PLEASE READ TO BEWARE OF THIS FRAUDULENT TATTOO ARTIST
As you all know, I have many tattoos that I cherish, and I have a few done by a man named Jesse Gibson who work and owns Secret Ink Tattoo in Longview, Washington. Although a great artist, he is a terrible business man and a scammer! He has proved himself as unprofessional and untrustworthy ESPECIALLY after my most recent inquiry about a sleeve tattoo.
I have provided receipts of him being unprofessional by personally asking me to send him more money so he could make his bills that month. I felt very put on the spot as I also have bills to pay and I didn't have that money right then and there. Mind you, this was my fifth tattoo with him and he has NEVER asked money or deposits in this way before, this was VERY uncomfortable for me.
The context for the next messages are as follows: I had planned for a sleeve back in September of this year. However, instead of asking me about a tattoo consult, the size, the ideas, he IMMEDIATELY asked me for a deposit. As soon as I sent him the money and ideas, I did NOT receive a consult, I was NOT asked any questions regarding the design (I had sent him ideas on my own) and I was NOT given a sketch of the design at ALL. Come two days before I had to drive up for the appointment that I paid a deposit for and had booked 2 weeks in advance, I am told that he would be cancelling and rescheduling my appointment for personal reasons.
I understood this, and accepted. The week came and passed and I had not heard anything from him, no appointment confirmation, STILL no draft, or no updates besides me confirming the appointment MYSELF. Last minute, on the day before my appointment, he had told me that he double booked and offered to do only an outline. I put $550 down expecting drawings, design ideas, with a session of part of my sleeve. I do understand that sleeves are expensive, and I was planning to put down even more! But this interaction regarding my concern as a loyal and paying customer has rubbed me the wrong way. His reply was disrespectful, hurtful, and made me realize the time, money, and energy I had put into trying to get a sleeve with him was ultimately not worth it.
I asked for a refund on the deposit as he Never clarified or stated to me that the deposit was nonrefundable, and no where on the page (That he has now blocked me from) does it clearly state that deposits would be nonrefundable. His response was immature and disappointing as a tattoo artist and as a business owner. With no consult, no drafts, no appointment, I paid $550 for a service I did NOT receive: that is FRAUD. With all due respect, as much as I appreciate the work that this man has done for me, I no longer can give him any more business, and this is a fair warning for people who are looking for an artist. There are better artists out there that will treat you with more compassion and respect! read more