Tattoo Culture

I have to give Brian Wren some love on here since he doesn't seem to have any reviews yet.  A little over a year ago I was about to move away from NYC where I'd been living for the past 13 years.  It was a difficult decision to make and I wanted to commemorate the time I spent there with some ink.  The only issue was, unlike my other tattoos I made this decision pretty spur of the moment and needed to find someone available in the next few days.  As anyone with a lot of ink will tell you, most of the well-known artists in the city book up weeks if not months in advance and getting an opening at the last minute is rare.  I did a lot of research and was actually referred to Brian by Emma Griffiths (who now has her own shop) because she didn't have any openings.  I dropped by the shop and talked to Brian for a few minutes about what I wanted, and came back the next day.  The drawing he did was not EXACTLY what I wanted but very close.  We made a small tweak and he got to work.  About three hours later, my tattoo was finished and I was thrilled!  I don't know if Brian has a light hand or if the back of your arm just doesn't hurt as much, but this was my least painful tattoo I've had done.  Could have stood for several more hours if necessary.  My one minor complaint was that I thought it took longer than it should have.  I have a few other tattoos of similar size that took about half the time.  But, he gave me a really good price and like I said, it wasn't that painful so it wasn't a big deal.  Check out Brian's portfolio on their site, I think he is a rising star in the NYC scene and you're going to wish you got an appointment with him while you still could!

Being "extremely apologetic" does not equate with doing the right thing and offering some kind of compensation for my having booked a trip for the sole purpose of doing a consultation.  If there was any question or confusion in that regard, I should have been warned up front that consultations are frequently cancelled.   I paid $173 for the sole purpose of coming to the consultation.  Although I am frequently in New York and could have rescheduled, I would have gladly done so BEFORE I BOOKED THE TRAIN TICKET.  I booked the ticket early to get a better travel deal - TC contacted me a month in advance.  Thanks but where does that leave me?  Still with no ability to get a full refund for cancelled travel.  What could TC have done?  Something besides just saying "I'm sorry."  Maybe a coupon?  A booking fee waiver/reduction?  Something more should have been done.

And not everybody has the luxury of dropping what they're doing and to take a weekend trip at the beck and call of a store.  I am frequently on call, and my schedule doesn't allow for throwing my clothes in a bag and coming to New York any old weekend.  I had to make special arrangements to use 2 personal days and switched call in order to make the trip.  So now I am out money AND HARD-EARNED time.

Poor customer service.  Great tattoo artist.  The latter does not justify visiting the shop when you're just another number.  

I'll go elsewhere.  I don't want anything to do with Tattoo Culture, and I advise people to be absolutely clear on consultations and planned dates for the tattoo session BEFORE booking travel.  If not you will be SOL, albeit notified by a "very apologetic front desk."

Super clean and efficient shop.   Gene's work is absolutely worth the wait for an appt.  His art is unique and beautiful and I am proud to have an original Gene Coffey on my arm.  I have never seen birds or flowers captured as eloquently and vividly as Gene's.  I will return.  On top of that, he was able to cover almost my entire upper arm in just about 3 hours.  Just amazing.