Hey Pro's

Just wondering what your touch-up policies are. Normally I do them for free (if it's my own work) and I have no problem doing so, but lately I'm seeing a rash of people wanting touch ups that very obviously didn't follow my aftercare instructions and basically neglected their tattoo completely, resulting in the tattoo needing to be totally redone. One guy had the worst piece of crap I've ever seen, and it was me that did it a month prior, but since then, I've seen other clients who have had great healings. I'm thinking of somehow putting a clause on the free touchup policy due to those who don't follow the aftercare instructions. Any suggestions/ideas? Anyone else come across this?

We come across it all the time ...I think maybe on the outside MAYBE 30% of people who get tattoos care for them properly.However at my shops EVERY tattoo is guaranteed for life PERIOD....Even if they got a piece then went home and soaked in a chlorinated pool and fucked it all the way up...that tattoo is guaranteed...WHY? ...because that work was done at MY shop by MY artists and if someone asks where they got it I want them to know WE DO GOOD WORK. They may get yelled at when they come in for a free touch up but by God that tattoo will ALWAYS look good.....And even if the artist who did the work isn't there anymore we will STILL give them a free touch up.We take pride in our work even if the customer wearing it doesn't!!!!...TAz

at the studio i work at we do free touch ups if it's our work, but i we can clearly tell the tattoo was neglected then we charge. sometimes it gets ugly, but we stick by it.

jesus this is getting scary here taz as i feel the same way ive always stood behind my work funny story i was doing some work here a while back had a client asked how much to fix a piece on her leg i gave her a modest price as it wasnt really too bad.well now sometimes my memory is as long as my finger and it happened that while fixing up the piece it was one i did when i was first starting out. after realising this was my work i quickly riped off my gloves stood up and said well i wont be needing this money,for this tattoo it just aint right and i stand behind my work.by the way she gave me back the money and a kiss on the cheek thanked me and told me the money was just a tip for my honesty and good morals.it dosent happen all the time but ocassionaly it does.yes it rips me to see the neglect and all but i still stand behind it.infact the man who owns the oldest shop here in town has been recently doing some revamp work from 15 years ago 2 full sleeves no charge its his work.however the client does tip him here and there.but its not the money its just standing behind your work and etchics to me and him and those of us that do this.