Fox and the Machine Tattoo

About the tattoo & artist: I'm not new to tattoos, but I was nervous for my first full day session with Bell as we were hitting some tough spots, including my knee and finger. I came prepared with plenty of distractions, but I didn't need any of it. Bell has a light touch that didn't jar my skin, and she was so easy to talk to and connect with. The session flew by & I adore the tattoos she created for me. In 18 years of getting tattooed by dozens of artists, being tattooed by Bell was, hands down, the best experience I've ever had. I went in expecting this to be my last tattoo session, but I know I'll be back to collect more of Bell's work. About the shop: Super cool & clean space. Each station is set up to reflect the artist, and there's so many cool things to look at. I was tattooed on a Sunday, so the shop was really quiet, and it made for a very chill session. My consult was mid-week, and the shop was bustling with activity. (Side note: to find the shop entrance- just enter through the double steel doors at the bottom of the ramp on the north side of the building, at the parking lot.)

Jason at the shop is always great, he prioritizes your satisfaction while also giving his professional opinion on what would work best. The shop has a really great atmosphere and cool interior design. Jason always does really great work and I consistently get compliments on the work he's done on me. Thanks again!

TLDR: I have no experience with tattoos, but was looking to get one to memorialize my mum who recently passed. The treatment I received was callous and beyond the pale. The Story: The owner assigned me an artist after giving him an idea of what I was looking for. I went in to meet the artist, Cody, for a consultation to talk about what I wanted, pay a deposit, and make an appointment for my tattoo. Although my appointment was made for about three weeks after the consultation, Cody said that I would receive a draft design well in advance of my appointment so that I would be comfortable with what I was getting and/or ask for changes. The three weeks passed without receiving anything. On the day before my appointment, I messaged Cody and the owner to tell them that I was concerned that it was the day before my appointment and I had not recieved anything. I mentioned that I am not comfortable keeping the appointment with no time to review a design, and that they should send me my deposit back. The response I got from Cody was that they don't refund deposits within 48 hours of the appointment. Cody also falsely claimed that he had sent me a design the night before. I asked for proof that he had sent me something which he never gave. I never received anything, and he can't prove he sent anything. In Cody's emailed response to me (which I still have), he claims that there's no gaurantee they send you a design in advance of your appointment, and there's no ability to cancel an appointment within 48 hours. This implies that you are essentially forced to either forfeit your deposit or get a tattoo with a design you have never seen before your actual appointment. Seems pretty unreasonable, and not something he was upfront about when I met him. From the reviews it's clear that people generally have good things to say about this place. This was definitely not my experience. P.S. I also called the tattoo shop and asked an employee to have the owner call me back, but he never did.

Great shop with a great group of people working there; My partner and I went to get some Flash from Reegan and it ended up being a great match for me and what I wanted to do in the future. I've been thrilled with everything done and their holiday Flash Days are awesome to be a part of. Great job people. From the Castle over a Castle guy.

Got my first tattoo with Bell today and was everything I could’ve hoped for & more! She’s the Sweetest soul ever and explains the process as she does it and is super welcoming and talkative. Super amazing for a first time nervous Nelly like myself who’s never had a tattoo done before. Shop was cleanly and professional and all staff were very kind! Overall the best experience I could've hoped for as a first timer!

Tucked in the basement of the historic Snowden Block on 11 St SE, Fox and the Machine is a treat to walk into. A nice clean shop with decor aplenty to take in and enjoy. No outside shoes allowed in the shop, which is a great way to keep a space hygienic. It's pretty open with a few artists having their spaces a bit more secluded and a little larger. I'd found Alex while looking for a specific style in an artist, someone capable of executing my design while adding their own touch. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and especially getting a moment to learn more about Alex as an artist. This was my fifth tattoo and fourth studio and definitely the best experience yet. Alex's space was not all adorned with accoutrements. It really only had his 1st place fine line plaque from a Lethbridge competition on display. If you're looking for any ink that lines up with what you find in his online presence, he's the guy. If you're trying to get him to do something else, think again about your inability to understand an artist. Fox and the Machine has a stable of talent and a sweet location. Find an artist that's style matches yours and go from there.

The only problem I found with fox and the Machine was try inf to find it. Once you knew how to follow the signs and get to the door, the rest was amazing. The owner Dean was absolutely a pleasure to talk with and very personable. Asked us if we wanted coffee or water and ensured us that the artist was on his way (we arrived before opening time). Thereafter the artist (Chris Spence) took over and was very welcoming. He did an amazing job on the tattoo that was requested. He adjusted and changed the tattoo to the liking. There was not a single spec of feeling uncomfortable.