FAQs & Answers

• Do I need an appointment or do you take walk ins?

I work by appointment only and you can book your appointment from the HOME PAGE of this site. I do require a non refundable deposit for appointments.

Please read and understand my conditions before booking.

• I tried to make an appointment for today and tomorrow and there's nothing available.

I get this a lot and it's because

my appointment schedule requires a 48 hour lead time.

Please keep in mind that I also provide EMBROIDERY & SCREEN PRINTING SERVICES in addition to TATTOOING & BODY PIERCING, not to mention all the remodeling that is currently going on in the shop, and all of this is a one man show.

As a result of my always being on the move, it is unlikely that I can get to you in the next couple hours. I apologize for the inconvenience and I do appreciate your patience.  

• How do I know how much time to book for my appointment?

That's a very good question that is impossible for me to answer without knowing more information.

Here's the hack, always book more time than you think you will need.

Remember there is drawing time involved in addition to time in the chair and if someone books the next spot and pays their deposit, I will honor their appointment time. It never hurts to arrive a little early to allow for that drawing time, I'm habitually here a half hour early, just so you know.

• Do you take a credit card?

For online appointment booking you will use a credit card or PayPal, but cash is the only form of payment accepted in the shop. For your and my convenience, I do have an ATM machine in the shop. There is limited funds kept in it, so customers are encouraged to bring enough funds to cover your appointment time.

• I tried calling several times and nobody ever answers the phone?

Yep, I've not actively answered the telephone for several years.

I do have a message in place that answers most of the questions typically asked over the phone and you can leave a message if you want to. I also have a pretty informative website with a FAQ page that I update once in a while to keep up to speed on the latest most asked questions

Remember guys, this is the 21st century and landlines are a thing of the past. 

• What if I book a four hour spot and I only use 2 hours, do I still have to pay for the whole 4 hours?

No worries there, I only charge for time used, so if you only use 2.5 hours of a 4 hour spot you only pay for the 2.5 hours and I'll use the extra time wisely on some shop improvements or maybe to go get a taco.

• Can I get tattooed or pierced if I am not yet 18 years old?

So sorry, the answer is NO. I DO NOT work on minors. You must be at least 18 years old, with a state issued photo ID to receive any services here at Genuine Tattoo Co. That has been my policy since 1991 and it works,

so I'm sticking with it.

• What if I have parent consent?

No. I honor no parent consent of any kind.

• What if I bring my parents with me?

No.

• How much does a tattoo cost?

What you spend on a tattoo is entirely up to you and your budget. If you want a tattoo and you have $500 to spend, I can do that; if you have $100 to spend I can do that too. Both results in a first rate tattoo, one  larger and more complex & the other smaller and less complex, but a fine tattoo either way. To accurately price a tattoo design, many variables must first be considered. These are size, placement, color, complexity of the design, & in the end it all comes down to how much time is involved.

• What is your Shop Minimum for Tattooing?

The shop minimum for tattooing is $100.

• How much will my piercing cost?

Standard piercing price is $60.00 for the first piercing & $100.00 if you get two, on the same person, on the same visit. This price includes piercing, quality starter jewelry, aftercare product & tax. Of course I offer jewelry upgrades as well for your new piercing & carry a full line of high end, made in U.S.A. internally threaded jewelry with shiny colored Cubic Zirconia gem ends to sparkle up your piercing right away, for a few dollars more.

• I called around & the other guys said they would pierce me for $10.00, why are you so much more expensive? 

Indeed, you will notice that my piercing prices are higher than many shops around as well as lower than others. I've always priced my work as to what is fair to my customers and myself and have never based what I am doing off of what someone else does. My pricing is based on my cost of doing the service and the result is due to the quality of jewelry used in your piercing & the cost of the aftercare product provided with your piercing. I only use high grade stainless steel & titanium body jewelry for piercing & your piercing as well as your pricing will reflect this. You do get what you pay for & we all know what we're worth.

• Do you sell tattoo supplies & piercing needles & stuff so I can go home & do it myself or have this guy I know who's really good & has a license & used to have his own shop do it for me in my bathroom or garage or whatever?

No I do not sell supplies, thanks for asking.

• Will you do a white or watercolor tattoo?

No. White tattoos and watercolor tattoos, in my humble opinion do not hold well and you can expect them to fade. Taking your money to do something I know is not in our best interest isn't something I'm about.

• Will you do my tattoo with no black outline? 

No. I do not do tattoos without outlines. As I have both beliefs in the right & wrong of how a tattoo should be applied, & ultimately hold authorship on every job that is done, there are some lines I will not cross. Tattoos with no black is one of those.

• Will you tattoo my hands, feet, head, neck, behind the ear, face or genitals? 

Yes, if you got it, I will tattoo it. Expect to pay a premium on these areas, as they take more time & expertise to tattoo properly, the charges will reflect this. There is a $200.00 minimum on the hands, feet & above the collarbones.
Also expect a hefty handling fee for tattooing on your junk, triple the tattoo cost plus $100.00 handling fee. Yup, no kidding, but for a nice gem like a pecker tattoo, the cost is very reasonable.

• Is there a charge for you to draw my design?

Yes & No. If am to do you a tattoo, then a drawing is a necessary part of the process. However, if I were to sit down to do the old song & dance for everyone who was "maybe kinda thinking about getting tattooed, like next month or whatever cause my cousin got one & it's really great", then I would be way too busy to help anyone who was locked & loaded, ready to go.

So the fix is this, if you're getting tattooed today, there's no problem doing your drawing. Then, let's get in the chair & get busy. If you're the "maybe in a week, i just want to see what you can work up for me" type, then break out your dollars. The drawing deposit amount depends on the drawing and will be applied towards the first sitting of your tattoo.

• Do you do free touch ups?

I do not do free touch ups. Any touch up required will be charged at least the $100.00 shop minimum, so take good care of your new tattoo.

• What do you mean you don't do free touch ups?

If was  to forget to color in an area, then of course I would happily fix my error. However if your tattoo looked good when it was bandaged, received both artist & customer approval, then returns to show a lack of care on the customers part, that is on you.

Please understand that there are two parts to a fine tattoo. First there is the application, that's on me. Second & just as important, is the proper care of a new tattoo, that's on you.

As it is not reasonable to hold the artist accountable for the proper care of a new tattoo, & since all can immediately see, upon completion of a new tattoo whether or not the artist has held up his end of the bargain, and we now understand that it is just as important what happens after the bandage is applied as it is before the bandage is applied, then I'm sure we can agree that free touch up is an unnecessary shop policy.

Keep in mind that if an artist offers free touch up as shop policy, it may be that they know the work is substandard to begin with & may also be an indication that they are "crying uncle" before the games even begin.