Our Public Response to an Anonymous Review

It has recently been discovered by the staff at Pikes Peak Tattoo that there is an unsolicited anonymous review circulating around the Internet concerning most of the tattoo shops in Colorado Springs and the unidentified reviewers opinion of said shops. Although Pikes Peak Tattoo was named as one of the only tattoo studios to go to in the Springs (not surprising), it was also mentioned that Pikes Peak was becoming "all about the money" (very surprising), so we have decided to openly discuss this issue with both our clients and the curious in this public address.

To begin then, YES, it is about the money! No, not ALL about the money, but we are a BUSINESS, and businesses that enjoy the little comforts such as lights, phone, waste disposal, internet and the actual place to lay your shingle need to make money to have them. Now factor in the daily "extras" such as medical supplies (from ointments thru barriers & bandages), industrial cleaning solutions (we literally wrote the regulations for tattoo safety & sterilization in El Paso County), marketing costs (Yellowpage ads aren't free), and so on, it shows just a little of what it takes to just "maintain" this business, yet alone make a profit. Speaking of profit, isn't that why a person goes into business in the first place?

However, to digress back to the original point and talk all about the money, it should be stated that traditionally in a tattoo studio the contracted laborer (tattoo artist) typically receives only 50% commission for their work. Pikes Peak Tattoo is no exception to this tradition. This then means that most of our artists make approximately $50.00 to $75.00 per hour, when they're actually tattooing. We feel this is a fair and appropriate amount for any skilled artisan who is applying a permanent body adornment on a client.

Let me restate part of that last sentence, skilled artisan. Being the 2nd oldest tattoo studio in Colorado Springs (something on its own which speaks volumes of our business practices and ethics) Pikes Peak Tattoo is home to not only Nationally and Internationally Award Winning Artists, but is also a 25+ year member of the National Tattoo Association. An organization that has promoted safety and continuing education to the tattoo industry for over thirty years, and also an association that all of our current artists are highly involved members of as well. Which, if nothing else, shows that our artists continually strive to not only constantly educate and artistically expand themselves, but to also try to assist in furthering the industry as a whole.

We know that in these tougher economic times that every penny counts (trust us we feel it as well), and when the time comes to spend money you want to get the best deal possible, so do we, but remember that buying something just because its cheap doesn't necessarily mean that its a good deal. Bottom line, the owners and artists of Pikes Peak Tattoo provide a safe, sterile, and friendly environment to receive a high quality piece of lifelong body art that you will be proud to both wear and appreciate forever. We invite you to come into Pikes Peak Tattoo and meet our artists, view their work and give our studio a good ol' fashioned once over. After which, if you feel that our quality, service and standards meet with both your expectations and economics then we look forward to tattooing a piece of everlasting art on you that perfectly captures the event, person or reason for your adornment, and if not, we understand and hope that your requirements for permanent body modification are successfully met at another safe and reputable location.