13 Roses Tattoo

The worst experience I've ever had, hands down!! I have at least 12 tattoos and I have never walked out of a shop upset or disappointed. It is incredible to me that after spending just about 30 minutes explaining the artist what I wanted he ended up doing something absolutely different and of questionable quality. Not only do I hate the tattoo all together, but it doesn't even look good.

I asked for a realistic, very organic hibiscus flower and he made it what he thought was "best". He argued with me over and over about how it needed to be done that way when right on the other shoulder I had exactly what I was asking (which i got done at Sacred Heart) so evidently it was more than possible for his to do it, and make it a good one.

Another artist in the shop dared to argue that what they offer is NOT a service... Ummm, YES it is. You have clients, you tattoo them, they PAY! A service!! You should be able to satisfy your customer/client and give them what they ask (not what you want) and if you think it's not a good idea you should let them know you can't or won't do it.

It is more than upsetting having to now wait for the thing to heal and go elsewhere to get it as close as possible to what I actually wanted.

I'm by any means saying they are not able to do a good work, but in my case they failed to do it on top failing to apologize... AND argue back and forth with me.

If you want to give an artist free will to so what they want, go for it; but if what you have it's an specific idea and want it executed in a specific kind of way, please go else where.

the rating should be a half star...really.  I went to them Father's Day to get a memorial tattoo for my father.. I have gone to 13 Roses off and on for over 3 years..  this is not the first time I have been disappointed in them.  While I really like the work there, customer service is NOT their forte.  I went up the stairs, was greeted.. and I inquired about getting a tat.. very simple..  the guy told me, 'we don't have any artists available'.  I said, but you're open.  He told me no one wanted to work.. I said, well, you've just lost a customer..his response - Whatev's and turned around.   I've been in there and seen/heard the way they talked to customers.. not good for business.  DO NOT PATRONIZE

Long ago I brought my niece there for her 1st tat~ her artist was kind, focused and meticulous; she has since left & opened her own shop, on Memorial Drive. [I've had also been tatted by one of the former owners of 13 Roses- at his shop in Decatur].
Thus, I have fond memories of 13 Roses as being a clean and efficient ~ somewhat friendly place to be.

However, My gal & I had a very different experience on our last visit; we went in to get the festive "Friday the 13th tats" - many shops around town [& in the tat world] have a special set of "flash" art that they create for each Friday the 13th [there will have been 3 in 2012 ~  the next is in July].

Anyhow, everybody who knows about it is prepared for a long wait & signs in ~ kinda like a popular restaurant @ brunch would be... thus, it is a hectic event.
I've been to several of these @ different shops and found 13 Roses to be an ill experience:
I observed some folks who work there drinking and b*tching too much... like the customers were a pain in the booty for taking up space and asking about the wait time. My feeling is that if it's your job to be the desk person, you should pretend to enjoy it or complain to your colleagues in private. We were very polite  to her despite the fact that the list was not followed & the wait times given were drastically off for many~ but not all; in speaking to others we found that the times were determined at the whim of Ms. annoyed.
Also, some of the artists were gruff & irritated~ as though they'd forgotten to go to bed the night before such a big event.
In years past, I have usually enjoyed watching the bustle of hard-working artists who challenge themselves with this highly anticipated day of tatting... knowing that for some customers it would be their 1st tat~ an experience that should be friendly & positive.
I tried to be a part of the posi~, for the record~ I was friendly, polite, and used the wait time to grade journals, read magazines, and bond with My gal.

We eventually got our turn ~ luckily, our artist was friendly & our tats are pretty cool... but I just can't see ever walking up that steep staircase without having a 1/2 night memory of whiny & unfair behavior.