Bensonhurst’s Barter Ink Is Trading Tattoos For Items Or Services

Of all the objects we own in life, none are as permanent as our own behinds (although, I suppose, advances in cosmetic surgery are changing that). Using that logic, it makes perfect sense to trade an autographed Mickey Mantle baseball for a picture of Mickey Mantle’s face on your ass. News 12 is reporting that this is the guiding business philosophy of local Bensonhurst tattoo artist Shawn Ortolano, a.k.a. Shawn Ink, who barters quality tattoos for things he needs.

Ortolano’s business, Barter Ink, is located at 1767 Bath Avenue and provides alternate means of payment for ink if you are out of cash or simply want to get rid of some stuff clogging up your closet. Barter Ink has accepted guitars, watches, iPads and furniture for tattoo work, providing a novel service for both Ortolano and his clients.

“It benefits a lot of people,” customer Vinnie Sagistiano told News 12. “People that can’t afford things but have a lot of things to get rid of, they can do.”

According to News 12, Ortolano came up with the idea when he was looking to furnish his apartment. When he managed to do this, he was inspired to keep offering up special trades for his services. His ultimate goal is to trade a tattoo for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Now, according to this motorcycle website, Harley’s are pretty expensive, ranging anywhere from $8,000 to $32,000 for a 2014 model. Ortolano is either going to have to tattoo the Sistine Chapel on someone’s back or provide tattoos for a family the size of the Brady Bunch to get his hands on one. Bensonhurst Bean wishes him good luck in his quest!