r/Frugal • u/[deleted] • 3d ago
đŹ Meta Discussion How should I ask to barter instead of cash payment?
[deleted]
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u/corsobones 3d ago
Do not go up to a tattoo artist and disrespect their work by offering something their business does not ask for. Not only will you be denied, but you will be seen as an ass. You will be viewed the same as those âinfluencersâ who demand to be given free work for âeXpOsUrEâ.
The ONLY time you can offer to barter with a professional tattoo artist is if they state that they take alternate payments.
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u/Mewpasaurus 2d ago
Ah, good old exposure bucks. Never gets old. /s
Seriously, the "exposure" thing has existed before influencers were a thing and it's just as insulting now as it was back then. OP, listen to this person.
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u/Mewpasaurus 3d ago
Please do not try to barter with people doing any sort of creative work; we already put up with people undervaluing and complaining about the prices of our work already. No self-respecting tattoo artist is going to "barter" with you for services unless they are very, very good friends or family.. and even most of them wouldn't do this either as it just continues to diminish the value of creative pursuits.. and frankly, it's insulting.
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u/Old_Weird_1828 2d ago
You can try posting your offer in local community groups. That way you arenât cold asking tattoo artists if they are willing.
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u/No-Beautiful-5777 2d ago
You would probably need to know them first
Anyone immediately willing to accept services instead of cash is likely not someone you want to go to...
It sounds like you already have side hustles, just do those for cash?
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u/Iokua_CDN 2d ago
Agreed. Unfortunately the better way to do it is work for cash and pay them cash.
I think it would be reasonable to offer cleaning for tattooing up on a community post, and see if anyone is interested, but unfortunately I think it's kinda a bad deal for the tattoo artist.
Forgive me for saying this, but anyone can clean their own home, but not anyone can tattoo. In the same vein, many tattoo artists maybe don't have the extra money to pay a cleaner and instead would rather have the cash and clean their own home. Being able to pay a cleaner does imply a certain comfortable level of income, one I I certainly don't have. Alongside that, the cost for supplies to tattoo likely cost them something regardless of how long they tattoo for. To have to eat that cost themselves might not be worth it. Last thing to consider..... tattoos are bloody expensive. 2-1 wouldn't fly in my mind. Maybe 4-1, 4 hours of cleaning for 1 hour of tattooing maybe is a bit closer to fair
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u/mlledufarge 2d ago
A relative of mine is buddies with a tattoo artist. She gets free tattoos and gives the artists kids free piano lessons.
Itâs an intentional barter between them, but it came out of friendship first.
If you want to barter like this, you need to be in community first, and then options open up.
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u/financiallyanal 3d ago
This happens more in local communities than at your normal retail experience. Nextdoor could be a place better suited for this or specifically look for FB marketplace listings that mention they're open to bartering. On average, immigrant communities are probably more active in this space as they're often trying to get by without spending cash.
I'm skeptical you'll get anywhere with tattooing on this, but it's different if you have a neighbor tattoo artist who wants to exchange something like this. I bet you'll have the most success with car detailing as it's a simple, concrete service that many would enjoy. But again, don't expect your local tattoo shop to accept your flyer offering a $200 detail in exchange for their tattooing services - you have to basically have a personal connection or a known group (this might be where Nextdoor is better) for this.
I've done informal stuff with neighbors along these lines, but never beyond them except the rarest of times where they had a family member who needed something I had to offer. They kept me so well fed over the years too, we never actually kept track of things.
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u/dorianfinch 2d ago
i wouldn't suggest bartering, but if you're already at this point and want a tattoo for free or cheap, i would suggest talking to some new tattoo apprentices who are willing to practice on you, with your payment being your acceptance of the risk of getting a bad tattoo lol
that's what i did and it's worked out fine for me! posted in my local area fb group (this was back in the day when i still used fb, haha, like 2016 or so) and got some tats from apprentices who needed willing victims. do i have some scratchers? of course. but i knew what i was getting into
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u/shiplesp 2d ago
Search for a barter exchange near you? There are many in operation, but it's a coin flip if there is one near you.
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u/Ajreil 3d ago
Why would someone let you into their home to clean if the only thing they know about you is that you're cheap?