BEWARE: Khamul

[mottenfest.livejournal.com]

WHO: Khamul, Takeo

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/khamul/

WHAT: Heart of the Swarm icon [Link to journal] [Screenshot of journal]

WHEN (with proof): Here's a screencap of our conversation on the journal. Here is the note requesting payment. Confirmation of payment from PayPal.

EXPLAIN: Khamul offered Heart of the Swarm icons to celebrate the release of the new Starcraft expansion, so I bought one. After they requested payment I sent it over promptly on March 18th. I didn't receive a confirmation from Khamul that they had gotten my payment. Several attempts to reach them had failed (I also made a post on a_b to see if anyone else had heard from them), so on April 11th I opened PayPal dispute. On April 26th they made a journal about how they had apparently forgotten about FA and all of the money they had taken. I left a comment confirming that I would like a refund.  When they again failed to contact me, I raised my dispute to a claim and on May 8th my money was refunded.
 I still have not had any communication with Khamul since they requested payment.

Comments

[bamboo-dog.livejournal.com]

While you must feel disappointed for not getting the icon you paid for, you /did/ get a refund, even if it was through a dispute and not from them personally, so I don't really see anything that major that would call for an ab. From the sound of it they did just "forget about FA" and they did the right thing by refunding people. You were probably just backlogged and they forgot about you or something. It sucks but it happens. Or maybe they're just having computer difficulties and just hasn't had a chance to respond back to you yet?
Eitherway you got your money back so I'd just take it as water under the bridge at this point honestly.

[thecreativepen.livejournal.com]

It's really not appropriate to question whether or not this warrants a beware. It's in the comm rules:

"Do not comment in a post questioning its relevance to this community. Posts are moderated. This means that before members can see the post, a moderator has verified that it fits the rules of this community, and is not something that has already been covered (if discussion-minded). If you have concerns about a certain post, please contact a moderator directly through private message or email. "

(edited for a typo)

[thecreativepen.livejournal.com]

I'd also like to add I'm not a mod, just wanted to clarify the rule.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Why AB's are posted are not up for debate, and is actually against the rules. Not a formal warning, but just a polite reminder.

They did not receive a refund from the artist in question, they made a dispute and paypal chose to refund their purchase based on lack of contact from Khamul. They clearly state they received no contact since the first request of funds. Khamul did not refund people whatsoever.

What makes this valid is that the artist chose to take money, not provide a finished product, then "forget about FA", which is basically stealing. This person is someone most would probably avoid doing a deal with. This community is here to literally warn people of folks who have bad business practices, and making excuses for bad business ethics isn't really the appropriate response.

So "it sucks but it happens" is not exactly a welcome notion.

[mazz.livejournal.com]

Thank you

[lichdog.livejournal.com]

Wow and I asked them about getting an icon too (and they said they'd let me know when they reopened) :c

[mazz.livejournal.com]

Omg... "forgetting about FA" is not an excuse to ignore people who gave you money.
I'm glad paypal got you your money back, beware headed.
Their most recent FA journal is just... horrid too. They really shouldn't be trying to be a professional artist as they obviously have the inability to behave as such.
:C

[duster.livejournal.com]

Their most recent journal alone is enough to make me take my money elsewhere.

[maxi.livejournal.com]

One of reasons I stopped watching them, unfortunately.
"Forgetting about FA" is a terrible excuse to leave customers in the dark :/

[thecreativepen.livejournal.com]

Forgetting about a site that you've clearly taken commissions off of is ridiculous, and in my opinion, a lie.

You don't forget about something you previously used regularly.

[friskecrisps.livejournal.com]

My understanding with my chats with him on skype, he has a stressful outside life. Though with that in mind, you gotta be able to make room for commissions if you're going to take them. From what I was told, he's working on giving people refunds. He tells me he was hoping to make a living off doing commissions but after all this, he won't be doing commissions anymore.

[thecreativepen.livejournal.com]

I'd recommend that he comes here to speak, so we can get both sides of the story from the original sources. If he'd like to make things right and refund people, it would be very beneficial for him to say it himself.

[khamulblack.livejournal.com]

All I can do is apologize. It was not my intent to abuse anyone, nor give excuses. I only explained what had happened, I never said it was okay.

All but two persons have been refunded by my own direction, Mottenfest, who raised a dispute with paypal (that i was unaware of until after the fact), and another commissioner who I have inquired to as to their paypal address to return their money to them, and have in turn received no reply as of yet.

Hate me for my short comings if you must. I have done what I can to the best of my abilities to remedy the situation and make things right again.

[mottenfest.livejournal.com]

I'm curious how you were unaware of my Paypal dispute. Paypal sends several emails to both parties throughout the process. I know they at least send emails out when a dispute is opened and then when it is escalated to a claim. I know on my end I was given several reminders from Paypal.

I don't hate you, I said that when I responded to your recent FA notes. I'm not impressed by your actions up until now, but that does not mean I hate you or wish you any ill will. What happened was unfortunate, but it looks like you're on the right track to making it right.

[khamulblack.livejournal.com]

As I said in my FA note, it did not cross my mind that you specifically hated me. My emotion's have been running high for the past few days, and I apologize if I gave the impression that that is what I thought.

And as far as why there was no response or knowledge on my part about your Paypal dispute, well, when things become so chaotic and you're working 2 jobs and then have family issues along with taking your loved one to the hospital, then turning around and taking yourself to the hospital, and that you come to find your car is pretty much illegal because you were told the wrong information after moving into a new state, you tend to not pay attention to anything that is happening online. Which tells me where the fandom is on my priority list. Thus the reason why I am no longer taking commissions or accepting money for art at this time, if not indefinitely.

I messed up, and I Never Excused Myself On That. I only explained why it happened. I keep personal things vague on purpose, it is a defense of mine. And I knew when I did, some people would not accept it, and that's fine. Those people are not me, and will never be me, nor do they know my life or the things I've endured.

Could I have done better in communicating it to the commissioners, yes. Did I mess up horribly, yes. I never tried to dodge the situation or attempt to run off with people's money or the responsibility, but I did handle it unprofessionally and am fully aware of it. I am more than willing to admit to those truths.

The past two days I knew I'd have off of work and during this time I finally had the money in Paypal to pay back everyone, and I have (except for the one person who's account information I still have yet to receive).

And I thank you all for your honesty