Deposit Amounts

• All tattoos require a minimum non-refundable deposit of $100.

• Larger-scale tattoos require a deposit equal to 40% of the estimated tattoo cost, calculated using the artist’s hourly rate and estimated session time.

Example: Portrait tattoo at $140/hr × 6 hours = $840 estimated total. Required deposit (40%): $336.

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Appointment Confirmation

• Appointments are not confirmed without a deposit.

• Without a deposit, availability cannot be guaranteed and you may be treated as a walk-in.

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Deposit Cards

• Clients are responsible for retaining their deposit card.

• Lost, damaged, or misplaced deposit cards cannot be redeemed without the card present.

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Cancellations & Rescheduling

• Tattoo appointments: minimum 48 hours’ notice required to reschedule without forfeiting the deposit.

• Piercing appointments: minimum 24 hours’ notice required to reschedule without forfeiting the deposit.

• Deposits may be transferred once for a single reschedule if notice is provided within the required timeframe.

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Deposit Forfeiture

Deposits will be forfeited if:

• You cancel or reschedule outside the required notice period

• You do not show up for your appointment

• You reschedule a second time, even with proper notice

• You arrive late beyond the allowed grace period

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Late Arrivals

• Piercings or tattoos under 3 hours: deposit is forfeited after 15 minutes late.

• Tattoos over 3 hours: deposit is forfeited after 30 minutes late.

• Late arrivals may also result in reduced service time or cancellation at the artist’s discretion.

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Custom Artwork & Design Time

• Tattoos requiring custom artwork or extensive design preparation may require a minimum $300 deposit.

• If additional drawing time, major revisions, or redesigns are requested, additional charges may apply at 40% of the artist’s hourly rate per hour of design time.

• Deposits may be applied toward design time at the artist’s discretion.

• Once a deposit is used for design time, a new deposit may be required to continue.

• Artists reserve the right to decline further work if deposits are exhausted.

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Multiple Sessions

• Deposits are carried over between sessions.

• The deposit is applied to the final session only.

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Deposit Limitations

• Deposits apply only to the agreed-upon design, placement, and client.

• Deposits are non-transferable without prior approval from management or the artist.

• Deposits cannot be used to pre-pay for tattoos (except via Afterpay, where applicable).

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Payment Methods

• In studio: Cash or Credit Card

• Online: PayPal or E-Transfer

Afterpay Payments

• Afterpay payments are subject to a 7% service fee, added to the total service price.

• Afterpay payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.

• Standard deposit policies apply. Full policies available at grimstudios.ca/policy.

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Payment Structure

• Afterpay payments must be made upfront, to a maximum of $2,000.

• If the total tattoo cost exceeds $2,000, the remaining balance will be paid per session, following standard booking and deposit procedures.

• Deposits are still required for individual sessions.

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Appointment Confirmation

• The service date listed on an invoice represents a tentative appointment date. Appointments are not confirmed until payment is received.

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Cancellations & Rescheduling

• If you cancel or reschedule a tattoo appointment within 48 hours, the session will be charged in accordance with our deposit policy.

 

Example: A $2,000 Afterpay tattoo booked over two sessions at $1,000/day. Late reschedule of one session = 40% penalty ($400). This amount must be paid before the missed appointment can be rescheduled.

 

• A second reschedule may result in increased penalties, up to the full session rate.

• Future appointments will not be confirmed until all outstanding balances are paid.

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Backup Payment Method

• Clients using Afterpay must have a backup payment method available in case of payment issues.

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Non-Payment

Failure to complete payment obligations may result in:

• Cancellation of future appointments

• Refusal of future services

• Recovery efforts through appropriate legal or collection processes

Shop Minimum

• There is a $100 + HST studio minimum for all tattoo services. No exceptions.

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Hourly Rates

• Tattoo rates start at $150 per hour.

• Some artists have higher hourly minimums based on experience, demand, or project type.

• Artists reserve the right to price tattoos by the piece or by the hour, depending on the project.

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Custom Artwork & Drawing Time

• Drawing and design time is not included in the tattoo price for large-scale custom work or projects requiring multiple revisions.

• A minimum $300 deposit is required for custom artwork.

• Significant design changes, redesigns, or additional drawing time may require additional deposits.

• Additional design time may be charged at 40% of the artist’s hourly rate per hour.

• If minor changes are requested and the tattoo proceeds, the deposit may be applied to the final cost at the artist’s discretion.

• If a deposit is used toward drawing or revision time, it may be forfeited and a new deposit may be required. Artists reserve the right to discontinue work if deposits are exhausted.

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Billing & Session Time

Tattoo sessions are billed for:

• Tattooing time

• Setup and breakdown

• Breaks, including lunch for long sessions

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Consultations

• Consultations are complimentary and may be required for large-scale, custom, or complex projects.

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Accepted Payment Methods

• Cash

• Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard)

• Debit and Visa Debit are not accepted.

• Prepaid credit cards may not function reliably with our payment system.

Complimentary Touch-Ups

• All tattoos completed at House of GRIM include one complimentary touch-up within 90 days, at the artist’s discretion.

• Touch-ups are intended for minor healing-related issues and are not guaranteed.

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Artist Availability

• Touch-ups are performed by appointment only.

• Touch-ups are not offered on weekends. 

• If you plan to use numbing cream for your touch-up appointment, you must notify your artist in advance. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of your complimentary touch-up.

• Touch-ups are subject to artist availability and discretion.

• If a tattoo was completed by an artist who is no longer with the studio, we will honour the complimentary touch-up policy.

• If a client had a prior touch-up agreement with an artist currently working at GRIM Studios that differs from this policy, the artist may honour the original agreement at their discretion.

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Healing Expectations

• Tattoo healing is not uniform. Minor fading or discolouration is a normal part of the healing process.

• Clients who do not follow provided aftercare instructions may be refused a complimentary touch-up.

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Areas Not Eligible for Complimentary Touch-Ups

Complimentary touch-ups are not offered for tattoos on:

• Hands or fingers

• Feet or toes

• Elbows

• Knees

• Other high-friction or high-movement areas

These areas are known for unpredictable healing and increased ink loss.

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Cancellations & No-Shows

Complimentary touch-ups are forfeited if:

• The appointment is cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours

• The client does not attend the appointment

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Paid Touch-Ups

• Touch-ups outside the complimentary policy may be offered starting at $80 + HST, subject to artist approval.

  Paid touch-ups apply only to tattoos originally completed at GRIM Studios.

• This includes touch-ups requested after 90 days, additional touch-ups beyond the complimentary one, and tattoos on areas not eligible for free touch-ups.

No Advance Designs

• House of GRIM does not send designs to clients prior to appointments.

• Each artist manages their own design process. This process will be communicated to you by the artist or by management at the time of booking or consultation.

• Requests for designs to be sent in advance will not be accommodated, regardless of appointment size or duration.

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Small & Simple Pieces

• Smaller or simpler tattoos are typically drawn on the day of the appointment.

• These designs will not be available for preview beforehand.

• Clients are encouraged to arrive with clear reference images and to communicate their vision thoroughly at the time of booking.

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Large & Custom Pieces

• Larger or more complex tattoos are generally designed within the week leading up to the appointment.

• The design will be presented to the client on the morning of the appointment, at which point minor adjustments may be requested.

• Requests for significant changes on the day of the appointment may result in rescheduling and forfeiture of the deposit, at the artist’s discretion.

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Design Changes & Revisions

• Minor adjustments requested on the day of the appointment are accommodated at the artist’s discretion.

• Significant design changes, complete redesigns, or additional preparation time may result in additional charges at 40% of the artist’s hourly rate per hour of design time. Clients requesting a complete design change for larger custom pieces must notify their artist a minimum of 48–72 hours in advance of their appointment.

• Additional deposits may be required to continue a project where design time has been exhausted.

• Artists reserve the right to decline further work if deposits are exhausted or if the scope of the project changes materially from the original agreement.

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Client Responsibility

• Once a design has been presented and approved by the client, tattooing may begin. The client accepts full responsibility for the agreed-upon design from that point forward.

• House of GRIM is not responsible for misspellings, incorrect dates, translation errors, or other content errors that the client has reviewed and approved before tattooing begins.

• Clients are encouraged to review all designs carefully and to ask questions before the tattoo is started.

Appointment Availability

• As appointments become available, they are offered first to ongoing tattoo projects and then to new clients. This allows artists to complete existing work in a timely and consistent manner.

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Cancellation List

• Cancellations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Clients who wish to be considered for cancellations must join the artist-specific cancellation list available on each artist’s page.

• Cancellation availability is not guaranteed.

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Design Changes

• Significant changes to the agreed-upon tattoo design may require rescheduling to the next available appointment.

• For some artists, particularly during busy seasons, this may result in wait times of 4–6 months or longer.

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Non-Transferable Appointments

• Appointments are non-transferable.

• Clients may not give, sell, or transfer their appointment time to another person under any circumstances.

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Multiple-Session Tattoos

• For tattoos requiring multiple sessions, we strongly recommend booking multiple appointments in advance to avoid extended wait times and ensure continuity of the project.

Age & Identification Requirements

• Valid government-issued photo ID is required for all services. No exceptions.

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Piercing Age Requirements

• 18+ only, with no parental exceptions, for: genital piercings, nipple piercings, advanced piercings, surface piercings, and microdermals.

• 14–15 years old: basic piercings with parent or legal guardian consent and ID.

• 16+: basic piercings with valid ID. Oral piercings (tongue, lip, labret) require 16+ with valid ID.

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Tattoo Age Requirements

• 18+ with valid ID.

• 16–17 years old with parent or legal guardian consent and valid ID.

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Children & Earlobe Piercings

• We do not pierce children under the age of six under any circumstances.

• Children’s earlobes will only be pierced if the child personally requests the piercing, understands what the piercing involves, can follow aftercare instructions, and can clearly communicate discomfort or concerns.

• This service is provided at the piercer's discretion.

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Tattoo Content & Placement Restrictions

We reserve the right to refuse tattoo designs or placements, including but not limited to:

• Hands, necks, or faces on clients who are not heavily tattooed, do not work in the industry, or do not have pre-existing tattoos in these areas

• Drug-related imagery

• Gang or criminal affiliations

• Names of significant others

• Racist, homophobic, transphobic, discriminatory, or hateful imagery

• Designs that target religions, minorities, or protected groups

• Any imagery deemed inappropriate or offensive by studio staff

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Gang Affiliation & Symbols

• Clients wearing visible gang colours, patches, or symbols will be asked to remove the items or leave the studio.

• This includes biker organization patches, 1% identifiers, and hate-associated symbols.

• We do not provide services to individuals visibly affiliated with gangs or criminal organizations.

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Studio Conduct & Safety

• Harassment, racism, homophobia, transphobia, or discriminatory language will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

• House of GRIM is a safe and inclusive space for all people. Anyone threatening that safety will be asked to leave immediately.

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Artist Standards of Practice

• All artists and independent contractors working at House of GRIM are expected to be sober and fit for work during all scheduled appointments and studio hours.

• Artists must not be under the influence of alcohol while performing any service at GRIM Studios.

• Artists must not be under the influence of any illegal substance while performing any service at GRIM Studios. Cannabis is legal in Ontario and its use is not prohibited, however artists are expected to exercise professional judgment and ensure that their capacity to work safely and to the standard expected of their practice is not impaired.

• Clients who have concerns about an artist’s fitness for service during an appointment are encouraged to speak directly with management. House of GRIM takes these concerns seriously and will address them promptly.

• House of GRIM reserves the right to ask any artist to pause or cease work if there is reason to believe their capacity is impaired.

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Photography & Surveillance

• House of GRIM photographs completed tattoos and retains the rights to these images for promotional and portfolio use.

• Clients may request anonymity, blurring, or removal of images by contacting the studio.

• Clients may refuse photography before their session begins.

• Security cameras are in use throughout the studio, except in private service rooms (piercing rooms, cosmetic tattoo room, and private tattoo rooms).

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Guests & Studio Access

• One guest may be permitted during tattoo appointments at the artist’s discretion.

• Artists may ask guests to leave or wait in the front area for any reason.

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Accessibility & Facilities

• Gender-neutral washrooms are available.

• The studio is wheelchair accessible.

• Laser tattoo removal is not wheelchair accessible.

• Clients with accessibility needs are encouraged to contact the studio in advance so accommodations can be arranged when possible.

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Health & Responsibility

• House of GRIM is not responsible for misspellings, incorrect dates, or translation errors in tattoos.

• Clients are encouraged to review all designs carefully before tattooing begins.

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Children & Pets

• No children under 14 without adult supervision.

• Families are welcome, but the studio is not responsible for child safety.

• No pets permitted. Registered service animals are welcome.

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Hygiene & Safety

• Clients must not touch fresh tattoos or piercings, open wounds, scabs, bandages, or sterile equipment. If assistance is needed, please ask a staff member.

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Tours & Questions

• Studio tours may be available depending on management availability. Please call ahead to confirm.

• Clients are encouraged to ask questions about procedures, aftercare, sterilization practices, materials, or services at any time.

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Refund Policy

• All services, jewelry, gift cards, and deposits are non-refundable.

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Right to Refuse Service

• House of GRIM reserves the right to refuse service or ask anyone to leave at any time to protect safety, professionalism, and community standards.

This policy replaces and supersedes the individual chargeback clauses previously included in other policy sections. It applies to all services, transactions, and communications associated with House of GRIM.

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Dispute Resolution

• Any concern, complaint, or dissatisfaction with a service or transaction must be communicated directly to House of GRIM management before any external action is taken.

• Clients agree to allow House of GRIM a reasonable opportunity to address the concern before escalating to any third party, including financial institutions, consumer protection agencies, regulatory bodies, or review platforms.

• Management can be reached in studio, by phone 905-544-1222, or by emailing info@grimstudios.ca

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Chargebacks & Payment Disputes

• By agreeing to these policies or signing a service waiver, clients acknowledge that all services, deposits, jewelry, and gift cards are non-refundable.

• Initiating a chargeback or payment dispute with a financial institution after receiving services and agreeing to these terms constitutes a breach of this agreement.

• House of GRIM retains the right to submit signed waivers, policy agreements, receipts, communications, and any other supporting documentation as evidence in disputes with financial institutions or payment processors.

• Chargebacks initiated in bad faith or without prior communication with the studio may result in refusal of future services and may be pursued through civil collections processes.

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Public Statements & Reviews

• Clients are entitled to share honest, factual accounts of their experience. We welcome genuine feedback.

• Any public statement made about House of GRIM, its staff, or its independent contractors must be truthful and based on direct, personal experience.

• Making false, misleading, or defamatory statements — including false accusations of misconduct, discriminatory behaviour, criminal activity, or professional negligence — may constitute defamation under Ontario law. House of GRIM reserves the right to pursue appropriate legal remedies in such cases.

• House of GRIM documents all incidents, retains signed waivers, and maintains records of client communications. This documentation may be used in any legal, regulatory, or platform-based process.

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Client Conduct

• Clients agree to treat all House of GRIM staff and independent contractors with respect throughout their visit and in all subsequent communications, including online.

• Harassment, threats, discriminatory language, or abusive conduct directed at any staff member, independent contractor, or studio owner — whether in person, by phone, by email, or on any public or social media platform — will not be tolerated.

• House of GRIM reserves the right to refuse future services to any client who engages in the conduct described above, and to pursue legal remedies where appropriate.

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Agreement

By signing a service waiver, submitting a deposit, or receiving services at House of GRIM, you acknowledge and agree to all terms outlined in this policy and in all other House of GRIM studio policies.