Most customers are not only happy with the pricing offered in the shop, many ask "How can you price so low when the guys down the street wanted double?" Many times our responses center on one important answer. Other shops do not buy direct from Manufactures like we do. Most of the time other shops depend on Tattoo Supply warehouses for their tools such as needles, tubes and so on. That is a real big mistake because why use a middle man when you can go direct to the source?
Needles for example in our business cost an average of $15 per 50 needles. Aberration Pro Custom Tattoo pays for those same needles $2 per 50 needles. This extra savings on just this item combined with the other stuff that is needed averages out where we pass the savings onto the customer. We cut the middle man in the supply chain and are able to give out the great prices we do.
Another big problem that many shops have is overhead and expenses. I cannot possibly see paying more then $500 a month in rent anywhere a shop is going to be put. Anything over that is just plain stupid considering that the economy now is just in a downward spin. Those who choose to have the bells and whistles are naturally the ones who will be charging the prices they are- not because of the so-called artwork, but because they have so much in expenses to pay out.
Tattooing is a lifestyle, most involved in the industry see it that way. In my view though most lose sight that this is a business. If the shop is going to keep it's door open many will have to start thinking outside the box. Most will never do that because in this industry the shops will go back and forth like little kids calling one or the other stupid silly names. Or the famous one is " Your shop sucks and we always have to cover it up", Well if that's the case over 99% of customers leaving the shop say they love their work or they will be sure to return. Most of our customers are return clients. So I don't see that argument going very far.
I'm from Chicago and over the years worked in many shops in the Chicago Land Area. Most not all of us got along because it was indeed a lifestyle we were living. Conventions in town were always a blast, no one talked about the other and everyone was just out to make money and party it up. I have to say in the Rockford-Southern Wisconsin area this is not the case. Many here are out to take as much as they can while crying and whining what other shops are doing.
This Trend has been going on the last few years. I mainly blame it on EBay because they opened the door to selling tattoo and piercing supplies to just anyone. This in turn has flooded the market with shops that shouldn't be there.These people see Miami Ink and think they are the next big thing. That has hurt the industry in a bad way. On the other hand I see the job we are doing at the shop and how happy our customers are. We are State of Illinois certified, clean and sterile, but don't have to charge stupid prices. Most people think that all shops charge outrageous prices. Well with us it isn't the case. Because of our choice to help our customers we receive funny ass "U Guys Suck" Your Artwork Sucks and so on. Well as long as my customers are happy I really don't care what other artist think. They don't pay my bills so hate or cry and whine because we will always take care of our customers.