Warning...a long read...but worth reading! If you are getting your first tattoo...Don't Go Here!I've spent 49 years of my life trying to overcome the worst personal struggles you can throw at a perso... Read More
Warning...a long read...but worth reading! If you are getting your first tattoo...Don't Go Here!I've spent 49 years of my life trying to overcome the worst personal struggles you can throw at a person and yet with the love and support of family and friends, I'm still standing, still fighting. Tattoos have a lot of meeting to people and it is something I had thought about for a while.I interviewed a number of artists and studios because this tattoo was really the crown jewel for a person who has overcome so many obstacles. When I met Carlos and his wife Dyonna, and they heard a little about my story, I felt connected to them and that they would deliver something very special for me. I had a great feeling about them and that they were different from the other studios I had interviewed.I visited their studio back in July and was told it would be approximately three months before I could get in to have the work done with Carlos. I was also told that a couple weeks prior to spending "all day" in the chair, they would reach out and begin working with me on the design which was to include a large piece on my chest, shoulder/short sleeve, and part of my ribs.Two weeks prior to my appointment, I heard nothing, so I sent a very detailed email about my background, sample artwork and a song I had written that was to be incorporated into this very personal piece. I never got a response to the email. Nothing.I went to the shop last week on Tuesday September 20th and met Carlos and discussed again what I was looking for (he hadn't read the email..albeit it was a rather long email). He told me he would look at it and have artwork for me the following Friday, September 23rd, and he would email it since I travel a lot. Friday came and went and I heard nothing. I sent a follow-up email on Monday letting them know that I would need to switch shoulders because of some impending surgery from a recent sports injury. An associate told me he would be on Tuesday, September 27th. So I stopped in on Tuesday and was told that he wouldn't be in now until Wednesday. I sent another email concerned that it was two days prior to my appointment and to confirm that I needed to switch to the other shoulder and again, no response and no artwork. I never heard anything back. So two days prior to my appointment I called again to inquire why I hadn't seen any artwork and was told by Dyonna that they might need more time? Time? I had made the appointment three months prior. They had artwork and ideas two weeks before the appointment and I made myself available multiple times with no success. Dyonna told me she would check with Carlos and get back with me.I got a call back from Dyonna later on Wednesaday and was told to still come in for my appointment as Carlos would be ready by Friday, September 30th. He had read my email and was working on something special. I also reminded them I needed to make sure they switched shoulders. I'm a very busy person and it takes an act of congress for me to get a day off. I arrived September 30th as instructed to find a nice partial design for part of the tattoo but Carlos indicated he really wanted more time as the drawing, although nice, was very incomplete and only represented a portion of the work to be done. Why had I taken an entire day off for him to tell me he needed more time...it has only been three months in the making?I had taken the day off and was fully prepared to have my work done. I shaved my chest, had brought music, books, everything to make it through a long day of tattooing...but unfortunately I was really discouraged by the lack of preparation after I had put in so much effort to make my first tattoo meaningful. Dyonna indicated it was because I had switched shoulders and implied Carlos had been working on the design a long time. I later learned this wasn't true as Carlos hadn't started the design until 48 hours prior to the appointment which he told me himself. The other excuse I got was "well we were on vacation for five days" which to me means nothing. I booked this appointment over three months ago. This is on you. Carlos did make an effort to try and reschedule me, but the reality was I had a specific date set aside and have a traveling schedule that wouldn't allow me to be back in there for another month or two.I returned later that day to get my deposit back and was told by his wife Dyonna that they are non refundable despite their lack of preparation. She also made rude and demeaning comments. Carlos called back later that afternoon to apologize and to try and get me to change my mind, but after being so unprepared and then treated rudely by his wife I simply said no. Update 7/20/17Dyonna's unprofessional response is typical of this establishment. Perhaps I should publish the threatening text messages from Carlos I have saved stating you would not publish personal information if I removed this review? Pathetic! Read Less