Chevi/Shizuworks - Resolved

[latiro.livejournal.com]

Who: Chevi/Shizuworks

Where: Main account (ABANDONED)
Her commission account (in use and is still offering more commissions/adoptables/customs on it suspended since Sept. 19)

What: 2 flat-coloured commissions (one waist-up and one chibi; each cost $30, which adds up to $60, however I've decided I don't need the chibi anymore and just requested a refund)

When: February 4 - September 30

Explanation and Proof:

February 4: I emailed Chevi when I noticed one of her reminder journals for her very final commission offer (which means on the 10th of February, she'll no longer accept commissions). I asked her what I want (see the "What" section), and she charged $60 and asked for when I want them done. I told her to have them ready by the 1st of March and paid her $60.

Screencap of the email for my commission request
PayPal receipt

A few days passed and it's already past the deadline, but I've read a journal post on her commission account (it was posted on Mar. 1) saying that she's sick, which is understandable. So I gave her time to get well.

March 27: Chevi made a journal in her commission account stating that she's moving by Monday and won't be online for a while until everything's settled down in mid-April (again, understandable).

For several months, she's been taking more new commissions/custom designs (despite claiming that she's no longer accepting commissions; she even opened commissions on a DA journal, but it was since deleted but I didn't get a screencap of it, unfortunately) and doing a dozen or so batches of adoptable designs (I only adopted two of them).

August 7: I've sent her an email about the update on my two commissions since they've been overdue now at this point. She promptly responded the day after that, saying she'll have them done before the end of the month. So I agree to wait a little longer.

Email convo (note I got the amount of months wrong in the first email I've sent her that day. Hence the title "whoops date confusion")

August 28: I've sent her an email, telling her that I don't need the chibi commission anymore and would like a $30 refund. Chevi responded 4 days later, saying she'll get to my refund by the end of next week, as well as my waist-up pic. I, once again, agreed to wait. She later emailed me on September 6 that she'll be refunding me once the chibi commission spot is taken, as well as mentioning that my waist-up will be done between Sept. 8 (Sunday) and Sept. 11 (Wednesday).

Email convo so far

However, on Sept. 9, Chevi puts up a journal saying she's sick and bed-ridden. So as always, I gave her time to recover.

September 13: I received an email from Chevi, telling me that no one bought a chibi spot from her yet (I told her not to give up) as well as letting me know that the waist-up is delayed due to illness for most of the week, saying she'll work on it over the weekend.

Recent update email regarding the refund/commission/her status

Since then, I hadn't heard anything about my waist-up.

---

In closing: I've been conducting business with Chevi for a few years with no issue (and got the pics I've paid for), up until the recent problem rises and I've been strung along for more than half a year.

---

ETA (as of 9/30/13): I received the completed waist-up on Sept. 22. The pic can be found here (NSFW for tasteful nudity). I also recently received my $30 refund today. And with that, my issue with Chevi/Shizuworks is resolved.

Comments

[houndofloki.livejournal.com]

I had a similar experience with her. I had bought chibis and a prepose from her in the past with no issue, but when I bought a larger (two character shaded) commission from her it was a major hassle.

Several months went by with no updates, so I contacted her and we agreed to set a deadline. It was missed. We set another deadline, this time just for an approval sketch (I was trying to make it easier on her by suggesting that). Also missed. She ignored the next note, although she did read it.

Three months later (after no communication) I randomly received the finished product (no approval sketch was ever given). It was sloppily colored. The shading appeared to be dodge and burn, and part of the pattern fill she used for the male character's shirt hadn't been cleared off part of the female character's hair, so she had red cloud filter hair on part of her head. Her tattoos were also left off. I was just relieved to get something out of her, so I never bothered pursuing edits on it and chalked it up to "lesson learned".

[latiro.livejournal.com]

Good grief. I'm very sorry to hear about your issues with her. I, too, will chalk my issue with her as a lesson learned, whether I get the completed commission and refund from her or not

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

Why am I not surprised?

[vexinglyyours.livejournal.com]

Upsetting, but good to see other people making a stand against her. Sorry to see you having issues with her as well, Lati :(

[hamburger.livejournal.com]

I love to give people the benefit of the doubt, but at her current age and inability to stop taking in more work then she can handle I just get the feeling that Chevi isn't going to ever change. I would certainly never feel comfortable recommending her to anyone after years of the same song and dance.

[latiro.livejournal.com]

I most definitely agree

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

She left a new journal.
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5071736/

[adzuki.livejournal.com]

I think it is a little scary she doesn't keep a private list of those people whose commissions she is currently working and instead is begging commissioners to remind her who she is doing work for to not be suspended.

Is this a thing FA admin is doing? I think it is nice if they are cracking down on repeat offenders of biting off more than one can chew and leaving people hanging with no product.

[daigonite.livejournal.com]

Honestly I don't understand why people wait so long with so little contact or such unreliable commission status (i.e. taking on more commissions without finishing yours with an established cue). With that little progress or indication I would have probably set in a refund by now.

I tend to use a flexible cue, and sure, sometimes illness and school and work get in the way of that but this is pretty ridiculous. Did you get your refund for the chibs? I'm not sure if I accidentally didn't notice because it seems like you didn't mention if you did or not.

Quite honestly the moment I read "For several months, she's been taking more new commissions/custom designs (despite claiming that she's no longer accepting commissions; she even opened commissions on a DA journal, but it was since deleted but I didn't get a screencap of it, unfortunately) and doing a dozen or so batches of adoptable designs (I only adopted two of them)" I started to feel a bit uncomfortable. I've had commissions take months and gone through hell to get them done but I didn't outright lie to my clients by taking extra commissions under the table! Finish what you got on your plate!

If she sends up a WIP or something soon I wouldn't be too massively upset but otherwise this is pretty ridiculous.

[latiro.livejournal.com]

I haven't gotten my $30 refund for my chibi yet

as for the commission management thing: I always finish what I took before opening more. Heck, I'm working on one more commission I was paid for so I can open up some iron artist spots

[kairi-koitra.livejournal.com]

I really wish she'd post a work list I'm so tired of dealing with her. I feel your pain its now been close to three years for a pic from her my bf got me. Two well now three summers ago. The only way I get any progress from her is if I email her and demand it. She sent me lines two months ago and I still haven't gotten the color work yet.

She just posted a progress screenshot on her fa journal and my work is no where to be seen. I've had it with her honestly she is the WORST person I've ever worked with.

[latiro.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry to hear about it. I've noticed mine wasn't in the screencap, either

my experience with her usually wasn't really bad (starting way back in 2008) as the majority of the commissions I've bought from her was streamed and done quickly. And up until just now, it pretty much went downhill, what with several excuses and whatnot

'tis a shame, really. The art style's cute, but her commission management is just terrible

[bazeel-pooka.livejournal.com]

Administrative action has been taken against this user in regards to refusal to provide evidence of a queue, and refusal to contact many customers in over 2 years.

[latiro.livejournal.com]

oh good! Maybe then, people on FA wouldn't go through the similar problems that Chevi's commissioners went through

[intj-reflection.livejournal.com]

New DeviantArt account for her adoptables: sugarworks-adopts

[yuki-fox-demon.livejournal.com]

The fact that she says she's going to CONTINUE to do adopts because that's her main source of income absolutely does not sit well with me when she owes so many commissions. I fear this is unfortunately only going to worsen her situation...

[kayla-na.livejournal.com]

Man, I really feel bad for the people she pretty much jacked. :\ 2 years is definitely not an acceptable timeframe to have a customer wait.

[lackoflollies.livejournal.com]

I got a chibi commission from her too, and now it's past the point that I can do a paypal chargeback.

Fuck.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

And her account is suspended now.

I say good luck to those that are owed, I doubt they'll get anything back at this point.

me too

[shinigamiinochi.livejournal.com]

I have a similar issue. I purchased about $150 worth of art (two adopt art bundles were purchased back in december). I hadn't heard a word from the artist until I finally emailed them today. I was promised a finish date of mid October, so time will only tell -_-

[dannyazazel.livejournal.com]

I think what bothers me the most is it feels like she's just trying to pull the wool over every bodies eyes to what she's doing.

And I might actually believe she just had a string of bad luck in real life (I've had it happen before) if she didn't upload and work on adoptables, and even consider taking customs.

I really hope she just gets her backlog done. It's a monster of one but I'm sure she could do it if she actually wanted to.

[daigonite.livejournal.com]

So I went through the journal again, is it true that her cue consists of over 200 items? If so, HOLY CRAP she's gonna have to bust some serious ass to get that stuff done if she's gonna earn her reputation back whatsoever... yikes.

[latiro.livejournal.com]

last time I've heard, yes it's about 200+

[lackoflollies.livejournal.com]

She says she'll have mine finished this weekend.. i'll keep you guys updated if she does.

[vindictiivespet.livejournal.com]

This last year she has become horrible with keeping track and getting her commissions done in a decent amount of time. I know I waited about 10 months for mine and I ended up getting it then because I kept asking about it.
Its sad to know that she keeps doing it, but she gets a -TON- of support and donations from her watchers and still tries to tackle on more and more, its no surprise she is so far behind and just ignoring everyone.
As long as people keep donating and buying from her she will keep taking more and more on. =/

[yuki-fox-demon.livejournal.com]

That's what bothered me from her journal. That all those people that watch her, because they like her, are completely overlooking the fact that she has done something very, very wrong and are basically telling her "it's okay, they're just being mean!" It's really not helping her at all...

[kairi-koitra.livejournal.com]

I shared my three year nightmare on her journal as to why she should have to provide a work query on fa. Last time I shared my experience dealing with her here I got my sketch and a headshot this time I finally got my finished work and a colored chibi.' I really wish she'd just work on others pics instead of trying to quiet me. I don't care what she gives me -free- it will never cover the horrible experience I've had with her and I know others are having to.

I just hope that they to will finally get what they pay for. Even if its an overly stiff pose with sloppy coloring. Sighs... At least it's done and my nightmare is over I hope yours ends to soon

[intj-reflection.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that your final product was subpar, though happy to hear that you finally received it. It definitely sounds like she's resuming her tendency of pacifying the loudest elements of contention.

La Marionette Scam

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Now that I've found it, I can finally add on to this saga -

http://www.freewebs.com/lemarionette/about.htm

This website above, is one of Chevis old ones.

At the time Chevi lived with me in my apartment, she was running a doll-clothing business. This business snowballed and many orders came in, so many she couldn't keep up. She was making these little shirts and pants herself with her boyfriend at the time, and if I recall... at least 40+ orders came and went, At the very least! She did not finish sending them out, was labelled a SCAMMER and then had all her doll accounts banned. You can still even try and order from that store, it was never closed.

This began in 2005 - just to give everyone a small taste of how long this has been going on. This is not new, or the past year, we're talking about half a decade of scamming, whether intentionally or not. Her name became a big red flag in some doll communities for this reason.

I waited to bring this up until I could find the exact website.

Re: La Marionette Scam

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

http://lemarionette.livejournal.com/ - This is the LJ used for Lemarionette, and discusses the "scamming"

http://bad-dolly-deals.livejournal.com/173725.html - This is where her customers finally get fed up and get upset with her.

http://bad-dolly-deals.livejournal.com/139359.html - Another warning is posted here in this comm as well.

Adding this info as I find it, to catalog it all.

[0acorn0.livejournal.com]

I've bought from her in the past, but had no issues. I think the longest I waited was like 3 months for a prepose, and I never asked for an update.

But I know she has a really long history of this, and it kinda sucks cause her art is pretty cute. It seems like all she focuses on are adopts (which she sells for $20 a piece, which means she makes an average of $160-200 per upload off them.

I find it weird that her work ethic is so sloppy and she's dug herself such a hole while her sister seems like the exact opposite.

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

Reading this makes me feel my SO was very lucky to get the art at all. It's a shame, because I really love the art I got. I just am not too quick to show it off lest more people fall prey to her. My SO waited months and had to constantly email her just to get the art.

[vexinglyyours.livejournal.com]

"I just am not too quick to show it off lest more people fall prey to her."

That's my dilemma. :/ When I got the plush icons finally, I almost didn't want to use them because I felt so bitter. On FA, I know it's not mandatory, but I usually credit the artist who did my current icon on my profile. I don't want to give Chevi more people to take advantage of, so I just don't mention her at all.

It's people like this that seriously sour commissioning for EVERYONE.

[lackoflollies.livejournal.com]

I received my chibi commission this morning; and I love it, so i'm now one less person she owes.

[inkstainedrat.livejournal.com]

Chevi contacted me today to tell me that she was going to start on my long awaited commissions. The last contact I had with her was in Feb when she had previously stated she would begin work. She said that she had done 15 commissions in the past few days, so I believe she is trying to move forward.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

And again, I find myself hoping this sudden urge to finish her queue is more then just something to pacify her customers for a few weeks. She runs out of steam incredibly fast and falls into her usual cycle of needing money and piling art on. I won't believe it's real until I see it.

So, again, I'll state that I hope shes serious this time!

just updating

[latiro.livejournal.com]

Chevi has completed my waist-up, but I'm yet to get my refund. Once I do get it, my issue with her is as good as resolved

Re: just updating

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Good to hear! Thanks for keeping this updated.

[bluefantasyz.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to this community since my son was born three years ago. Truth, I'm amazed to see Shizuki still popping up here. If she'd stop taking on new stuff and maybe get, I dunno, an actual job to make money and work on commissions in spare time, I feel she'd be better off both for herself and in the eyes of the community.