Very disappointing experience today. This was my first tattoo and Fabian offered no explanation of any part of the process (a norm, from what I've observed when accompanying friends to get their first tattoos); I had no indication that he was about to begin using the needle until I felt it on my skin. When I went to pay he told me that he 'wasn't accepting eftpos because of the holiday,' necessitating a trip out of the studio to get cash- Which I would have been quite happy to bring if this had been communicated to me beforehand. I also received no advice about caring for my tattoo and do not believe that I would have if I had not asked for it.
Due to what I now realise was a mis-reading of the original email correspondence I had with the studio I had believed that the cost would be $50/hr (I was, in fact, advised that I would need to pre-pay $50 per hour booked, and I had made a $50 pre-payment as agreed). As the entire process took under an hour I was under the impression that my final bill would be another $50. Fabian informed me that it would actually be $100 (and was also insistent that his personal minimum fee is above the maximum I was told I would be paying, which also was not communicated to me even though he was specifically named as the artist who would be doing the job). Tom, the manager, then stepped in and said that I should only pay the amount that I had been quoted, leaving the final fee at $50 cash.
I received a voice mail on my phone from Tom several minutes after I left saying that he had re-read the email exchange I had had with another staff member and that the final cost including the $50 I had already paid would be $100-$150 depending on size, which was when I realised my mistake (aside- I am by no means an expert, however it does surprise me that an extremely simple, small tattoo in one colour that took less than half an hour to complete, including preparation and bandaging the area after, would cost any more than the minimum). However, I had shown both Tom and Fabian the email while I was in the shop, so I'm not sure why Tom thought it was acceptable to call me to be verbally abusive when they themselves didn't catch the misunderstanding while I was still on the premises (Tom accused me of being a 'fucking horrible person' in his voice mail) and a final price had been agreed upon. (I had also already handed $100 cash to Fabian, while advising that I wasn't happy about the situation, before Tom agreed to a final price of $50 cash, so he certainly had the chance not to refund the difference).
I am willing to allow for my part in the misunderstanding, however Tom's attempt at bullying is unacceptable, and verbally abusing a customer who has unintentionally underpaid hardly seems like an effective way to recoup a loss- A polite, reasonable phone call or email would have taken no more effort and would have been well-received. Presumably it should have been his responsibility, as the manager, to ensure that the transaction was carried out properly at the time and the mistake was no excuse for the aggressive and rude message and subsequent emailed bill in which he re-iterated many of the same points. Tom said that he was leaving the payment up to my conscience, however his delivery makes it seem more like this is an attempt at intimidation. I'm unimpressed by the service I've received, and I advise others to stay away to spare themselves the same treatment. read more
