Please go to your friend instead.

I tattoo for a living and one thing that irritates me the most is when someone comes in wanting some elaborate piece done for cheap. I'm sorry but if you want high quality work it will cost you. What all goes into tattooing you costs money. I'm sorry if you think $250 is too high for your piece. No, going on about your friend who does tattoos out of their kitchen for $20 will not make me change my price. If you would rather go to your friend who charges $20 please do. I'm not saying they will do a terrible job or won't be clean/sanitary but I do think you get what you pay for most of the time. We can only hope you won't get an infection. I also hope I do not see you coming back into the shop begging someone to fix your friend's work because it turned out looking less than ideal. I have done this for over 30 years and have seen some less than ideal work on those who decided to visit their local "kitchen magician". Just please be wise and use good judgement.

I don't like to put anyone down but I wish for people to think things through sometimes. I am also aware that haggling over the price in a tattoo parlor is most often seen as bad form. I hear others at the parlor I work out of complaining all the time. If you have questions about the price I worked up for you I am open to talking about it. I will gladly explain the breakdown. There have been times I have adjusted to a lower price if someone puts up a convincing enough argument but rarely do I change my price. Please understand that I have to make a living as well.