos of the convo. Pink highlight pages are me. Yellow is the studio.) They then deflected as much as they could and put the blame on me for not talking to them about my strict budget that I had and that they don't do set prices and that it's hard to give estimates. But the fact is that they DID give me an estimate. I went off of the budget that THEY gave me. They then tried to say that I got a bigger size than what I had originally asked for, which was not my fault. I did not ask for my piece to be bigger. The artist herself came up to me with a bigger stencil and then failed to tell me, "hey just so you know since this stencil is bigger, we are going to charge you $500 more". They also said I asked for more shading, which I did not. I showed Addie the shading in the photo I sent in my tattoo inquiry. It wasn't new information. I just pointed out that what I sent to them originally is what I wanted my tattoo to look like. What was even more ridiculous was that while I was looking at the reviews, I saw a review complaining about the prices and they had replied back saying that THEY and NO ARTIST EVER bases prices on coloring or SHADING. So to me I thought it was weird they used that as an argument to increase their price. I did tell them this as well which of course they ignored because they cannot admit they fucked up.
In the end they gave a shit apology and didn't offer a solution. They have yet to say, "we messed up." As much as I love Addy's work, I won't go back.
I still rate them 2 stars because their art is great. I love my tattoo. I just wish I was told that the suggestion that she made for me would cost me more. Again, never have I ever in the past 8 years that I have gotten tattoos, have I ever had a quote jump up $500 or have been lied to about a tattoo quote. This is also not my first larger tattoo or even the largest tattoo that I have. (It is the most expensive though).
So in the end, if you do go here, just be aware they do not give you good price estimates, and they will blindside you with the price. They do charge A LOT (like a lot a lot), but in all honestly they do great art work there. read more