Cartel Tattoo one of the BEST in Northern California area....Harley had my drawing done in a short time....I was totally satisfied with tat and Harley...would highly recommend and will return

One of the cleanest shops I've ever been in. My husband and i have been pierced and tattooed at the shop and would recommend to anyone.

When I look at tattoo and piercing shops, I like to have an environment that is friendly and clean. A place that while I’m being worked on for a brief second or hours on end I feel comfortable at. Cartel is definitely a place that meets those qualities. I am a returning customer to them whenever I am looking for piercings and tattoos. Everything they have done for me has been what I consider top quality, including the cleanliness (very important). They inform me every time about aftercare and if something does come up with the work they have performed and even sometime other have, they help with making it back to health. I would strongly recommend anyone to go there that is looking for top quality work, great pricing and just a great place to be.

My first visit to Cartel Ink Works was one for my beset experiences at a business. Especially, at a tattoo shop! When I went to my first appointment, the artist had drawing ready for me to look over. After looking at the drawing I mentioned some of the things I wanted to add and/or remove and he had no problems with that. As he put it “ I want it perfect for you”. During the rest of my visit everyone joked around with each other and listened to music. Honestly, I felt as if I was at home with everyone there while of course keeping the professional business aspect. When my tattoo session was over, it came out great. The colors were nice and bright and the artwork looked nice and clean( lines were straight and you were able to make out the what the artwork was).
After my first visit, I make sure that Cartel Ink Works is the first place I go for any of my tattoo and piercing needs. Thank you, guys!

A few months ago I went into Cartel Ink on Fair Oaks Blvd. interested in my second tattoo. I spoke with a man there, gave him my ideas, left my name, number, etc. but he wasn't interested in taking a deposit from me. I found this very unusual, but shrugged it off as them being a new business. A few weeks went by, I heard nothing, returned to Cartel, and the same man was at the counter. He remembered me but had done no work on the drawing, and told me he would start it ASAP, and took my information again.

A few more weeks go by, still nothing, so I return to the shop once again. There are 2 gentlemen working, that I had not seen on my last 2 visits. ( I later find out one of them was the owner!) I explained what happened, and was told the first tattoo artist, no longer worked for them. He was very apologetic, and seemed to want to make it right. I told him the idea for the tattoo, he said he was going to pass this piece off to another artist, who was better at the type of ink I was asking for. He said he would not require a deposit because of my past experience with the shop, however, I wanted him to know I was serious about getting the work done, and left a $40.00 deposit. He set me up an appointment with the artist, for 8 days later, to review the drawing. The day before the appointment, I felt it was best to call the shop and make sure everything was still a go. When the phone was answered, I was told the artist I needed to speak to was with an appointment, and would call me back later. Again, nothing, he did not return the call. (You would think at this point I had gotten the clue). I went in the next day, for my scheduled appointment, and the artist was baffled at who I was, said he already had another appointment set, etc. The gentlemen who made me the appointment (Again this is the OWNER!) came to the front of the shop, and was upset clearly that I had "fallen through the cracks again." I at this point was pretty upset, asked for my money back, which I received NO problems.

Later that day, I called the shop. I wanted answers. I left a message, and quickly got a return phone call from the owner. He really seemed to want to make this right, told me how important customer service was to him, how important it was to get a good reputation, being a new tattoo shop, etc. We made a deal for me to come back, view the drawing, and see if I wanted to continue with ink. He even was going to waive the shop fees for all my trouble.
Sounds good right? Someone made a few honest mistakes, was really sorry, really cared??

So I thought.... I went in saw the drawing the artist had come up with. I loved it instantly! I made an appointment with the artist HIMSELF, and even got an appointment card. On the day of the appointment. I arranged my child care needs, transportation for the kids to the sporting events, made dinner early, my sister was taking an extended lunch from her job, to come "check out the new place" and see her baby sister get a tattoo. I arrived for my appointment a few minutes before 4:00... and believe it or not the shop was JUST CLOSED. No notes, no calls, business hours stated they were open at 12:00.. but not a soul was there. So here I am standing outside the locked door, with an appointment card for that day, and that time in my hand, in shock. I could not believe this was happening! I waited for 15 minutes, and soon the light bulb went on, they were not showing up.

I called the shop and sent them a message on myspace. A few hours later the owner messaged me and said he just simply didn't know what happened, but he forwarded my number on to the artist, and encouraged him to call me. I messaged him back and wanted to know what had happened. I never heard another word from either of them, and its been over 2 weeks now. So the point of my story, find another place to get tattoo work done.