BEWARE: Pirate Cashoo

[houndofloki.livejournal.com]

WHO: Pirate Cashoo

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/pirate-cashoo
pirate-cashoo.deviantart.com
pirate-cashoo.tumblr.com
zombiebooty.tumblr.com (NSFW)

WHAT: 2 pictures. One high-res of a single character, one sketch of two characters that she later offered to upgrade to a colored sketch in apology for the wait - but I haven't seen anything on either.

WHEN: High res was October 2011



EXPLAIN: I will concede right off the bat that this situation is partly my own fault. I have a busy job, and don't tend to 'check in' with artists all that often. I paid in full up front for both of these images but went a long time without contacting her, because the 'honor system' has worked out fine for me in the past. I bought a second picture from her when the other one was a year overdue, which was stupid of me - but I honestly lost track of just how long it had really been. So it's partly on me that it has reached this point. I took way too blase an attitude to buying art online, but I've learned from this.

I had bought pictures from Cashoo successfully a couple of times in the past, and arranged to buy one of her high-res commissions when she opened them up in a journal. The price for it was $140. This was October 2011. I paid for it in full upfront.

This is where I let things go for quite a while. I bought a couple of bust images from her, and both were completed in a decent timeframe - so I wasn't too worried about the high-res at that point.

10/14/2012: I checked in with her about and she said it was nearly done. At this point, the problem she was having was something to do with a car; I'm a little fuzzy on details now. I figured the high-res was forthcoming and bought a two-character sketch from her for 90 bucks to help her out (I know. Dumb of me.)

11/12/2012: She replied to me saying she had started a sketch but lost it in some kind of computer disaster. Promised to give a sketch in 'the next few days', and said she would do it tonight except she had to pay $200 in bills tomorrow? What that has to do with sketching now, I don't even know. I kept my response positive because I was still hoping to get my picture. Journals about various personal problems holding her progress were posted in this timeframe.

12/4/2013: No sketch. She had posted one of those long whiny journals, but I wanted a specific update about my picture and sent an FA note. It was read, but not responded to.

Late December 2012: After my note on FA went ignored, I saw her post a Tumblr update about doing a stream. I unfortunately don't have screenshots of this, but I stepped into the stream and talked to her. She apologized repeatedly for still not having a sketch and said my picture was next in the queue after the one she was currently working on (which was Svarta-Perlan's, another AB entry). She offered to upgrade the sketch I bought in October 2012 to a colored sketch as an apology for the wait. Yeah, okay, fine.

January-February 2013: I sent a couple of Tumblr asks requesting updates, because that seemed to be the site she was using most regularly. Tumblr doesn't record those...but they weren't responded to, anyway.

March 12 2013: Sent another FA note asking for an update. Still unread a week later, though she has been replying to comments on DA.

As of today - I still have yet to see even a rough sketch on either image. Her story on DA comments is now that's she's facing eviction. Who knows. I honestly just hope I'll get either the commissions or a full refund at some point.

Evidence:
http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu161/BeckytheFox/ScreenShot2013-03-19at101808PM_zps19e70f98.png
http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu161/BeckytheFox/ScreenShot2013-03-19at102443PM_zps785ab745.png
http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu161/BeckytheFox/ScreenShot2013-03-19at101314PM_zpsc7d6342d.png

EDIT 4/1/2013
I caught up with Cashoo on Livestream. She sent me an invite to the Asana program and showed me a WIP of my high-res commission (refined sketch with lighting shaded in). So there has been progress.

Comments

[tealmoonxiv.livejournal.com]

Not her again.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

At this point, I honestly think those who have not gotten any progress on their commissions need to contact paypal directly, and explain their case. Based on previous responses she's made and previous Bewares, she is not going to finish your commission any time soon, and intends to string everyone along.

The more the bewares pile up, the more evident it is that Cashoo is incapable of handling freelancing as a job.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Woops! Wasn't meant to reply to you, sorry!

[tealmoonxiv.livejournal.com]

No prob, and I fully agree with you.

[houndofloki.livejournal.com]

I've been a little hesitant to try and contact paypal, because I think the fact that I let things go such a long time without asking her for updates, and that I bought a second image when the first one was already so far overdue, makes this partly my own fault. I'm kicking myself for it now, but I know I was dumb in doing that.

I guess the worst Paypal could say is no, though.

[ethelune.livejournal.com]

You might include a link to her account on Hentai Foundry (NSFW, obviously): http://www.hentai-foundry.com/user/zombiepirate/profile

She seems to be moderately active there, including advertising herself as open for commissions. Plus, the comments are flooded with even more dissatisfied customers (all of whom have received no reply, a'course).

[tealmoonxiv.livejournal.com]

At this point I feel that she needs to be arrested. -_-

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Not really. Honestly, you being overly generous and buying yet a second image wouldn't be seen in a bad light - especially since she hasn't bothered to deliver you anything. I have heard paypal sometimes looks at cases like these after the 45 days are up, and occasionally rules in the customers favor.

I think it's definitely worth a shot, because I honestly just don't see her refunding you OR giving you artwork.

[germanchoclates.livejournal.com]

The surprised look on my face because she's back on here is non-existent.

I said to a friend once that she was going to be the next equivalent of Starfinder a long time ago. I hate to say that I was right. What a crying shame she just can't hunt down a minimum wage job to pay her bills while slowly working off her backlog and refunding in between as excess funds were available.

At this point her long list of excuses could almost fill a book. All that she really hasn't used is alien abduction and even then I could see it down the turnpike.

Parroting Neolucky, contact paypal. At this rate the absolute worst that you could do is not try. Even if they are initially reluctant, keep trying. Sometimes you get somebody more understanding on the phone and knows how to help you out!

[norala.livejournal.com]

Contacting PayPal isn't a bad idea, it could if anything help others facing the same problem. Sorry to hear about your bad luck.

[latiro.livejournal.com]

this

[purpule.livejournal.com]

I agree. Being a flakey artist is one thing(but still, not an excuse), she seems to actively be defrauding people.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

For all her insisting that she works sooo hard on commissions, her scarce gallery postings would suggest otherwise. I shudder to think how bad her backlog is at this point, and it only grows worse as she still takes comms and always spends the money before the work is done.

[epiceternity.livejournal.com]

Sorry OP, I'm a little confused about the timeline of events towards the end. The dates are ordered as-

12/4/2013:

Late December 2012:

January-February 2013

Should that first one be 2012 rather than 2013?

[purpule.livejournal.com]

Since 12/4 hasn't happened yet, I'd say it's safe to assume so!

[epiceternity.livejournal.com]

yes, hence why my brain got distracted ^^

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

I had to go to page 4 of her comments just to find where the flood of clients started. Holy cow! None of them seem to realize that she's been doing this for years.

[forsaken-malice.livejournal.com]

"TO ANYONE & MY CUSTOMERS, DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY TO piratecashoo[at]yahoo.com ON PAYPAL!"

From the journal on her FA profile page. Seems like sound advice to me. lol sorry but I couldn't help myself.

I didn't have anything really productive to add, since you've covered bases with contacting her (or trying to) and the "contact paypal" advice has been given. That said, I really hope you see a solution to this.

[hrafnsauga.livejournal.com]

*hug* good to see your post here sweetie... I do hope you get your art, or your money... It's ridiculous how she has led you on and lied to you. As someone stated above, her sob stories and excuses could fill a whole book. :/

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

Just submitted my own beware on her waiting for mods to take a peek now. :I

Looking back on my emails I found out that I commissioned her in August not too long after my birthday instead of October/November which I thought was when I commissioned her... I really want her to finish as it's only the characters she has left to color x_x; But at this rate I think keeping what she gave me and commissioning another artist would be the smartest thing to do...

[tifaria.livejournal.com]

From her DA comments section, in response to someone who has been waiting over a year: "In any case, on December 5th 2012 you were happy to work with me and see whatever upcoming progress, and you told me that you were sure the wait will be worth it...plus, I have offered compensation of a free sketch or icon after I complete your current commission. Also, if I've already started your commission I cannot give you a refund (plus I REALLY like the subject matter you gave me -- it's been one I've reeeally brainstormed & sketched upon)."

Sooo... as long as she claims to have WIPs, she feels that she can sit there and deny refunds to people, I guess. Even if those WIPs never become finished products. I have to LOL at that bit in the parenthesis-- if you've been brainstorming and sketching so much, why has it taken over a year to finish?

She really needs to stop it with offering free sketches/icons to make up for her inability to deliver on time. It's just making her backlog worse. And maybe this sounds harsh or rude, but no one cares about her personal problems. They have nothing to do with the commissioners. If you're really going through something and it's going to affect your ability to finish commissions, just refund people and have it over with. Stop posting walls of text about all the reasons why you can't respond to people/refund them/finish their work.

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

I really wanted to say the last bit on her last journal about her abusive ex... I mean I feel for her and all but all she needed tot ell us was that she cannot accept payments as her paypal has been compromised and she'll keep us updated. :P

[thecreativepen.livejournal.com]

Why am I not surprised to see her on here? I wish there was a more concrete way for people who get scammed by artists to get their money back.

I would suggest speaking to Paypal. If enough people complain (even after the 45 period), it may be the push needed for Paypal to see her taking money without delivering a product, and shutting her down.

[tealmoonxiv.livejournal.com]

But since she doesn't seem to hide the comments how could they not see them?

[kasune.livejournal.com]

Man... I'm not surprised, but this is just so sad. :/
A good artist taking the wrong path.