Coming Back From A Bad Review With Vicky Stoner

I've been tattooing for over 20 years, and a one-star review still makes my stomach drop every single time. But somewhere along the way, I learned something important: not all bad reviews are created equal. And the way you respond to them (or don't) says a whole lot more about you than the review itself.

In this episode, I brought back one of my favorite people, Vicky Stoner, who also happens to be the reigning review queen of Blue Bird Tattoo Studio. We get into three very different kinds of bad reviews. First, the story of "Fucking Jerry," a guy who actually knows me personally, rented a room in my house, and still thought leaving a one-star review was a solid life choice. And then there's the completely separate situation of some random person who apparently had nothing better to do than go around town leaving one-star reviews for every single tattoo shop in Hanover. This guy had never even set foot in our shop. Also, the three-year-old review from a real client that genuinely gutted me, because she wasn't wrong.

We talk about how to tell the difference between valid feedback and noise, why blasting a bad review on social media is one of the worst things you can do for your brand, and the simple system Vicky uses to consistently earn five-star reviews without coming across as pushy or salesy.

If you've ever let a one-star review ruin your day, this one's for you.

Thanks to Mana Scheduler for sponsoring this episode

Watch on YouTube

Vicky (@HappyCamperTattoos) on Instagram

Vicky (@HappyCamperTattoos) on TikTok

What You'll Learn in This Episode: How to tell the difference between a valid complaint and someone just being difficult

Why responding publicly to bad reviews and doing it wrong can do more damage than the review itself

The "get in the boat" de-escalation strategy and how it applies to tattoo client situations

Vicky's multi-step system for consistently earning five-star reviews (including the QR code aftercare bag trick)