F.A.Q.

1. How do I make an appointment?
   - To make an appointment, at the moment, we will put you in contact with your desired artist. They will contact you about scheduling and their method of taking deposits. All appointments require a non-refundable cash deposit of $100.00. This comes off the price of your tattoo. If you have session work your deposit is carried over to the next appointment until your piece is finished. If you fail to show up for your following appointment your deposit is null and void and you will need to leave another deposit to make another appointment. 24 hours cancellation is required. This goes for all clients, new and old and is non-negotiable. If your tattoo costs $100.00, you will be required to leave the full amount of your tattoo up front, you will still need to bring that $10 tax tho. We do understand emergencies arise and will be considered on a case by case basis. We understand that you have things to do, but our time is valuable as well. We don't get paid unless you show up, but bills, rent and overhead costs have to be paid regardless.

2. Do I need an appointment?
     -Yeah, you kinda do right now. Until this wretched pandemic is over and we can resume normal hours, Yes. In the future, our old policy of "No, we do service walk in clients as well but it is best if you call ahead to check availability." If you are wanting large scale or cover up work an appointment is the best option for you. If we have no availability, it's not that we don't want to tattoo you, we're just busy with another client. Cap City Tattoo Co. staff try very hard to fit everyone in to our schedules. If we can't take you that day, we suggest you make an appointment for the artist of your choosing. Also make friends with your artists on social media. A lot of the time if they have a cancellation or no show they will put up a posting. This may be a way to arrange to have your tattoo done sooner or sneak in for a quick walk in tattoo.

3. I've given you a deposit can you e-mail me the artwork?
   -No. You are more than welcome to set up a time prior to your appointment to come by and check out your artwork. If you live out of the area, consider it Christmas! Everyone loves a surprise. If there is something you don't like about your artwork on the day of your appointment we will be happy to adjust it. If you have a different artist in mind and you just want a Cap City Tattoo artist to draw a design for you, there is a commissioned artwork fee.

4. How much do tattoos cost?
   - Our shop minimum is $100.00 before tax. Our hourly rate is $120-150 an hour depending on artist. I try to be as fair with pricing as I possibly can be, but every tattoo is different. Depending on the area, the design and the size pricing varies. You don't call a car dealership and ask how much is the red car? Which red car? Which model? Which package? New or Used? It's like that when you call the shop and ask for a quote over the phone. It's damn near impossible. It's something you have to come down and speak over with an artist. There are plenty of more expensive shops out there and lots more $20.00 kitchen wizards running around. Cap City Tattoo Co. doesn't advertise, most of our clients are return clients and referrals from these clients. These are people happy with their work. 10 years from now, you won't be remembering how much that tattoo cost you or how much cheaper you got it, you'll remember whether the experience was pleasant and whether or not you are happy with the tattoo. We have a large return base because our clients are happy with their work and their experience here at the shop. We are also cash only starting again in 2022. So be prepared for that. 

5. Can I haggle with you over the price?
   - Sure, you can also get out. Haggling is bad etiquette. If the guy down the street told you he would do a portrait for $60.00 but his portfolio wasn't that attractive don't expect me to price match. We are not wally world. Look at the differences in portfolios and quality of work, don't price shop. I can't haggle the price for electricity or rent each month so don't expect me to haggle with you. If you have a budget you want to try and stay in, establish that with the artist first. They will tell you if it even doable. If it isn't either save up or be prepared to go elsewhere and be disappointed. You aren't going to absolutely die if you don't get tattooed that day.  I do a lot of coverups for a reason. People can make cheap stupid impulsive decisions, I see them every day. Story time: I had a woman come in for a cover up, of a cover up. She paid $50.00 for the first tattoo, that she swore was a butterfly, to some guy in a kitchen. The second guy, also in a kitchen, charged her $150.00 to cover it up with a rose, that didn't even attempt to cover parts of the original tattoo. She asked me the price to cover up both. I estimated a ball park rage between $350. and $450. She told me she had $150. what would that get her? I told her not much of a cover up. The point of this story is, well (A.) don't get tattooed in people's houses, it's not sanitary or safe. You have no idea where those needles have been, and if they really knew what they were doing they would be working in a shop. If they can't get a job in any shop, believe me, there IS a reason why. (B.)Research your artists, what they can and can't do. How much it's likely to cost. Be prepared to have to wait to save up more money. My guess is that woman now has a $150. cover up of a $150. cover up of a $50. cover up she needs covered up. You are just throwing money out the window and wasting time and potentially threatening your health.

6. I don't have an id, can I still get tattooed?
   - Nope, you sure can't. Ohio states that a person has to be 18 years of age with a state or federally issued photo identification to get a tattoo without parental consent. I don't know how old you are. I don't care if you were born in 1963. If you can't prove to me you were born in 1963 with a state or federally issued photo identification, you are not getting tattooed. Simple as that. Your student id does not work. Your social security card does not work. Your birth certificate does not work. It MUST be a state or federally issued photo identification. Your $100.00 tattoo I am losing because another shop will gladly tattoo you without an id is not worth losing my shop or any sleep over. If you are willing to go somewhere that has no regard for the law, I doubt they have any regard for your health or safety either.

7. What steps do you take for sterilization.
   - Cap City Tattoo Co. and all our artists are 100% disposable. What does this mean you ask? It means all of our needles come in pre-sterilized bubble packets and are for 1 time use only. After your tattoo is concluded that needle is put into a bio hazardous sharps container never to see the light of day again. Our tubes and grips are also disposable. come pre-sterilized in bubble packets, and are thrown away every after every use. This makes the process slightly more expensive on our end but it is worth it for your health and safety. All of our set up and tear down procedures are available if you come in shop and request them.

8. Do tattoos hurt?
   - Yes. Unless you have undergone some kind of Jason Bourne like procedure to not feel pain or are perhaps the terminator/cyborg, you are probably going to feel pain. The level of pain is different for every person on different parts of the body. What your friend might have said was the most painful experience of his life, you may breeze thru with ease. Every person is different, therefore every persons experience is different. Each part of the body has different nerve receptors and no two tattoos will feel the same. However, tattoos are bearable. One of the most important things to remember before getting tattooed is to get a good nights sleep and eat a decent meal. Don't go out and get wasted the night before. I've done it, the experience of the tattoo was horrifying and I wanted to crawl into a deep hole and never come out. Plus, you tend to bleed more and will more than likely need a touch up, so you will have to go thru the pain again. Don't come in for your appointment drunk or high. I won't tattoo you drunk and you tend to focus more on the pain when you are high.  While getting tattooed remember to breathe and relax. Tensing up actually causes more pain. You wanted this tattoo, and in a couple days you will forget all about the pain and remember how awesome your new tattoo is. You are allowed to hate me during the procedure, but I guarantee you will love me after.

9. How many people can I bring with me?
   -Welp, again, during this blasted pandemic, this has changed. You can currently bring no one with you. I'm not going to lie, I love this part of the pandemic. In the future our policy will revert back to this: Getting tattooed is an intimate process between the receiver and the artist. The more distracted you are while getting tattooed the more distracted I will probably be. Considering I am marking your body for life, I recommend keeping the entourage to a minimum. If you need someone to hold your hand by all means bring them. If you need 28 people to watch your tears and tell you how awesome you are cause you are getting the kanji for brave on your wrist you might want to choose another shop. The more distracted I am, the longer your tattoo will take. 23 adults and 5 wailing children are pretty distracting and I will ask them to leave. Children under the age of 16 are not allowed in the tattoo booths or to run around unattended, find a babysitter.

10.  What forms of payment do you accept?
   - Cash. Pretty simple. Be prepared before your appointment. If it's a single session tattoo I more than likely have give you a price estimate. If you are doing session work and you are getting tattooed for 3 hours and bring what your artists hourly is times 3.  Unless you failed out of school in kindergarten you should know how much to bring. Don't forget tax.

11. Do I tip my artist?
    - I'd like to say hell yes, you do! Actually, I think I just did. Tattooing is a service industry. We are performing a service for you just like hair stylists, bartenders, and your pool boy. If you appreciate the service then show it by tipping your artist. Some people aren't going to tip. Some people are going to tip badly. We understand. This isn't our first rodeo. We appreciate anything. We're pretty easy to please. Even a "holy shit I love it, I can't afford to tip you but I am going to refer you to all my friends!" can make our day. Just remember, we are putting something on you that you will enjoy for the rest of your life. It will start conversations and be a story for you for all your days. If you happen to win a tattoo in a raffle or an artist is willing to tattoo you for free because they have a piece they just really want to do, definitely tip them something. They are offering their time and services to you for free so you can have a kick ass piece of art work on you. That is worth something. They aren't making salary while they donate their time. We don't get paid vacations and benefits or 401ks plans. If I were that interested in money I would have taken a crappy job in an office with minimal job security. Tattoo artists (most of us anyway) do it just because we love it.

What to do before my appointment. This is very important
    - A. Shower, brush your teeth, be clean. This is a courtesy to your artist that we highly covet! 
    - B. Get a good nights sleep. 
    - C. Do not drink preferably 24 hours before. 
    - D. Preferably don't do drugs before your appointment. Weed makes it hurt more. True Story.
    - E. Eat a good meal filled with carbs before you come. Please don't pass out on us. 
    - F. Be prepared with a mask and to answer simple questions and to have your temperature taken