Artist Beware: Ellis Cain/Octoplanet

[sleetfury.livejournal.com]

WHO: Ellis Cain/Octoplanet

WHERE: Furry Craigslist on Facebook.
Post url in question: https://www.facebook.com/groups/701968973213985/permalink/838965656180982/?comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22O%22%7D
Archive: https://archive.is/fDZXY

WHAT: Pair of premade foam base wings for $100 + $25 shipping.

WHEN: For sale post went up on FC on the 8th of May, payment made on the same day.

PROOF: Proof album, will be pulling links from here: http://imgur.com/a/sNKx2

EXPLAIN: A video of a pair of premade wings that were being sold was uploaded to FC on the 8th of may and as I am slowly piecing together a fursuit, I enquired. They were perfect for what I wanted so purchased them on the spot.
After some friendly back and forth I was given their paypal (which is actually another users, I am told they are business partners) and their furaffinity so I could look at their other work as I was interested in seeing if they would finish the wings (although I chose to leave it as a foam base.)
My first red flag was when they sent me this while I was out at dinner http://i.imgur.com/SJvoOhZ.png and I politely informed them of Paypal's ToS and resent the payment (still as goods and services).
After a couple of inquiries with no response, on the 15th I was told they would be mailed the next day http://i.imgur.com/b50pxQ5.png
And then on the second I inquired again http://i.imgur.com/DlVPTEw.png
On the 9th I finally got another response http://i.imgur.com/VZ6i6Vd.png
Then no contact at all http://i.imgur.com/mnBo6VH.png
I filed a Paypal dispute on the 22nd http://i.imgur.com/sCDlk3E.png (Sill has not been responded to)
Eventually I had to go through the admin of the Furry Craigslist group in order to get a response (On Saturday 4th) http://i.imgur.com/KIbdJrG.png <-response Ellis gave the admin.
It's now the 12th (as of writing) and I still have not gotten either my wings or a refund. I honestly really wanted those wings but I've been left feeling scammed instead. I am very glad I went with the rules and didn't send as a gift!

Update Monday 20th: Paypal sided in my favour last night after no response from Ellis, no contact from them via Facebook either.

Update Tuesday 28th: The user Ellis claimed was their business partner got in contact with me today. However, apparently they have no idea they were ever partners in the first place and are barely on speaking terms. I have permission to show you the logs with them and the logs of their conversation with Ellis.
http://i.imgur.com/4jVe9P6.png
http://imgur.com/a/k0pmz

Comments

[lackoflollies.livejournal.com]

Just so you know your album link only seems to direct to one picture.

That being said I am sososososo glad you didn't send as gift despite them sending back to demand it resent as friends and family. I bet you are too, but WOW the audacity! This whole thing is just ugh, disgusting. I'm glad Paypal sided with you. I hope they banned her from the group after that.

[sleetfury.livejournal.com]

Oops! I'll fix that when I get home tonight, thanks!

They did get banned! The admin have them a condition to get in contact with me to get unbanned but since it never happened, they must not care that much haha.

[ryunwoofie.livejournal.com]

That is truly unfortunate because those wings are amazing looking. Glad you got your money back though.

[sleetfury.livejournal.com]

They are! I guess I'll have to find someone else that can make them, haha. Thank you!

[jessibean.livejournal.com]

Good on you for sticking to your guns and sending as a payment for goods! Beware well warranted based off that alone.

[kazeno-taka.livejournal.com]

I'll never understand people who insist on receiving payments for goods or services as "friends and family". Aside from being against Paypal's TOS and risking getting your account shut down, they also recently added a pretty hefty fine if they find you're abusing it. It's just not worth it. PayPal fees are part of business when you use PayPal. Just deal.

[kazeno-taka.livejournal.com]

I've been shipping everything from tiny bubble envelopes to huge, heavy boxes for large framed art, USPS, UPS and FedEx, and have not once run into issues like this. It seems like every other Artist_Beware post is some seller simply baffled that the painting/fursuit/outfit they shipped out "weeks ago" hasn't been delivered yet.

And then there's of course some excuse, such as the box was damaged, or the address was wrong, or it got delayed somehow.....and yet, even when they 'fix' the problem, it still never shows up.

Mighty unusual coincidence for this to happen to SO MANY sellers, and in strikingly similar ways.

[jessibean.livejournal.com]

This. I have NEVER had a package get lost in the mail, even when I was a heavy ebay seller. I think the only issue I ever had was mailing a friend some nailpolish - I was too honest about what I was sending and it took ages to get there. It amazes me how many people manage to "lose" or "misship" the same thing 5 times.