Hello hello. So I’m not one to make bad reviews, but seeing as how this is going to be on my skin until I die, I feel it is necessary. Back in April 2021 I walked into Koi Ink to get a tattoo that I have wanted forever. I walked into this very reputable tattoo shop expecting nothing but good things. I have gotten three of my tattoos done there and have always had a good experience. This time was very different. When I walked in I was not greeted. I spoke to the guy behind the counter who was busy making designs I assume. He acted annoyed when I told him what I was here for. He told me to sit down and “he’ll be ready for you in like 20 minutes”. Okay sure. While I was waiting, the other staff members were standing around, not wearing masks eating pizza and chatting/ swearing very loudly. I sat down for about 45 minutes and then finally some guy who I got no formal introduction to asked me what tattoo I was getting. I showed him my idea. A simple cheetah tattoo with some large greenery behind it. At this point I still had no formal introduction to this guy. He drew up the sketch and then stated he was going for a smoke. Him and one of the managers there (I won’t say names) got in an argument about how this guy “needs to take less smoke breaks”. I was feeling uneasy about everything at this point. No masks, the entire staff acted like they did NOT want to be there, and I had no fucking clue who my tattoo artist was. We started the session anyways and I was feeling a bit more excited. About half way through the guy was like “I’m gonna go for a smoke” okay man, sure. I still didn’t know his name and he didn’t say one word to me the whole time. I looked down at my cheetah tattoo, who I now refer to as Jane. And I was like. This looks rough. I called the STORE OWNER over. (If you know this shop you know who it is) and I was like “This looks kinda rough….” He said “no it looks fine. He’s not done yet. Just wait it out” or something along those lines. I agreed… hesitantly… The guy came back and did a bit more until his next appointment showed up. He said I would have to reschedule to finish. I went and paid for the tattoo and made an appointment to come back. I was honestly almost in tears. I let Jane heal for a bit and went back to Koi Ink on the day Jane was supposed to get finished. I spoke to a very friendly gal who was the only one in the shop when it first opened. She agreed that my tattoo looked like shit. (She didn’t say that but we all know it’s true, it’s fine) she said if I wanted my money back I’d have to come back when the store owner was in. Aaaaabsolutely I’ll be back. In the end I did get my money back. And I also got some extremely snide comments from the shop owner. I was told “this can be fixed. It’s not that bad” and “this was a poor decision on both your ends” I’m sorry but fuck that. When somebody walks into an extremely reputable tattoo shop with an idea, it is up to the tattoo artist and shop owner to execute accordingly or admit that they do not have the skills to do said tattoo idea…. I did find out later that the guy who did my tattoo was an apprentice… who obviously was not skilled enough to do my tattoo. I told him I will be getting the tattoo lasered off. He made no effort to insist to pay for the laser. But he did have the audacity to say when I get it lasered off he could personally tattoo me- at a discounted rate. Meaning he would give me “a large piece” for about $700. I will never go back to Koi Ink. So that’s my story of Jane, and the extremely disappointing experience I had at Koi Ink. Thanks for reading. Read Less

Rod is honestly amazing at what he does! He takes an idea you bring to him and zones in and will let you know what to change and what looks good and what doesn’t . Brought him a piece that I really liked.. but what he did to revamp it made me LOVE IT! 10/10 for me 5 stars isn’t enough!!!!! Thank you! Read Less