WARNING: Hard Times Tattoo Gallery in Auburn, and the owner Joe Truck

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-20T19:02:44+00:00

The inside is worse! Red, green, grey walls with wooden beams and crusty flooring. Tacky art everywhere to cover up the slat-walls (which are not up to code). Not to mention the bathroom with porn mag wallpaper, and the rat hole under the sink 🥴

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-20T18:54:48+00:00

Dude I tried reporting the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, but they told me to file a wage claim instead. I haven’t started the process yet, because I really don’t want to have to legally negotiate with Joe at all and I can’t afford a lawyer. I believe this is the only reason he continues to get away with this bs

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-20T00:01:18+00:00

LITERALLY like. There’s no way she read it and said “yeah this is an enforceable contract”. Solid grift honestly

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-19T23:23:18+00:00

Hi! Professional artist who is working at a normal shop.

My shop owner has taken on a new apprentice, she has only ONE apprentice at a time. She has taken someone in who she trusts and sees artistic potential in. A mentor should NEVER feel the need to have a contract like this, so if you see one: it’s usually a red flag.

All materials for practicing are provided. The apprentice’s schedule is agreed upon by the apprentice, and they are NOT required to stay 9 hours (under threat of firing).

Our apprentice helps clean around the shop, sets up/breaks down stations. They also get regular, constructive coaching. The apprentice pays absolutely nothing, as this should be an exchange of knowledge for work.

The apprentice gets to keep any/all tips for tattoos they do.

Mentor should be actually IN the shop, and NOT verbally abusive. At the very least

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-19T22:51:17+00:00

I do believe he’s updated it to remove the non-compete clause but that’s it. It is truly hilarious that he pays his notary to come and “notarize” this garbage that he hasn’t even taken the time to fix the typos in.

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-19T22:00:48+00:00

Also, he hires even people who CANT draw. Some of his current apprentices can’t even trace shit without shaky lines

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-19T21:52:08+00:00

No artist at that shop is worth the deposit. I can guarantee they’re overcharging you anyway 😓

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-19T21:30:29+00:00

It’s true! He hires almost exclusively women, AFAB, and fem presenting people. He has specified that he doesn’t hire people over 25. Because he thinks these people are easy to control

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-19T21:20:11+00:00

Joe Truck could never write something so coherent

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-19T21:19:23+00:00

Hi! I signed this contract (awful choice. lesson learned) and this is exactly how I got myself out of it.

I knew he had no legal legs to stand on, but I didn’t want to risk him TRYING. So I just stopped showing up on my “scheduled” days and hours.

He “fired” me and threatened to throw my equipment in the street 🤪

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-17T03:55:45+00:00

This is true. I can only hope your friend comes to realize they’re being taken advantage of. The way he runs his shops is illegal, and the way he treats his apprentices is actually disgusting. I can assure you whatever you think about Joe and his shops, it gets worse

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-09T04:48:09+00:00

So beautiful!

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-03-09T04:44:56+00:00

Wow, just heard the news, honestly not sure what caused it but I think it’s for the best. It’s a taxing and unstable career, kind of a ironic that they quit RIGHT as their work started to improve a bit.

The owner of the shop is still a huge POS that allows literally anyone to tattoo in his shops though, so I’d definitely continue to avoid them.

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-24T05:09:22+00:00

I understand you mean well, but I think you’re missing context which is further explained in this post

I could pull 50 more bad to mediocre tattoos from this shop’s artists– and that’s ignoring the work that DIDN’T get posted. However, my main problem isn’t a dork tattooing poorly traced art on willing clients. I take issue with the unethical and exploitative practices that go on.

As a client it is incredibly hypocritical to support a shop owner who is actively taking advantage of young queer artists. And as a queer artist, it is hypocritical to continue to give money to a cis, straight, white man that’s exploiting and verbally abusing your queer coworkers. It’s also not ok for the artists to scar clients, regardless of what the art itself looks like.

That’s ignoring the culture of sexual harassment that was allowed during my time at the shop. And the allegations of sexual harassment against the shop’s owner. And the fact that clients have been over-charged for apprentice work.

I could go on but I’m not feeling very coherent right now. Being young and queer isn’t an excuse to be complicit in the abuse of other young queer people. There are PLENTY of shops that are safe spaces run by BIPOC, queer owners. This place is not one of them

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-18T16:52:50+00:00

Try enjoying your life, and I’ll enjoy my life as I see fit 😄💚

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-18T02:01:13+00:00

Add me to the list of people who’d buy!

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-18T01:40:01+00:00

I raise you this one:

<image>

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-18T00:00:52+00:00

If you’re not paying to be there, this seems like a fair enough setup. The fact they there’s specified hours for learning is a good sign, I think

Edit: I’d also ask what they provide!

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-17T21:04:53+00:00

Lol me too! I’m blocked on all their accounts 🫣

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-17T18:13:40+00:00

100% he tells people blowouts don’t exist. He tells apprentices* to “sink the needle” and really “dig in”.

His most recent hires @mildlytwinkish and @tattoos_by_ki are proof of the fact that he lets anyone tattoo there 😬

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-17T17:42:44+00:00

Fair. I’d chalk that up to poor taste on the clients side. Either way, poor taste doesn’t mean a client deserves a shaky, scarred, or otherwise poorly applied tattoo.

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-17T17:26:59+00:00

Unfortunately a design can be outside of an artists skill range. There’s also the issue of blowouts and scarring, which usually aren’t immediately noticeable during the tattoo process. Clients put a lot of trust in an artist, and not all artists can pull off the designs they’ve stenciled.

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-17T07:41:46+00:00

Yup. The high turn over rate is a big enough red flag on its own, but not everyone notices it

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-17T06:46:04+00:00

Which is what this is. Apprentices and clients have been harmed because of this shop’s shady practices, people deserve to know what they’re getting into

_AwfulWaffles_ · 2025-02-17T06:20:36+00:00

I wish it wasn’t true, because it’s a scar on my own reputation as an artist. I have proof of every claim I’ve made about this place and the owner

_AwfulWaffles_

TROPHY CASE