Don't even waste your time with a walk-in. You can do MUCH better.The artists here are bit mediocre for my taste, but I'm a big fan of piercings. Previously I used to live in Napa up until August of 2... Read More
Don't even waste your time with a walk-in. You can do MUCH better.The artists here are bit mediocre for my taste, but I'm a big fan of piercings. Previously I used to live in Napa up until August of 2016, before moving to Vallejo recently. Like many others, I travel often to Solano county to get cheaper prices on the same services. And unfortunately the piercers in Napa couldn't do as much as Mitch can.So originally first time I was here, they were still located on Sonoma Blvd. I came in to get two cartilage piercings, one on each ear. This was when Mitch was still training his apprentice. I'm all for friendly banter, but this guy LOVES TO TALK. To a point that I wasn't even offering anything to the conversation, he was just droning on, while I stared blankly waiting until my jewelry could be prepped. He definitely takes pride in his work but respectfully, I came in for a piercing that shouldn't take more than 30 minutes prep, in and out. I WAS THERE FOR TWO HOURS. YES I TIMED IT AFTER THE FIRST 45. This guy was meticulous to a point of OCD and I was getting incredibly anxious and frustrated as he slowly instructed his apprentice how to pierce my ears. My ears are small and it took entirely way too long to get the right place marked in both ears. This guy has tons of experience, and you can see it in his portfolios and walls, but for some reason needs an hour+ to get ready for the actual process. Both piercings hurt like hell, but they were both pretty supportive through my angry tears. Got them iodized a "blurple" and walked out $90 poorer which I'm told was a deal.Second time, they have moved to Virginia St. I decide to brave it again. Fonzi be praised, Mitch was away and his apprentice Irais was fully trained and raring to go. Had her do a micro-dermal on the left side of my face. She promised it would hurt less than the cartilage and thankfully she was right. Poor girl was so small that it almost felt like she was basically putting her whole body weight on me and we laughed about it. Otherwise, don't remember much talk and I left soon after. $45 lost and worth it.Third and final time, I walked in, I didn't even want to get pierced. I merely wanted some new jewelry and was too lazy to drive to Galaxy in Napa. BAD MOVE. I mentioned that the piercing I was getting jewelry for, a philtrum or medusa, was pierced there two weeks prior. Immediately, upon mentioning Galaxy, he stops preparing my jewelry and goes on the longest rant on how cheap their jewelry is, how easy it melts, blah blah. Mind you, he has a thick accent and I can barely decipher what he's saying when he's talking that fast. I smile and nod, stealing glances at the sanitizing machine he uses. Obviously he was trying to educate me on proper jewelry but I didn't once ask for the lecture on where I went before. I didn't come in to complain or chat, I wanted to get custom jewelry and leave asap. Even the cheapest and simplest bar and jewel was $15. Are you kidding me?? He even had legit gold jewelry with diamond selling for $250 and up. Yeah good luck selling that in downtown Vallejo. I opted for a purple opal with icy blue iodized coating and it came out fantastic.... and for $30 I begrudgingly accepted. I'm about to leave but then I impulsively decide that I should finally buy a new stud for my dermal since I had never replaced it. Originally it had a 3mm stud which I used to think was too big for my face. I choose a 2mm pink jewel and got blurple again for iodizing. Upon putting it in right there I was incredibly hesitant already. Sensing my frustration, Mitch says I should wear it out and see how I feel, and if anything went wrong or I wasn't satisfied, then I should come straight back and we would work something out. I pay him the extra $15 for the new dermal and go home.The next day, I drive straight back and explain to him how I didn't like what I picked out. I was very insistent on explaining how I had no issue with the actual product but the color scheme was all wrong with my skin tone. I bought the gem back too. I figured that being polite enough, I could just get a new one in exchange or even just pay an extra $5 difference for another opal. NOOOOPE. Then he explains how he can't take it back once it's on my face but if I want to pay for another one..... Like really dude? I barely even see foot traffic in this place, most of the time the artists are sitting around waiting for walk-ins, but you're so petty and cheap that you'll hold out because you can't part with a $15 stud for a returning customer??He couldn't take it back, but a new one wasn't really out of the question after waiting that incredulous amount of time. Ugh. Be professional, and have respect for your client's time and money. I can't believe the ridiculous overcharging for the area and I'm NEVER going back. I have 5 tattoos and 10 piercings and I've never been so dissatisfied. Artists like him are what turn people off body modification. Read Less