First, what is a ‘scratcher shop’? It’s a tattoo shop that doesn’t have real artists on hand to help you create a unique work of art that will be going on your body. They basically “cut and paste” an existing image from flash art on their wall or found online.
The tattoo industry isn’t as regulated in the USA as you might think (or hope!). Real reputable tattoo studios employ artists that have a background in art, have practiced their craft for many years, have gone through an extensive internship and have a passion to create new art. They are CPR, First Aid and Blood Borne Pathogen certified and maintain that certification throughout their employment. They will use EU regulated inks, for both safety and quality.
A ‘scratcher shop’ may be a little bit cheaper, but this is exactly why. They aren’t spending their own personal time outside of the studio to work on the art. They often use lower quality materials. Who knows if they are truly certified? In the tattoo industry, you really do get what you pay for. Do you really want something going on your body permanently that you aren’t proud of just to save a relatively small amount of money?
One of the main reasons why people end up needing a cover-up on a tattoo is due to a lower quality tattoo, using low quality materials that faded way too much too fast. An inexperienced tattooist may choose the wrong type of needle cartridge and make your lines way thicker than you wanted, poor shading/blending and even scarring. Experience and practice are exceptionally important.