am i being ripped off?

yesterday i was quoted 180 on a very simple tribal armband (not all the way around but like 3 quarters of the way around) in all black. i got a tribal when i was 17 that goes like halfway around and it is in all black also and i only paid 70 bucks for it. the place that quoted me 180 last nite was the only tattoo place around that was still open, and they are kind of in the "touristy" part of town. can anyone tell me if this is a good price? thanks so much. AIM: JstnTimb8 Y!: JustinTimberlake20022001 Email: [email removed] xoxokev

when a shop is in a prime location,most likely the rent is higher.most shops charge around 100-200 an hr.so it doesn't sound like alot.check out non stop art tattoo..they have some good tattooers..their in Homewood,AL 205-945-6762

It doesn't sound too much, but i'm in San Francisco one of the most expensive places to get tattooed. If it is good work in a clean shop, you are getting a reasonable price (and maybe even a deal- I think you'd be paying at least $200 for it in SF)

OR dont get such a shitty tattoo.

Well,I got my first tat on my 18th birthday,13 years ago.I paid $150.The artist did a very similar tat(a little smaller though) on someone a couple months ago for $600.Prices have gone up big time.Also I was in southern california about 3 months ago and wanted a spider web on my left elbow.Guy said $400.I said no.I went outside and started talking to one of the other artist there and he laughed and siad $150.I got it from him.Also prices can depend on the persons mood.

This is EXACTLY what's wrong with the industry today. Shops cutting throat is bad enough, but cutting throat IN THE SAME SHOP!!! The guy who undercut should be dragged into the street and shot for the lack of respect. Secondly, if you are price shopping for a tattoo you are starting off wrong in the first place. Find a quality custom artist who's work you like, and pay what they ask. If they are good, they know what their work is worth. I can't stress enough that this is FOR LIFE FOLKS! This isn't a $100 pair of shoes worn out and tossed in a year or so. $180 is cheap for a tribal arm band. Personally, I would have paid the $400 for that web too (assuming the guy was a quality artist). Would you go to a plactic surgeon because they are CHEAP? I'm having visions of the scene in Batman where the Joker (Jack Nicholson) gets his face "fixed". UGG.

Kandyman Joe, don't you think that's a bit harsh? If someone is trying to charge too much, they are trying to charge too much, reguardless of who they work with if you can do it for less then why not. Also, i don't know about your life, but in mine, i don't have 400 dollars for a tattoo, specially when it's small enough to be on the elbow. If someone else can do the same thing, just as well, for less than half of that, then i'd go with them.

Let me sum it up for in a few short words brother, Quality only costs once.

No, I don't think its harsh. I call it like I see it. I would have had my knee caps relocated for me if I had undercut in the shops I came up in. That is not exaggeration. Think of it this way... Groceries for one month (let say for a family of three) = easily 350-400. Great tattoo for the REST OF YOUR LIFE = 350-400 It boils down to willingness to pay for quality. I know folks that will drop three bills in a night at the bar or strip club, but aren't willing to invest in this lifelong decision. From experience, ten years after investment in a quality tattoo, price makes NO difference at all. You may say I'm biased because I'm a tattoo artist. The fact is I've been on the consumer side to. If I can't afford the artist I want, I save up till I can. That simple. Keep in mind a tattoo purchase feeds and houses this artist, pays for quality, experience, talent, etc. Buying a cheap tattoo is kind of like saying "No, I don't want that Picasso because it costs too much. But boy-o those 'dogs playing pool' look GREAT!" -Kandyman Joe www.pureimaginationtattoos.com 319-385-3977

Boy am i glad I live in Oz (never thought I'd say that). I appreciate there are dollar value differences but I have a tattooist that does everything for me dirt cheap, and is one of the best around!

Oh please Kandy Man. Quit being so cocky. I think people like you are more the issue with the industry right now myself. I agree, first and foremost you shop for quality. However, that does NOT change the fact that there are people who charge entirely too much for very simple work. When you're not dealing with elaborate custom designed pieces that involve an artist's heart and soul, it's absurd to me that an "artist" could charge so much for a design that they've applied a dozen times in the past few weeks and could do so in their sleep. The fact that tattoos are permanant does not give the artist a free license to rip off every customer and certainly does not make them immune to market forces. If someone can apply a very simple tattoo for less than half the cost of another artist at the same quality level, I'll be damned if I'm going to pay the extra price just because of some ignorantly conceived notion that price equals quality. To say that price is not a factor is absurd to the extreme, to the point where I question your motives to being a tattoo artist.

Oh please Kandy Man. Quit being so cocky. -- If thats how you see it. Everyone takes themselves very seriously. I like to approach things - even myself - with a sense of humor. I think people like you are more the issue with the industry right now myself. Hmmm. People that have struggled, achieved, gained respect, are passionate about the art and the livelihoods of the artists involed are the problem?? Interesting. I agree, first and foremost you shop for quality. -- o.k. However, that does NOT change the fact that there are people who charge entirely too much for very simple work. -- I never said there weren't. There are hacks arond me that charge $175 for a 2 inch tall Minnie Mouse because they think they can get away with it. When you're not dealing with elaborate custom designed pieces that involve an artist's heart and soul, it's absurd to me that an "artist" could charge so much for a design that they've applied a dozen times in the past few weeks and could do so in their sleep. -- Key point is "applied dozens of times" To me that means experience. I practically give away "large heart & soul pieces." This is how I feed my family, so if someone does want a cookie cutter piece, it will be expensive BECAUSE I've done it time and again. That's not cocky, thats honest. The fact that tattoos are permanant does not give the artist a free license to rip off every customer and certainly does not make them immune to market forces. If someone can apply a very simple tattoo for less than half the cost of another artist at the same quality level, I'll be damned if I'm going to pay the extra price just because of some ignorantly conceived notion that price equals quality. -- I never said price equals quality... I did say *assuming* the artist was good and worth it. In fact the permanency is exactly why good tattoos are not cheap. I don't percieve paying premium prices for premium work as getting ripped off. I think no customer should be ripped off. Ususally if an artist is willing to undercut their coworkers, they are willing to cut corners on the tattoo, and everyone loses. Ethics 101. Price and simplicity of a tattoo are subjective. Have you tattooed many elbows? If not, you should know it's fairly difficult. To say that price is not a factor is absurd to the extreme, to the point where I question your motives to being a tattoo artist. -- What I said was price is not a factor 10 years later. I paid a LOT for my half-sleeve, and it is bold, clean, and almost as bright as the day I got it finished. I don't care how much I paid beacuse it is still great work. I was not a tattoo artist at the time. But I did my homework and found the best, then paid for the best. As for my motives, well... I'll let my art speak for that. Kandyman Joe www.pureimaginationtattoos.com 319-385-3977 [email removed] 319-385-3977

@the thread author Alot of quality shops charge a minimum rate. $100 - $300 isn't out of line for a popular one. I can get it done next door at a medicore shop for around $120 and I get what I get. Or I can see an "artist of the year" for a $300+ price tag. But for that it's guaranteed to perform. Sorry but I don't know anyone of any worth that will do it for any less. I know some jail house dudes with a bent guitar string attached to a casstte deck motor who will do that for around $80 and a 6pack. And lets keep in mind this is tribal right? No offense but it aint like there is tons of skill involved there. Most novice talents can pull that off, so yeah I guess $180 could be considered alot considering an artist can bang it out in a short time. I always sugesst ppl don't get tribal, but that's just my opinon. Your money is your vote so whatever you chose will determine the market in that area. It's a free market society and there are few rules to govern it. Money does the deciding...end game *shrugs* If it sux you'll always wish you had gone the other way?? Good luck

To kandyman: I apologize if it seemed like I was making a personal attack against you, but that wasn't my intention. I'm absolutely sure all of your work is of the highest quality and that you're very qualified to comment on the issue. However, what caused what might be seen as a little hostility on my end was only what I perceived as an unncessarily rude response to the original poster. No disrespect intended, and perhaps I didn't make that clear originally. Besides, ultimately I think we both share the same sentiments; I just took issue to what seemed to be a false syllogism at the time. Quality work demands a premium, but a premium does not demand high quality work. We both agree here.

Just because a design is simple doesn't mean you dont need an experienced artist who may charge a premium. Amateur and learning artists will not do as good of a job getting the tattoo in the skin, arnt as aware of the skins limitations, wont get the black as solid as it should be, and probably wont make the tattoo last as long as it could. Assuming the $400 guy isn't just price gouging, its probably worth the extra $$$. The fact that an artist in his own studio undercut him by $250 would send me RUNNING. A studio should have consistency, and that kinda behavior would make me extremely suspicious. I wouldn't go to either artist. That said, sure, tribal armbands are generally beginner tattoos that are often done by beginner tattoo artists (its good practice). I guess theres no real reason to go to an extremely talented custom tattoo artist for a tribal armband, because most experienced tattoo artists know these tattoos are often regretted 10 years later, cut the "flow" of the arm off (so they are hard to build off of), and often have to cover them. Chances are if you get a tribal armband and stick around the tattoo culture for a decade and learn about the possibilities of the art, you will be paying that premium to cover it up. Sure, you shouldn't get ripped off, but you should NEVER be getting a quote from a tattoo artist you dont trust. Here is a paragraph from an upcoming article on "Getting the perfect tattoo". Money Relatively speaking, tattoos can cost a lot of money, and it's good to think of them as an investment rather than a one-time impulse purchase. However, we made this topic the last one because in the ideal scenario, it's the least important factor. In a money-obsessed culture such as ours, this sentiment runs contrary to popular belief. We are so used to basing so many of our decisions on money that it may seem foolish to not do this with tattoos, but like we've tried to explain, tattoos are not an ordinary, everyday decision. We feel that a decision with permanent, and sometimes even life altering consequences should not be made with a penny-pinching mindset. All the other factors explained throughout this entire article should make it clear that getting a tattoo is nothing like shopping for a bargain at the grocery store. Of course, no one should get ripped off or taken advantage of when it comes to the cost of their tattoo, so there are a few things everyone should know about how to approach this aspect of the tattoo process. Firstly, every tattoo artist and/or tattoo shop sets their own prices and policies. Many artists charge based on an hourly rate, similar to a car mechanic's labor charges. For large, multi-sitting tattoos this makes it extremely hard for an artist to give you an exact price up front, so they will almost always have you pay as you go, sitting by sitting, for however long the particular session lasted. They may also be able to give a very rough estimate up front if you absolutely need it for your budgeting purposes. For very small and quick tattoos requiring only a few hours or less, many artists find it easier to charge a flat rate for the specific design being tattooed. Again, every shop and artist is different, so if money is a concern for you going into the whole process, make your concerns known well in advance, so there are no surprises or disputes at the end when it's time for the artist to collect their money. Another smart option for the money-concerned client is to give a firm spending limit up front when explaining your idea to the artist. This way, the artist can tailor what they do, such as the size and estimated time involved, to your budget. If your tattoo request simply will not fit into your budget they should be able to tell you this up front, and suggest some other options that will work out, to avoid any disputes later. One pet peeve of almost every single tattoo artist is being haggled with over money, so generally speaking, price-shopping for a tattoo is one of the worst ways to go about it. It's a good way to end up with a frustrated, uninspired, or downright bad tattoo artist. After all, any talented artist putting out quality work with a good reputation will be too busy to sit and bargain or play 'let's make a deal' with a potential client. It's the ones who are willing to put up with this that you have to be weary of. The most common hourly rate for tattooing nowadays throughout most of the U.S is around $100, but depending on how experienced and sought after a tattoo artist is, they may charge $150, $200, or even up to $300 per hour of tattooing. The most popular and sought after tattoo artists in the entire world can charge this much simply because they can, based on the principles of supply and demand (there's only one of them, and lots of demand for their artwork). For some people this can seem like an outrageous rate, but if you put it in context of the art world as a whole, it really isn't. Famous painters can sell an average-sized painting for tens of thousands of dollars to willing collectors. Hell, actors and actresses and other performing artists can make millions of dollars for one movie--all because they can; it's what the forces of the market and economy allow. So why shouldn't an incredibly talented and skilled tattoo artist, who is marking people's bodies permanently with beautiful works of wearable art, not be able to charge whatever rate people are willing to pay, or whatever they feel they deserve? In the ideal scenario, money will not be a factor at all in any of the client's decisions regarding their tattoo. Instead the focus will be on getting the highest quality tattoo and treatment possible, since the actual tattoo is the one thing that will last a lifetime. In life, pain and money come and go, but tattoos stick around for a lot longer, so if you got the perfect tattoo after all your time and energy put into the process, any expenses required should seem small or unimportant. There's an old saying in the tattoo community which can sum up this entire section: 'Good tattoos aren't cheap, and cheap tattoos aren't good.'

Also, Kandyman Joe isnt being cocky, he's being truthful... Artists undercutting other artists by hundreds of bucks... talk about unethuical... jeese!

Justin... you are totally white!!! Why in the hell are you going to get a tribal band? What tribe are you from? Don't be stupid and get a tattoo just like your friends...find something you like or nothing at all.. Damn!

AMEN LA TISHA.... ARMBANDS ARE SO 1997, THEY ARE SO GAY.... GET A COOL TATTOO.. YOU WILL REGRET THE BAND..

You are being ripped off, as long as you're price shopping tattoos. It's not like price shopping an identical pair of sneakers from 2 different stores, or price-shopping 2 identical DVD players. It's 2 services provided by totally different callibers of artists. If you go for the price that's cheapest, you will rip yourself off.