Artist Beware: derptile / voice-cracked

[thekingtheory.livejournal.com]

WHO: derptile (old DA), voice-cracked (now-abandoned DA), datpug (new DA)

WHERE: http://derptile.deviantart.com/ (previous account that we started doing business on), http://voice-cracked.deviantart.com/ (now abandoned account)
http://datpug.deviantart.com/ (new account)

WHAT: a chibi commission

WHEN: commission was initiated on November 7th, 2015 (paid for the next day)

PROOF: notes depicting the agreement to take on my commission - http://i.imgur.com/Xxv6A22.png , http://i.imgur.com/BccgtH9.png

the paypal statement of my payment - http://i.imgur.com/8rlGOtS.png

EXPLAIN: I commissioned DA user Derptile for a chibi back in November of 2015. I realize now that I probably should have not specified "no deadline", though I thought the commission would have been completed in a reasonable amount of time.

I waited a good while before contacting her again as I know the holidays can be really busy for everyone and I was going through a really rough patch myself. I sent her a note on her new account in February asking about my commission but the note was never responded to. - http://i.imgur.com/8ToR3JD.png

I sent her a note again in March and got a response. - http://imgur.com/gZlc4Xh She told me my commission was already done but she gets really nervous when it comes time to post a commission. I have extreme anxiety myself, so I expressed that I understood and would be okay to wait a bit. - http://imgur.com/0rQQZsi

During the rest of the week, I realized I had said "extremely" patient (I tend to be overly accommodating to the point of it being a detriment to myself, which I've been trying to work on) so I decided to give her another poke which I never received a reply to. - http://i.imgur.com/FgQDC6G.png

I sent a more direct note on April 7th letting her know that she had until the 1st of May to send me my commission or else I'd file a chargeback. She responded two days later saying she will "finish up now", which, I assume, means she had lied to me about my commission being completed. Still, I tried to be friendly and thanked her for a response. - http://i.imgur.com/O4ak4m1.png / http://i.imgur.com/oOQ4BnS.png

In the meantime, she opened up for commissions again on her new account on April 20th with a very strange addition to the journal at the very bottom. She says that taking on commissions is not about the money but the community and that her commissioners need to have patience because she "see(s) them as friends instead of watchers". - link to the journal http://voice-cracked.deviantart.com/journal/Paypal-Commission-Info-30-and-below-604151056 / screenshots just in case the journal is deleted after this is posted http://i.imgur.com/B4q1mDN.png & http://i.imgur.com/FEDzosy.png

Since she included this statement "My entire heart and soul is expressed within the work I put into, and the moment my commissioners take that oath to have patience, I expect that they keep their word", I'm assuming she may be vaguely talking about me, but since I don't have proof, it's pure speculation.

I waited but decided to send a note on April 25th asking for a refund. The final day I can make a chargeback on this transaction is May 7th so I decided to give her until the 5th to refund me herself before I file the chargeback. - http://i.imgur.com/vaFq0XR.png I never recieved a reply to this note but it has been read. - http://i.imgur.com/GCrWcik.png

Since asking for a refund she has entered a contest on a forum on April 29th and was able to complete the art in less than a week - http://i.imgur.com/H2AnNd3.png which she posted to her deviantart - http://voice-cracked.deviantart.com/art/Everyday-life-with-the-Scholar-and-the-Paladin-606914092

I have opened a dispute on my payment on Paypal today (May 4th) as I believe I will not get my art or my refund. I intend to escalate it to a claim soon but I thought I'd give them some time to respond on Paypal first.

I am very disappointed to say the least. Just be careful giving your money to this artist.


EDIT: Just wanted to clarify that I have escalated it to a claim after submitting this entry!
2nd EDIT: My chargeback went through without a hitch and the money has been returned to my paypal!

3rd EDIT (June 17th): Honestly thought this was over but, there's been a journal made - http://voice-cracked.deviantart.com/journal/I-m-most-definitely-just-an-idiot-615888454 (just in case things are deleted - http://imgur.com/a/RTZvn READS BOTTOM TO TOP, sorry about that!)

4th EDIT: Just wanted to add her new DA since she changed accounts after this post went live.

Comments

[talentedfool.livejournal.com]

There's nothing wrong with having a friendly attitude with your commissioners, and developing a good relationship with them, but they are not friends. They are business clients. She seems kind of young, so I hope she either gets more experience learning to work more professionally, or if sending the work her client paid her for stresses her out, she realises maybe this work isn't for her?

I hope you get either your art or your refund, and can leave this experience on an amicable note. From all angles, you've been incredibly kind and approachable throughout the transaction.

[thekingtheory.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I honestly did not realize she wasn't even an adult yet until I was taking screenshots last month. I try my best not commission minors but sometimes I mess up. But I though that a 16-year-old should know better, so I made the hard decision to go through with the beware. I really do hope she learns how to handle business better for the future.

I hope I get my refund, but I also hope I don't upset her too much. Thank you for your kind words!

[laughsatthunder.livejournal.com]

It's disappointing to see that she said it was done but lied. I'm not understanding the anxiety over uploading it either thing, it was probably an excuse to not work on your commission, but that could be because my anxiety stems from somewhere else. That little note on the bottom of her journal is a bit unsettling too. D:

I hope your chargeback goes through speedy quick! Sorry about the whole situation.

[rayesesshyfan.livejournal.com]

I can sort of understand the anxiety of uploading artwork ("is it good enough", etc) but she lied to you and that's a huge no-no. You don't lie to anyone when taking their money.

Plus, that note of hers on her journal really rubs me the wrong way.

I hope you get your money back smoothly.

[hunty belmnt (from livejournal.com)]

Hope you get your money back soon. She has absolutely N O business doing commissions.

[kipaki.livejournal.com]

Honestly I feel like if you have trouble posting artwork people paid you for on a semi regular or regular basis you really shouldn't do commissions. There are some commission types I don't do because I know it'd take me forever or i'd be worried it wasn't good enough (i.e comics/animations) We all have limits eep.

[whoop-zi.livejournal.com]

it really bothers me when artists lie about completing the work. it can be intimidating to tell a client you aren't finished with the commission but most people just want to stay informed. a little bit of transparency goes a long way.
i hope she will mature and learn from this before she seriously digs herself in a hole- and i hope paypal pulls though for you!

[christina schandorph (from livejournal.com)]

That journal really rubs me the wrong way. I don't think someone with that attitude should be doing commissions. Not only is she implying that she can take as long as she wants, but even if you see commissioners as friends, they're still also clients and should be treated as such.

[thekingtheory.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to let you all know that my chargeback went through smoothly since she never responded to the claim (got a message from Paypal today). Thank you all for the kind words!

MOD COMMENT

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

Would you like this post to be marked as resolved since you received your chargeback?

I'd also footnote that in the post itself too.

Re: MOD COMMENT

[thekingtheory.livejournal.com]

I'm actually not sure. I did get my money back, but I am hesitant to call it resolved since the artist never contacted me /replied to me about the refund, the chargeback, or the art and is generally appearing to ignore the situation in general.

Would you recommend marking it as resolved, though?
(I will edit the post with the new info!)

Re: MOD COMMENT

[kattotang.livejournal.com]

I don't think this is any different than if someone had problems with an artist, filed a claim, won the claim after never hearing from the artist, and then afterward made a beware because of having to do that... In your case, you've simply made the beware prior to the last bit. So, personally, I wouldn't call it resolved? But it's really up to you.

[rayesesshyfan.livejournal.com]

Great to hear :D

I hope she'll learn from this though.

Guess it's not resolved?

[thekingtheory.livejournal.com]

Woke up to being mentioned in this journal - http://voice-cracked.deviantart.com/journal/I-m-most-definitely-just-an-idiot-615888454
(Screenshots here just in case, reads bottom to top - http://imgur.com/a/RTZvn )

I haven't responded to her directly because I was advised not to just so it doesn't make the situation worse. Even so, I thought the community here needed to be notified of the behavior.

I definitely did not want to cause this distress in the artist. I only wanted to warn others of long wait times and being strung along. Although, I do want to clarify that I don't hate her. I also had no idea she was recovering from a car accident because she never told me directly. I was also not trying to "commence a riot". Which there was none.

Re: Guess it's not resolved?

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

"I'd fail every high school test"

Well that explains some of the behavior. They sounded very young, and honestly not ready to be taking on commissions if they can't handle this. I honestly wouldn't worry too much about it.

Re: Guess it's not resolved?

[thekingtheory.livejournal.com]

Oh I became aware that she was 16 around about the time I requested a refund. I agree. I just hope she's able to recover from this!

mod comment

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

Howdy!

Is there proof that the new account is them? We looked around, and weren't able to verify the account. If there is no definite proof they are the same person, then it will have to be removed.

Re: mod comment

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That looks good, and feel free to leave it as is.

Speaking for the sake of this harassment to stop.

[derptile.livejournal.com]

This is really depressing.
I don't know what you want from me, to learn?
I HAVE learned and at the same time, I'm trying to, I HAVE changed and at the same time as well, I'm trying to change, I've switched from being so immature and so forgetful at times due to the depressing life I've lead. I don't want any more trouble from you, heck when you submitted that comment I thought this was all over, and I can start anew.
but WHY?
Just.. why do you keep trying to tag me as someone who is like this?
I'm trying.
I'm really trying.
I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't mean to, it's just the depression I can't deal with.
Overall I'm really sorry, if thats what you're begging from me.
You've taken the money, and I'm already leading on a good and clean business as of freelancing and no problems, but why do you still need to harass me with my past when I've already been happier with this more relaxed state?
No rushes, no rushed work at all for the sake of people not worrying over the detail I give one over the other..
Please.. just stop harassing me.. ;n;

This is painful.. if you want me to just stop working on art in general, just please say so? I don't want to keep crying over this post every time someone I give my next account to trails me back and tells me, "were you really like this?"

I don't want to stay in the past.. ;n;
Please..

Re: Speaking for the sake of this harassment to stop.

[dergish.livejournal.com]

Howdy,
Bewares are not deleted from this community. They serve as a record of past behavior. The best way to move on is to show through good business practices that you've changed.
Artists_Beware does not condone any harassment. If you are being harassed by community members please contact a mod with proof so we can handle the situation.

Re: Speaking for the sake of this harassment to stop.

[derptile.livejournal.com]

Further updating the history I've gone through, I've switch accounts for the sake of renewing myself, and moving on. I haven't had any trouble since I've moved, and once again, I was informed by the person who received my account that they've received a note from my past buyers that this post was updated. It was the new account I had but I was too afraid to even post anything anymore after seeing this.

I didn't want to request that this post be deleted, rather, forgotten. Just.. to not hurt my future, calmer business and further depress me. I'm young, I get that. This was said over and over within the journal, "young artists are not to be artists at all" from what I can see and understand, hence I'm at a slower pace. I was fooled that this was forgiven, forgotten and put behind thekingtheory, and it seems like furthermore this is going to be a thorn on my bush for until I die.

I'm only requesting thekingtheory to leave me alone, leave my life alone because for sure I'm not going to be causing any more trouble with the pace I've gone. But the further this post gets updated and tied the past I've had, I can't even become the updated me anymore.
I can't change as long as I'm tied to this.
I can't change if I'm held down like this.
I want to be better. but I can't if I'm always coming back to this and seeing it updated once more even when I've done nothing wrong. [Loosely said, since I'm getting back to refunding people who can message me about the refund of my past years.]

Re: Speaking for the sake of this harassment to stop.

[whoop-zi.livejournal.com]

Hi! Just a quick note- please try to limit the number of edits you make as we mods get an email every time someone edits their comment. Thanks!

Re: Speaking for the sake of this harassment to stop.

[derptile.livejournal.com]

Ah, my sincerest of apologies, I just forget certain [assumigly] important information since this situation is gets me bawling and I can't see very well ;v;

Re: Speaking for the sake of this harassment to stop.

[thekingtheory.livejournal.com]

I'm not actually harassing you and have not contacted you since June and only updated this post in October since the creation of a new account without any ties to the one reported seemed fishy.

I have not checked up on you since then, nor do your current actions on your account mean anything to me. I do not want you to stop producing art or to stop taking on business. Your customers have a right to ask about past behavior. If you're being harassed, though, I do apologize for that and encourage you to report the people harassing you about this entry to the admins here.

I'm personally glad to hear you've been improving business practices, and I hope things go well for you.

Re: Speaking for the sake of this harassment to stop.

[derptile.livejournal.com]

Again, after that Journal post on my Derptile account I wanted to renew myself.
I get my customers get the right to see my past actions, but if I were to practically wipe out myself, trying to be different as a person but style-wise, the same, and they were to ASK about me, I'd of course, let them know past transactions, or maybe even show this depressing sight.

Although because you've been further tying me to this post, almost every time I renew myself prevents me from even showing my work or my improvement as a person and an artist; I can't get a single good comment or a comment at all due to the fact this sad life is forever with me regardless this is just a younger self of my being.
I apologise, I'm still very salty about this occurrence, but I can put it behind me.
Hopefully I don't see further updates to this, since this was already resolved and I also do hope you do have a wonderful day.

I do hope you check ages next time [since I did mention I was underage, and I had no idea you disliked commissioning underage artists,] and hopefully we don't come across one another's bad side. [or their communities' for the matter, I didn't know depression was so lightly taken either, considering the comments in the beginning of this thread.]

Anyways, sorry for the rambling. I just hope you don't update this once more, I really am trying to change as a person for the sake of getting over this. Again, sorry for the $10.

Have a great evening.

If you may, kindly remove private-life tied contact?

[derptile.livejournal.com]

They can contact me through Delipug.
I'd rather not get spams of "this steam account is here and there and she's normally doing this and that."
This is quite an invasion of my privacy.

For the fact you posted my Steam. :/

Re: If you may, kindly remove private-life tied contact?

[thekingtheory.livejournal.com]

I was reluctant to post your Steam but needed proof of the link to your new account.
I cannot edit the post as someone has replied to it, and they tend to not like it when we delete comments. I'll try to contact a mod to see if I can remove the Steam link.

Re: If you may, kindly remove private-life tied contact?

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

I've screened the comment in question. It will only be visible to you and the moderators. Please don't delete it!

Re: If you may, kindly remove private-life tied contact?

[thekingtheory.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much then!

MOD COMMENT

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

Screened the steam account comment.