Perhaps one of the most important factors in purchasing a starter tattoo kit is not the initial purchase price, but the overall quality of the company you are purchasing from. Sure, it looks like a good deal now, but what about later, when it's time to buy more supplies? Was the tattoo machine good or did you have a lot of problems with the cheap one you received? Was the tattoo ink worth purchasing again, or did you find you had to redo all the tattoos because the ink never stayed in the skin? Did everything rust? More importantly, does the company sell the same items to keep you supplied with your tattooing business or do you now have to locate another company to buy from? Repeat business is often rewarded by the better tattoo companies. How do you find out? Call them. They usually have a toll free number. Introduce yourself, mention you purchased a kit from them (an approximate date is helpful) and provide any feedback on the kit (are you happy with it? let them know!). Tell them you're interested in restocking some supplies and ask them what kind of deals they have going - you can often get a better price from a happy salesperson than you would normally receive online through their website.
I bought my first tattoo machine about 8 years ago and have been using it ever since. I am not 100% confident that I would consider it a so called cheap tattoo gun especially due to it lasting longer than I really expected it to. I didn't do the research that I needed to but luckily found a solid tattoo supply company who sold quality tattoo machines.
Most of the beginner tattoo kits found online contain cheap and unprofessional parts hence the amazingly low prices that they are being sold for. The quality of the cheap tattoo machines can and will vary from company to company, so doing your research is not only important but highly recommended.
