Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo

124 The Tattoo Relationship
name "Rose" in the scrollwork. He finds the design he wants
on a sheet and begins to dicker about the price (I know this is
a prime example of client assholeness in Randy's view).
Randy-That one is fifty bucks--5am with two smoking guns.
Client-You said it was $45 on the phone. I only brought $50
and have to get some beer for the ride home.
R (annoyedl-I told you it was $45 or $50 on the phone!
C-You think we can work something out? I want to have some
other work done. How much is that? (Points out a large grim
reaper. Randy tells him it is $85.) I really like that. I want to
get my arms covered; none of that other bullshit. I want to be
able to see them. (Pause.) Can I get Sam for $45?
R (very annoyedl-Youl1 have to wait until the boss gets back
and talk to him.
C-Yeah, I really like that one. I got this (indicates skull with
dagger) twenty years ago for $11.
When confronted with the "sticker shock" generated by the
prices posted on the flash lor, in the case of those requesting custom
work. hearing about the estimated length of time the tattoo
will take and the artist's hourly rate). inexperienced tattooees
usually either swallow hard and pay the money up front or they
reduce their risk by revising their expectations and picking a
smaller and less expensive design. It is interesting that tattoo selection
on the basis of price-a common approach when a consumer
is making an impulse or "low involvement" purchase-is
so common in what should be. by all rights. a "high involvement"
transaction (AssaeI. 1984: 80-102).
The tattoo process is also more time-consuming than most novice
clients anticipate. Typically, tattoo artists are reluctant to
make appointments. Except in the case of complicated custom
work. tattooists usually work on a first-come-first-served basis.
The novice tattooee. therefore, often confronts the problem of
"time loss" (Roselius. 1971) as an aspect of risk. Except for pushyclient
attempts to negotiate cost. dissatisfaction about waiting
and arguments about who-was-here-before-whom were the most
common sources of conflict within the tattoo settings observed.
While commercial tattooists commonly see the rather languid