Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2017/04/04) */
ei. complaint from [redacted]
I had [redacted] come in for a consult and to book. She brought in very blown out, black images taken off of photos of a t shirts. I explained to her I only do my own custom artwork and do...
not work off other peoples artwork and that the image she brought in was to dark to translate to tattoos. She assured me the photos were simply concept examples and she knows and loves my style.
I agreed to book in [redacted] based off our consult and the premise she wanted my artwork. The shop I am an employee at has a firm policy of no refunds or transfers on deposits. Once an artist takes the time to book and prepare for a piece they are investing their time and money for this client. We take deposits to hold the spot based on design, and the deposit comes off the price of the tattoo in the end and is the clients assurance they are being clear with what they want. If a person is requesting something we are not able to do or comfortable we do not book them and refer them to an artist who would be better suited for the piece/style. I am available to make changes to designs but we request for consults so I can understand what the client wants so I can be efficient in designing.
I put 2 nights of work into designing [redacted]'s and sent it out with ample time for changes or comments from [redacted].. She confirmed she liked it and confirmed our continuation for her apt, 2 days prior. Less than 24h to her appointment she began writing me becoming very difficult to understand and work with. She seemed to completely disregard any of our conversation at the shop during the consult that was done in front of my two shop managers. (Referring to either of them as friends seems condescending, I have a good working relationship with my colleagues, but is completely professional) and flat out told me she wants copies of her references which was also already discussed that I wasn't able or willing to do. This change in her wants, results in a loss of deposit as she wasn't articulating any changes she wants but was vaguely asking for a change in style which I cannot offer. She didn't want to work out the appointment she booked for and wanted her deposit transferred to another project on her leg, which again, she was explained that deposits are non transferable and was for her concept she booked for as I took time to discuss in person and over email, and designed and researched for was what her deposit was for. If I did keep her appointment and work on her other projects her deposit would still be lost. If she was clear she wanted copies of t-shirt art; she would have never been booked in or had any money taken from her.
Quite frankly [redacted] is what is considered a high risk for loss client who has trouble articulating her needs, who has short noticed cancelled on me twice and has a history of being confrontational. Our email correspondence on this matter was extremely stressful and with the loss I encountered with designing her a large arm piece she no longer wanted, it be best we end the client/artist relationship and she suck up the loss of her deposit which is inevitable. I will humbly accept the lost 5 hours spent prepping for her and we move on.
There is unfortunately no perceived resolution for this incident as [redacted] was told she isn't going to get a deposit refunded to her and she is no longer going to be accepted as a client of HFX Tattoo.
I have no problem forwarding our email correspondence to confirm my professionalism and my managers can also verify our consult conversation. I personally do not want a resolution and do not want to be contacted about this again. This person is continuously robbing me of my time and energy and thinks she is owed it. I am a custom artist who chooses who I work on based on design. I do not work for people; I work with them.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2017/04/05) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
I disagree with what [redacted] has stated in her response and in fact know that she has done the exact opposite of what she is stating in said response and can provide material to support this if I have to take it further.I first sent my pic to [redacted] in January and it took 2 days before my appointment to send me her rendition of what I wanted.In her response she states she gives the client time to review well I revised and the next day that what she drew and what I wanted we off but that the pic she did draw was nice just not what I wanted as it didn't reflect the pics I emailed or showed her again during our consult.I also can forward these conversations as I tried to work with her even to the tune of saying since we cannot seem to agree on the cow pic let's try to move past this and work on finishing some of the leg work she started as I wanted to continue my relationship with her.She was nasty and rude in her responses and told me she was cancelling my appointment and keeping my deposit,there is nothing in their literature that states this is policy when an artist cancels she gets to keep your deposit.If she had any sort of customer service training she may have handled herself with a bit more restraint.I booked off work at a loss of 206 as it was past the time as per our policy to book back on and therefore the loss is to me.I gladly will provide her response to my emails as hey show my continued attempts to resolve any and all issues we might have had to allow my appointment to happen she flat out said no.If I have to go to small claims court I have no problem with that and will be seeking my list wage and my deposit as well as court costs.I also would like to draw attention to the fact she has also posted the drawing on her page for someone to pay to have tattooed does that person get my 40$ deposit deducted from the price and how can that be considered a loss.I would like to see where I signed and any of he material supporting her claims as of yet I have not.If my deposit is not returned I fully intend to pursue the way of court as I work hard for my money and my time costs just like hers.
Final Business Response /* (4000, 11, 2017/04/13) */
Here is Hfx Tattoos deposit policy in full
Thank you for your time on the matter
Deposit policy
Hfx tattoo
A deposit is in place to protect the artists time and artwork
Deposits are a requirement to book and come off the price of the tattoo in the end.
The designing, consult and all communication with artist is included in the price of the tattoo so the deposit is a small protection for the artist and their time.
The deposit is a guarantee that the client has been precise and clear on what they desire, (e.g., style, size, concept, artist) and is put down at their risk if they did not comply to what is required to complete a successful tattoo
Deposits are non refundable and non transferable once placed. (Non transferable, to another person, concept, date or time)
Deposits are to hold the specific tattoo date for the concept discussed at consult
Deposits are not a prepayment for a design.
Deposits do not buy the artwork
Artists retain the rights to their custom artwork at all times. A tattoo artist is selling you a tattoo of the artwork not the artwork itself.
Deposits are the assurance to an artist that you have booked based on the knowledge of that persons portfolio and are comfortable with the information given by them, that they will receive a tattoo that reflects the artists style, and the clients desires.
If an artist cannot comply to clients needs as articulated by the client they do not book at consult. If a clients needs change or were not portrayed clearly at consult, and the tattoo for the concept can not be met, the deposit is lost.
If a client has been booked, they have been made aware of the above, either by in person communication or through email.
Designs are not required to be sent out prior to appointments. Deposits do not pay for ownership of any design and are therefore not legally required to be sent out beyond the artist to be viewed, or saved by any client.
Artists often send out designs the week of/the day of the tattoo appointment, allowing for additions or small changes to the design but if the consult and booking took place, these details should be very minute to none and would take no more than a couple minutes to change if the client was clear with design wishes at booking and throughout any communication.
Deposits are set in place to protect the artists and shop. Not the client.
Artists at HFXTattoo have a high reputation for satisfaction and producing custom artwork for clients. We look forward to working with you and creating a beautiful piece together.
Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2017/04/04) */
ei. complaint from [redacted]
I had [redacted] come in for a consult and to book. She brought in very blown out, black images taken off of photos of a t shirts. I explained to her I only do my own custom artwork and do...
not work off other peoples artwork and that the image she brought in was to dark to translate to tattoos. She assured me the photos were simply concept examples and she knows and loves my style.
I agreed to book in [redacted] based off our consult and the premise she wanted my artwork. The shop I am an employee at has a firm policy of no refunds or transfers on deposits. Once an artist takes the time to book and prepare for a piece they are investing their time and money for this client. We take deposits to hold the spot based on design, and the deposit comes off the price of the tattoo in the end and is the clients assurance they are being clear with what they want. If a person is requesting something we are not able to do or comfortable we do not book them and refer them to an artist who would be better suited for the piece/style. I am available to make changes to designs but we request for consults so I can understand what the client wants so I can be efficient in designing.
I put 2 nights of work into designing [redacted]'s and sent it out with ample time for changes or comments from [redacted].. She confirmed she liked it and confirmed our continuation for her apt, 2 days prior. Less than 24h to her appointment she began writing me becoming very difficult to understand and work with. She seemed to completely disregard any of our conversation at the shop during the consult that was done in front of my two shop managers. (Referring to either of them as friends seems condescending, I have a good working relationship with my colleagues, but is completely professional) and flat out told me she wants copies of her references which was also already discussed that I wasn't able or willing to do. This change in her wants, results in a loss of deposit as she wasn't articulating any changes she wants but was vaguely asking for a change in style which I cannot offer. She didn't want to work out the appointment she booked for and wanted her deposit transferred to another project on her leg, which again, she was explained that deposits are non transferable and was for her concept she booked for as I took time to discuss in person and over email, and designed and researched for was what her deposit was for. If I did keep her appointment and work on her other projects her deposit would still be lost. If she was clear she wanted copies of t-shirt art; she would have never been booked in or had any money taken from her.
Quite frankly [redacted] is what is considered a high risk for loss client who has trouble articulating her needs, who has short noticed cancelled on me twice and has a history of being confrontational. Our email correspondence on this matter was extremely stressful and with the loss I encountered with designing her a large arm piece she no longer wanted, it be best we end the client/artist relationship and she suck up the loss of her deposit which is inevitable. I will humbly accept the lost 5 hours spent prepping for her and we move on.
There is unfortunately no perceived resolution for this incident as [redacted] was told she isn't going to get a deposit refunded to her and she is no longer going to be accepted as a client of HFX Tattoo.
I have no problem forwarding our email correspondence to confirm my professionalism and my managers can also verify our consult conversation. I personally do not want a resolution and do not want to be contacted about this again. This person is continuously robbing me of my time and energy and thinks she is owed it. I am a custom artist who chooses who I work on based on design. I do not work for people; I work with them.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2017/04/05) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
I disagree with what [redacted] has stated in her response and in fact know that she has done the exact opposite of what she is stating in said response and can provide material to support this if I have to take it further.I first sent my pic to [redacted] in January and it took 2 days before my appointment to send me her rendition of what I wanted.In her response she states she gives the client time to review well I revised and the next day that what she drew and what I wanted we off but that the pic she did draw was nice just not what I wanted as it didn't reflect the pics I emailed or showed her again during our consult.I also can forward these conversations as I tried to work with her even to the tune of saying since we cannot seem to agree on the cow pic let's try to move past this and work on finishing some of the leg work she started as I wanted to continue my relationship with her.She was nasty and rude in her responses and told me she was cancelling my appointment and keeping my deposit,there is nothing in their literature that states this is policy when an artist cancels she gets to keep your deposit.If she had any sort of customer service training she may have handled herself with a bit more restraint.I booked off work at a loss of 206 as it was past the time as per our policy to book back on and therefore the loss is to me.I gladly will provide her response to my emails as hey show my continued attempts to resolve any and all issues we might have had to allow my appointment to happen she flat out said no.If I have to go to small claims court I have no problem with that and will be seeking my list wage and my deposit as well as court costs.I also would like to draw attention to the fact she has also posted the drawing on her page for someone to pay to have tattooed does that person get my 40$ deposit deducted from the price and how can that be considered a loss.I would like to see where I signed and any of he material supporting her claims as of yet I have not.If my deposit is not returned I fully intend to pursue the way of court as I work hard for my money and my time costs just like hers.
Final Business Response /* (4000, 11, 2017/04/13) */
Here is Hfx Tattoos deposit policy in full
Thank you for your time on the matter
Deposit policy
Hfx tattoo
A deposit is in place to protect the artists time and artwork
Deposits are a requirement to book and come off the price of the tattoo in the end.
The designing, consult and all communication with artist is included in the price of the tattoo so the deposit is a small protection for the artist and their time.
The deposit is a guarantee that the client has been precise and clear on what they desire, (e.g., style, size, concept, artist) and is put down at their risk if they did not comply to what is required to complete a successful tattoo
Deposits are non refundable and non transferable once placed. (Non transferable, to another person, concept, date or time)
Deposits are to hold the specific tattoo date for the concept discussed at consult
Deposits are not a prepayment for a design.
Deposits do not buy the artwork
Artists retain the rights to their custom artwork at all times. A tattoo artist is selling you a tattoo of the artwork not the artwork itself.
Deposits are the assurance to an artist that you have booked based on the knowledge of that persons portfolio and are comfortable with the information given by them, that they will receive a tattoo that reflects the artists style, and the clients desires.
If an artist cannot comply to clients needs as articulated by the client they do not book at consult. If a clients needs change or were not portrayed clearly at consult, and the tattoo for the concept can not be met, the deposit is lost.
If a client has been booked, they have been made aware of the above, either by in person communication or through email.
Designs are not required to be sent out prior to appointments. Deposits do not pay for ownership of any design and are therefore not legally required to be sent out beyond the artist to be viewed, or saved by any client.
Artists often send out designs the week of/the day of the tattoo appointment, allowing for additions or small changes to the design but if the consult and booking took place, these details should be very minute to none and would take no more than a couple minutes to change if the client was clear with design wishes at booking and throughout any communication.
Deposits are set in place to protect the artists and shop. Not the client.
Artists at HFXTattoo have a high reputation for satisfaction and producing custom artwork for clients. We look forward to working with you and creating a beautiful piece together.