The Music Box

Please read my letter and tell me if I need to tweek it any. I am totally open to constructive criticism!! It will not hurt my feelings at all for you to suggest that I add or delete something. I am trying to get my point across in an assertive manner without sounding like some cranky old hen.

Please let me know if you think I am being irrational!! I will totally pull this blog post if I come to believe that I am.




To: Music Box Body Art Studio
613 SW 10th Avenue
Amarillo, Texas

Dear Music Box Body Art Studio,

In September 2010, I went to your establishment to discuss getting a tattoo. This tattoo has been years in the making and planning. It is also my first tattoo so it is a very big deal to me. I chose The Music Box because I have always admired the work that I have seen produced from your establishment. I live in Plainview Texas and considered getting one closer to home but felt that it would be worth the trip to Amarillo in order to get my work done. I brought my original design with me when I went in. I was given an appointment for October 16th. I left my design and a $20.00 deposit. I was told that, if I failed to come to my appointment with out rescheduling, I would lose my $20.00. I had no problems with that rule. In fact, I believe it to be a very fair rule.

On Thursday October 14th, I called to reschedule my appointment. I had been to the doctor and was sick. I was also coughing really hard and did not feel that would add to the overall *great* experience for me or the artist. I talked to a man when I called (I did not get his name) and he told me "Sweetheart, that is so very responsible for you to call ahead and change your appointment. Thank you very much." I believe he thought I was much younger on the phone than I actually am! That appointment was changed to Saturday October 30th at 2:00.

I have been looking forward to getting my tattoo for some time. I was so excited the entire week leading up to the 30th. I got up that morning and made a special trip to Amarillo to get the tattoo. Amarillo is over 75 miles away from Plainview. I had no reason to make the trip other than to keep my appointment to get my tattoo. I arrived 15 minutes early for my appointment. I told the young lady that I was there for my 2:00 appointment. She then informed me that the artist was not there. He was out due to a death in the family and she did not know when to expect him to return to work. She then said "I just KNOW that someone called you and rescheduled! Joe asked us to call everyone". She then looked at the appointment book and said "Oh! I see NO ONE called you to reschedule. Someone should have totally done that." Let me also say that she was pleasant and not rude at all. I could see that my name was on the appointment book for 2:00 and my phone number was plainly written underneath my name. I was very disappointed and very upset that no one had called me. I was never even offered an apology. I made my new appointment and left.

After much thought, I realized that I was held to a higher standard than The Music Box was. I paid a deposit to ensure that I kept my appointment. Your establishment did not keep its appointment with me and caused me to drive over 150 miles round trip just for nothing. If you cannot take care of the small details, how can I trust you to do something that is very big to me....the marking of something very special and personal on my body.

I do want to say that I in no way hold the artist responsible. I understand that he had a family emergency and left to go attend to those matters. The young lady even told me that he requested that his customers be called and their appointments rescheduled.

I am choosing to cancel my appointment that is scheduled for 11/13/10. I am canceling my appointment several days ahead of time so that you have plenty of time to schedule someone in my spot.

I am requesting that you return my original artwork to me in the mail and that you not use that tattoo on anyone without my permission.

I am requesting that you refund my $20.00 deposit since you failed to keep your appointment with me.

You may see a copy of my letter on my blog princessandthebeads.blogspot.com. I will happily update how The Music Box handled my complaint with my readers once you have resolved this matter.

Sincerely,

*cluck cluck* I will peck you to death if you think 48 is too old to get a tattoo. Well...you can think it but I would rather you not say it.