Purple Scorpion Body Piercing & Tattoo

I wish I could just write a review for Leo, the piercer, but unfortunately based on my recent experience with another staff member I will NEVER set foot in either location.
First of all, I have had many different experiences getting pierced and tattooed so I am by no means a «novice» when it comes to these things. I know when I am standing in a great studio and when I have entered a not-​so-​great studio.
A group of us had decided to get small quarter-​sized tattoos on a whim. We called ahead and were told to come in a half hour later and we would «be taken care of.»
We arrived at eight and were greeted by an employee. He did not introduce himself, but told us to start sending our tattoo «ideas» to his email address. The three of us did so promptly and waited for him to draw up some ideas. When it became by turn to discuss my tattoo, he seemed agitated as I kept tweaking what I wanted permanently drawn on my body. Eventually we agreed on something that I liked, even though he didn’t seem too thrilled with it.
We continue to wait as he starts literally cursing and screaming at the printer, which had just ran out of ink. They make an emergency call to someone who says they can show up within a half hour with an ink cartridge.
At this point he tells us he needs to eat and that we could continue to wait.
As we wait, he is cursing and swearing up a storm, making no effort to move this process along, or even eat.
He basically says «fuck it» gets a member of our group seated and gets the stencil on .She begins asking him if the placement is good, and other basic questions one would ask right before getting tattooed. The «artist» completely ignores her. He then tells her she needs to wait for it to «dry». Now he says he needs the money upfront. We are all uncomfortable with this, and even LEO says they don’t do things that way, and that the guy needs to do the work first.
Now, he says he needs a cig and that its CASH ONLY. Okay, this is information that would have been valuable an HOUR ago. We wait another 20 minutes and learn that he went out front to discuss a tattoo with a customer who JUST WALKED IN! At this point we decided we had enough and that this was not happening. Everyone walks out, except for me, since I decide to let him know we wont be waiting any longer.
Our wait time was an hour and a half.
This is when he literally LOSES his temper. Starts screaming and cursing at me. I am a small 110 pound woman and I felt extremely threatened. I begin to walk away and he follows me outside to continue to spew hateful things at us as we quickly crossed the street. We left and moments later he calls a member of the group and starts spewing the same hateful message.
I have never in my life been so disrespected and concerned for my own well being. I will never give them my business again. Please do not go here for any work, their unprofessional attitude combined with the unclean environment makes for a DEFINITE mistake. Do yourself a favor and check out «witch City ink» in Salem. They are a prime example of what a tattoo studio should be. Not this mess.

Such a rude staff. Not personable whatsoever and they have absolutely no idea how to run a business. Go to good mojo or somewhere else in salem. This place is not worth your time.

My friend and I had our piercings done here by Leo. Leo is very thorough and clean with his work station, I would truly recommend getting your piercings done by him. He explained everything before he did it and gave my friend time to breathe during her piercings, which helped to relax her. Leo understands the whole process and treats it like a true professional. The place tends to get pretty busy, because it is a bit popular, but if you call ahead they will try to accommodate you. Many thanks!

Purple Scorpion is in my neighborhood, so I came in off the streets with the hope of getting my nose stud changed to a hoop. I was greeted by someone immediately and then he went to find a piercer, who came out quickly. Leo introduced himself and immediately made me feel at ease. He asked me where I originally got my piercing done and I told him– instead of being offended, he complimented their work and was happy I’d gone to a place that is reputable.
We talked about jewelry some until I shyly presented the options I had gotten from a hand made place online. Instead of being offended again, Leo checked out the rings and complimented their craftsmanship, and then complimented my judgment in finding and choosing great pieces (meanwhile I wouldn’t know a good piece from a safety pin, so I was flattered– and happy he as a professional knew the difference!). He knew exactly from the sizes presented which one would fit best, and he went to work.
Leo talked with me while thoroughly washing up to his elbows before putting on gloves. He washed the ring that I gave him thoroughly and gave me pointers on how to wash it later. Then he started the process of taking out my stud, which he put into a little bag for me to take home, and put in a ring. Putting in a ring is an uncomfortable process, it goes into your nose first and requires the piercer sticking their fingers up your nose a ton to bring it in tightly around the nostril. Leo was totally informative what I was going to experience and talked with me throughout. The process of tightening a nose piercing is uncomfortable too, and there’s some pulling involved. If you’re squeamish like me, this is torture. The whole time, Leo talked me through it and had my ring tight to my nose with barely any gap in the ring so I don’t have to worry about it falling out!
He talked to me about care, what to look out for in case my body rejected the new jewelry, gave me his number and encouraged me to call if I had any trouble or side effects with the ring.
This seems like a lot of words for just a simple jewelry change, but that’s how great my experience was. If you’re a first-​time piercee like me, Leo is the go-​to guy. If you’re a seasoned vet, you can tell this guy knows his stuff and can help you accomplish whatever body mods you might be interested in.
Thanks Leo!

I’d like to start of by saying I got my nipples pierced by Judy (in Salem) a while back and she was amazing. She’s so sweet and made me feel super comfortable. They healed perfectly and still look great.
Now, I booked an appointment in Beverly with Lynn for a breast cancer ribbon tattoo. Her artwork is amazing. The day came and I pumped myself up as you do for a tattoo– she was out sick. No phone call to let me know but that’s ok, it happens. The man there, Greg, offered to do it so I looked at his work and it wasn’t really my style. He was extremely rude when I asked to see what she drew and even though I know Lynn was sick, something should have been drawn up before day-​of. Then on top of it– he jacked up the price. I told him what Lynn quoted me (it’s a very small piece) and he just stormed into the back so I left. To top it all off, when I finally got in contact with the shop, they questioned me. Lynn is now saying we never had an appointment and that it wasn’t an official quote. If I didn’t have an appointment, how did Greg know exactly who I was and why I was there when I walked in? I sent Judy a picture of a slip Lynn gave me with my appointment time and Lynn’s email. Right now their customer service is at a 0. This whole experience is probably an example of why when I told people I was going there they winced…
Update: Apparently Lynn didn’t have my phone number to tell me she was out sick. She did, however, take the time to call me today. She basically went off on me and wouldn’t let me get a word in. She called me a liar and rude and told me she wouldn’t tattoo me (like I would even let her near me with a needle at this point). I’m not sure what kind of business let’s their employees call customers to yell at them rather than apologize for the miscommunication. Can’t wait to tell my friends about my experience at the Purple Scorpion!

Leo is very informative and nice. He knows his stuff, I went in initially to get a web piercing he informed me that my tongue was too short and it would take longer to heal. I opt for another piercing which was a rook and there were a display of many jewelry from barbells to hooks to choose from. He even asked me if I wanted one custom made. Clean and calm environment would definitely recommend it to my friends or anyone to get their piercing done here.

I went to Purple Scorpion for a second session of microdermal anchors on my arms. I was there for about an hour and a half for all 6 of them, because my skin had some difficulties accepting the piercings. But again, Leo was extremely patient, let me know every time he would touch me, every time he would pierce and put the jewelry in. He is truly a professional. He spent a lot of time measuring my arms to make sure they were absolutely perfectly matched up, since we are both perfectionists. He really cares for his clients. And my arms look great! I get a ton of compliments and weird looks, and people asking for pictures of them. They healed very well, and even after just a few days went by they looked fully healed, and people couldn’t believe I had just gotten them. I couldn’t be happier that I’ve gone with Leo. Can’t wait to get pierced again by him! He is definitely my personal piercer, and I won’t go to anyone else.

I went in as a walk-​in tattoo client a few days ago – my appointment at another place was cancelled due to the artist’s health that day. After 30 or so minutes, Shane finished with a previous client and sat down with me to discuss my design: a simple black band around my upper arm. He was beyond nonplussed, bored with my presence, and did not even try to make my design work; insisting I must choose between the «two sizes we have here» The two sizes being two sizes of scotch tape. The second tape piece he brought out (still too thick) he use started wrapping around my arm without asking, and when the ends did not meet up, he shimmied one side over rather than trying it again, so there were bumps and creases in the tape on my arm. He said «If you want it any thinner, I don’t know what you’re thinking. I can’t freehand that shit.» His appalling attitude was matched with his price quote of $ 250 (completely unreasonable for a simple band, less than half an inch thick). I obviously was uncomfortable and unwilling to have this rude man permanently tattoo my body, so I said that «Honestly, I am going to have to sit on this-​» Barely did I finish my sentence than he jumped up, ripped the tape of my arm, threw it on the ground, turned to the people behind the counter and angrily stated «Yo, she’s not getting tattooed» and walked into the back away from me.
It was one of the most disrespected I have ever felt, especially when it took me a lot to go in there in the first place. I am not the kind of person to go around bad mouthing places, but this Shane fellow was absolutely rude to me, I almost wasn’t sure if he was talking to/​about me when he walked away, it was so sudden and out of place. But honestly, I don’t care if you’re having a bad day. If you’re an artist, you should be able to do a simple line, cut a piece of paper with a ruler for gods sake. And if you’re a business, you treat the customer as though they are important and smart, and you work with them. I’m just appalled and sad that this is the face of this business; because the two other guys in there were very kind (Greg and the other man, I don’t know his name), and the woman behind the counter. But I will never go back here again.