Gold Coast Tattoo Studio

I was recommended to come to Gold Coast by a close friend. It was my first tattoo and so I went. The artist I dealt with was Rick. Now as I knew nothing then about getting tattoos, I was quite shy in my attempts to explain what I wanted. He drew up a design, which was okay. I asked for an 'antique' color scheme--and ended up with red and blue and gold. Now, the work he does is lovely. I have tried since the day I met him to be nothing but friendly, engaging and willing to work with him.

Unfortunately, he has been consistently rude, dismissive and condescending every time I spoke with him. He was wonderful to my friend--because she's very very pretty and he's friends with her husband. But I thought I would talk to him again about another piece because maybe it was just me. I was polite, complimentary--every time I interacted with him--so maybe I was doing something unconsciously.

So we are discussing my idea, I wanted something with organic and inorganic elements. He tells me that that is not 'art' and it doesn't 'work'. Well, last time I checked, sir, I'm paying you--not the other way around. So what you consider 'art' is not what everyone considers 'art'. But we managed to work something out. Okay, cool. I put down a $160 deposit on the piece.

I come back a week later so that Rick can take a print of it. He asks me for a $60 deposit. It all would go towards my tattoo in the end, so I paid that.

I arrive to get it--my appointment has been cancelled. Oh. Huh. Why? He vanished off to some convention and I was promised that he would contact me as soon as he got back. I left a couple messages---and I got nothing in return for a month.

Then, out of the blue, he sends me an email telling me that he doesn't want to do my piece anymore because he heard I might be leaving soon for medical reasons.  And he didn't feel like putting all the work into it. I was rather stunned--one, because there was no way he should have known ANYTHING about my medical issues and did not feel like he had to disclose WHY he knew that information. And two--seriously? Really? You cancel my appointment without notice, go to some convention for a week, jerk around for a month and your first contact is to tell me you don't feel like it?

Okay, fine. I ask about my deposits. He tells me he would rather keep the money in-house because it would be better for his 'books'. I tell him I don't really care about that and I go by the shop. He gives me $60. I ask about the $160 I already had on it. He says he doesn't know anything about that. And there's no way he would have taken a $160 deposit. So I went home, found the receipt and brought it back. Rick tried to tell me that it didn't "prove anything"--but after some tense words were exchanged, he finally refunded my money.

So, forget this guy--I could have just blown it off. But this next bit was the icing on the cake.

I go to another tattoo shop called Earthbound Tattoo. I take an idea to Noel, who creates a beautiful piece for me. I get it and I put the pictures of it on Facebook.

To my surprise, i find that Rick has come and commented on those pictures with this: "What the hell?? That's a strange thing to do?? Guess I didn't do a good job on that compass after all?? Hmmmm?"

I have been nothing but gracious to this guy. Every chance I got I tried to compliment the work he did. Told him how much I liked it. But apparently if I don't bow down and act like he walks on water--I'm the one being a jerk? He REFUSED to do the piece I brought to him after jerking me around for two months. Every time I spoke with him, he was dismissive, rude and made me constantly feel stupid and I was patient. But that made me really angry. Who does he think he is? He doesn't have exclusive rights to anything I want to get tattoo'd.

Thanks but no thanks, jerk. I'll take my money elsewhere. There are PLENTY of shops in Monterey where I can get tattoos. You are not the only good artist here. Because yes, the work that Rick does is lovely. It's very good--but his attitude is extremely ugly. I want nothing more to do with this place. I'll never come here again.

Perry pierced my teenagers nose. He was fantastic with her. Very clean, communicative, thorough. Would highly recommend for piercing! May go back for navel piercing in the future.

This place is clean! the staff is as friendly as it gets at a tattoo place! they had great humor and also clean and professional they did a great touch up for my mom in law...and the owner was friendly and caring.....thank you gold coast for a postive tattoo experience