ComplaintsforINKspired Studios

• Initial Complaint

  11/02/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Purchased gift certificates at 25% off face value on 4-7-2023 Total value $550 less 25%=412.50 Expiration on the certificates 12-31-23. My daughter reached out over summertime and no response. I reached out in Sept. to see if another artist could do the work since the owner is rarely available. Was told NO. Owner opened her schedule and posted timeslots for a week and half. There were stipulations of who could sign up for those times. I thought I saw no gift-certificates or touch up work during these appts. Owner told me that I was wrong. In October, I stated there still is no openings and I asked for a refund of 50% even though the certificates state no refunds. I offered the 25% for her to keep for the trouble of responding to emails. She then stated that I could sell them if I didn't want to wait and people would be happy to purchase them and wait for her availability. I wanted to use these certificates since I heard the owner was having financial issues and did not want to be out that much money. I told her what I had heard then she became combative. Insisting these were just rumors and how dare I ask a small business for a refund. She then stated someone was getting fired because of my statements. After that, she stated I could not transfer the gift certificates nor was I to contact anyone from her shop. I have all the emails we sent going back and forth. Now I am out $412.50. This is a form of thief. I am requesting a refund and not to be contacted by the owner or anyone in her shop.

  Business response

  11/02/2023

  Client purchased a certificate for a discounted price over the summer. Certificate initially had a two year expiration which I later eliminated all together due to my demanding schedule. I am contacted by many people all of the time and have established one mode of communication which is my website. Client failed to use this method of communication. After contacting other staff she used the correct method and sent me a message asking about scheduling. I informed her of the process and wait times. She agreed. I told her a schedule would be released. It was. It had designated certificate slots. These were all claimed before she client saw the schedule. The client then reached out about it when I told her another schedule would be released when the 4 weeks was over. 2 weeks later the client emailed me demanding her money back because she did not want to wait to get on my schedule. I informed her that, per my website and posted in my shop, we do not offer refunds. I then reminded her that I was not refusing to tattoo her, but that she just simply had to wait her turn as I have people waiting longer than her. Since she felt like a permanent decision needed to be rushed I suggested that she transfer the certificate to someone else who doesn’t mind the wait. She then responded by telling me she heard rumors about me and my business and was rushing to get in before I shut down. Which is completely odd as I’ve never had any trouble and my business has only grown in the 6 years I’ve been operating. After such a harsh and disrespectful response to me offering a solution to her issue, I then retracted my offer and asked to cease all contact as I felt this was no longer about business and felt as though I had been personally attacked. I now feel this way even more so that this incident was brought to the BBB when it was the client who refused to wait for her service and it was the client who attacked my business. I too have the entire email thread regarding this situation. Through the correct methods and incorrect methods though my other employees. 

  Customer response

  11/02/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

  The certificates were purchased in April. I had no problem waiting .. my daughter and I reached out mid-summer and no response.  That’s when I reached out to the website and asked questions on line. No one was disrespectful or attacked… it was a month later when I contacted her again about her schedule opening up on line.  As of today, there is still nothing on line or openings to book with her.  Not ONCE did I misunderstand that she didn’t want to tattoo me.. that was not even a thought.  RayBeth and her previous employees have done tattoos for myself and daughter.    It was the lack of openings and concerns that the shop was having financial difficulties.  When I spend MY money on a gift certificate- I expect to be able to use it in a timely fashion.  The certificates expired on 12/23 not valid for 2 years.. she said in one email that it wouldn’t expire based on her availability.  I did not REJECT her offer of selling the certificate to someone else… SHE rescinded her offer after I told her what I had heard.. then told me not to contact her, the employees, or shop and proceeded to block me.  This is vindictive behavior.  Small businesses don’t grow with with this type of behavior.  If she would have allowed me to sell the certificate and recoup my money as she states people would be happy to wait.. I would have done that..Due to her rescinding her offer and blocking me- I needed help with a third party.  Now she feels more attacked because I have now involved BBB.. which is the next step.  At this point.. I want my money returned in a cashier’s check.

  
  
  Regards,
  
  **** *****
  
  
  
  
   

  Business response

  11/03/2023

  attached is my current schedule pinned to the top of my page. Consumer is clearly lying to justify her means. Consumer chose not to wait for the service. This does not warrant a refund. There are signs posted in my shop and online stating no refunds. The included attachments from the consumer show the certificate where it states “non transferable” and “no cash value”. Only one certificate is in this clients name. Service was not denied to the client. Client refused to wait for availability. I am one person servicing hundreds of clients. Her deciding she no longer wanted to wait due to “rumors” she “heard” and not based off of anything true or from the mouth of the shop, is not my fault. I offered client removal of the expiration date. Meaning she did not have a certain amount of time to use it. To accommodate her. But it wasn’t good enough for her. Entitlement does not justify a refund. I guess the client will be spending 3x the amount on a lawyer to prove a point to herself from this point forward. Also noted once again the client did not pay full price for the certificates. And has now wasted an extensive amount of my time. Her amount spent is now Almost equal to my hourly rate for time I’ve wasted. 

  Customer response

  11/03/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear 

  Clearly the owner does not want to take accountability for her actions.  She did not respond at all to my daughter’s drawing.. at this point I wouldn’t trust her to tattoo myself or my daughter.  
  I checked this week to make an appointment and she still has no hours listed. She must have added them after I contacted the BBB.  Either way .. the behavior is vindictive.  If the rumors aren’t true.. why get upset?    If she was an honest business person.. she should have not rescinded her offer to transfer the certificates to anyone- the problem would have been resolved.. I’d have some of my money back and she wouldn’t have to take the time to deal with a customer or respond to these emails.  You keep changing the story.. just refund the amount I paid in a cashier’s check.  Would this be considered selling fraudulent gift certificates?  Sell them when you need the money then find a way not to honor them?  INKspired must think the laws don’t apply to them. 
  
  

  
  
  Regards,
  
  **** *****
  
  
  
  
   

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