Beware: Gorehund

[brosiusra.livejournal.com]

EDIT: Added title!

WHO: https://twitter.com/gorehund / http://www.furaffinity.net/user/gorehund


WHERE: Commission started over Twitter initially, then contact migrated to Telegram.


WHAT: A traditional badge to be finished by AC, two stickers, then a digital icon as compensation for trouble

WHEN: Started May 20, 2016, ended September 22, 2016


PROOF: I will link proof throughout the explanation, but here is the entire imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/PiTG5


EXPLAIN: On May 20, 2016, gorehund opened on Twitter for badge commissions for AC pickup or mail. I really enjoyed their art style and wanted to commission them, so I responded to their tweet. They told me I got the slot and asked me to DM my ref and provided their PayPal email. I sent them my ref and desired expression. I also told them that I was interested in AC pickup and they responded that they would have it ready for me.

Proof of payment

I left the artist alone for a while. On June 19, they posted a photo of badge sketches on Twitter. I was thrilled to see that they had been working on it!

Fast forward to Anthrocon (June 30-July 3). They posted on Twitter that they would be in the Artist's Alley Saturday and Sunday, so I stopped in on Sat, July 2. I asked about picking up my badge and they told me that they didn't have it done yet but they did show me their sketchbook with the badge sketches. They hadn't progressed any further than the previous photo but they said they could finish and ship it to me after the con.

On August 3, I sent them a Twitter DM asking about my badge because I had heard nothing since AC. I got no response for several days, so I tweeted them publicly on Aug 8, letting them know I had sent them a message. They responded to me after that tweet with their Telegram username which is where the rest of our communication took place.

I sent them a message on Telegram and they responded quickly. They said they planned to finish it and have it shipped the following week. I sent another message on the following Tuesday, asking if my badge was still on track to be finished. They answered with "Yep!" and I left it at that.

True to their word, the badge was finished on Aug. 19 and posted to Twitter. I was so excited to see the finished product and messaged them on telegram, expressing my happiness with the badge and asking when it would be shipped. They said they would get it out on Monday, Aug. 22. I asked if I may buy some of their high-yeena design stickers and have them sent with my badge. They asked me if I could buy the stickers through their Storenvy for inventory purposes and I didn't have a problem with that.

I purchased the stickers through Storenvy on Aug. 19 and added a note to ship them with my badge.

On Aug 25, I got an automated email from Storenvy, stating that my stickers had been shipped.

On Aug 27, I messaged gorehund because I hadn't heard a word about my badge even though the stickers were shipped. I made sure to mention that I put a note in my sticker order to ship them with my badge. They said they didn't see the note but said they'd ship my badge the following Monday (Aug 29). I asked if I could get tracking because at this point they had told me twice already that they would ship my badge and they hadnt, but they were able to ship my stickers promptly. They said that they could get tracking for the badge.

On Aug 30, I received the stickers in the mail and asked gorehund if they had gotten the chance to ship my badge like they said they would on monday. They answered and told me that they were out running errands right then, and would be shipping it. I received the badge on September 8 and let them know.

Out of curiosity, I looked at the postmark on the envelope and it states that the badge was shipped on Sept 6. So I was outright lied to by gorehund regarding shipping. I also noticed that there was no tracking number.

I started to notice a few imperfections on the badge and the longer I looked, the more things I saw:

• Food crumb under lamination


• Stray crumbs and lint laminated to the back


• Piece of lint in the "A" and an orange stain on the white cheek


• A curly hair laminated to the back

I messaged gorehund and brought this up to them. The orange stain wasn't in the photo of the unlaminated badge, so something happened between finishing the badge and the lamination that resulted in all of the imperfections. I asked if it would be possible to peel the lamination off and somehow clean the badge but they told me that they tried it with an old badge laying around and that the lamination sticks to the paper. They expressed remorse and offered to make another badge for me, but I declined that offer because it seemed unfair. I asked if I may be compensated with something small like a digital icon because I figured it wouldn't take much time.

They said an icon would be fine and they could possibly finish it that night, if not the next day. They reached out to me 2 days later on Sept 10, saying that they contracted a cold but said they would try to finish it that night. I hadn't heard anything from them so 6 days later, I sent a message asking for an update around noon. They read my message but did not respond, so about 6 hours later, I poked them again, asking for any sort of response. They told me they would have it done the following night (Sept 17).

I didn't hear anything from them, so I asked for another update on Sept 18. They said they were working on it right then.

Later that week (Sept 22), I asked for yet another update at about 6AM. I wasn't expecting a fast response to that since it was so early, but they did not respond to me until about 10:30 at night. They sent a sketch with no words, no apology for the wait, no explanation whatsoever. I thanked them, and they responded with the finished icon about half an hour later. Again, no apology or explanation or anything. Considering how polite they had been with me before, I was surprised to have an icon figuratively thrown at me wordlessly.

This transaction is complete and I have received everything I've paid for but after being lied to, told my badge would be shipped multiple times, and being told that the icon would be finished on multiple occasions but wasn't, I cannot recommend this artist to anybody. Their art style is wonderful but the customer service leaves a lot to be desired and I do not want anybody else to have to deal with this kind of service.

Comments

[corghi.livejournal.com]

Oh my god... I always check my lamination before I send it through because there's no going back if things get stuck in it. I'm just beyond words, the hair, the food crumbs, the STAINS? That is purely work of someone who didn't care.

I commissioned them, found out about their terrible work ethic, and the only way I got my art sent (almost) timely was through constant badgering. I even begged for a refund because I didn't want to go through the ordeal people waiting went though. I didn't want to, and as an artist it's not fun being badgered but my friends are still waiting almost two years!

I can't believe there was so much junk laminated in that badge. Wow.

[brosiusra.livejournal.com]

Honestly I think the only reason I got my art is because I wouldn't leave them alone for longer than a week or so. I'm a patient person and I know how to let artists do their thing but it was clear to me that I literally had to remind them to work on my things.

[roxyfur.livejournal.com]

It just blows my mind that they saw the crumbs and stain, and shipped you the badge anyway. I've had laminating issues and always took the responsibility to either reprint or redo the badge, since it's essentially damaged goods and not what you paid for.

It's really sad to see such a good artist have such continually bad work ethic.

[spartanwerewolf.livejournal.com]

Bleh, I've been wanting to snag some of their highyena stickers and I'm wondering if it's safe to do so.

The laminate is permanent, you can't remove it without destroying the badge, so they should have really checked it first. If it was that grunged up, redrawing the badge would be their only option. They could have at least shot you a note mentioning it and offering to redraw, or if you wanted it as-is.

I'm bad with shipping things out, it's legit why I try to do pick-up only, but if I have something that needs shipped, I at least stick to the timeframe I give.

[brosiusra.livejournal.com]

I honestly think you'll be okay ordering the stickers if you really want them. Those were shipped promptly and I think it's because they're sold through Storenvy as a third party business.

They did offer to make me another badge after I brought up everything. I declined because I did not want to wait for another traditional one, honestly. I do wish they had been upfront about everything before they shipped though.

I tried to avoid shipping by doing AC pickup but they didn't finish any by then :/

[spartanwerewolf.livejournal.com]

Well, I give them points for offering to redraw it, but I can understand not wanting to wait. Especially with the shipping runaround.

They still should have let you know there was some gunk on the badge, though, before sending it out.

They offered at-con pickup and then just... didn't have their preorders done?

ETA Redux: I misread it twice, Im going to bed. SORRY MOD SQUAD, FOR ALL THE EDITS. This the last one!

[brosiusra.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had asked for AC pickup and when I got to their table, none of the badges had gotten past the sketch stage yet. No warning of that beforehand either.

[ziel omizu (from livejournal.com)]

I will have to say, I have experienced - in an extremely clean enviroment!! (Staples) - issues with crumbs / dust / lint just getting... stuck to lamination. It's my theory that they laminated it themselves, and weren't storing their laminate in a very clean environment. I do agree that the debris was excessive / gross, but I don't think it's that uncommon a problem.

However their shipping habits seem atrocious, and I honestly hope they stop taking on small one-off commissions that require shipping if they can't handle it. I had to do just that, because I struggle with illness that makes getting out to ship small objects extremely difficult. I can't help but wonder if they have similar issues with motivation.

Considering other bewares, it seems like their bad habits are catching up with them. But, if anything, you received compensation in the icon I feel, despite it seeming kind of cold. One can only hope this means they're sorting through their mistakes, as difficult as it's going to be.

[laughsatthunder.livejournal.com]

Just how common are crumbs/lint/dust particles in lamination? I have at least 40 badges from artists and none of them have any sort of debris in them (I just double checked so I don't sound stupid); I used to make badges years ago and never had an issue with things getting stuck inbetween the sheets and paper, if there was I'd see it and wipe it off.

[corghi.livejournal.com]

Siding with Sarah here, if you check the badge before laminating there's really no excuse for debris getting stuck in it. I've laminated over 50ish badges and the only problem I've had with blemishes was not letting the gel pen dry and it smudges (minorly)

I laminate from home too, and my sheets are in a folder. This is just from letting the badge sit out and putting plates of food around it or not washing your hands after eating like, cheetos or something. Really negligent.

[vauvakolibri.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's not difficult to have a small folder or box to store laminates/art in, whether or not one uses laminate often. I have laminated in less than ideal environment (my house is like a floating hair central) but haven't gotten noticeable stuff between my laminate as long as I pay attention to avoid it.

[zielomizu.livejournal.com]

I was talking about, like, one or two *extremely tiny* specks of dust. Maybe your experience is different, but I was laminating 50+ bookmarks all at once at a Staples, checked them before they went in to make sure nothing was on them, but then when I got them back, there were a couple of white or black specks on a some of the bookmarks that weren't there before. Extremely tiny, yes, and mostly visible on the opposite side that was pure white, but there none the less. That's why I expressed it shouldn't have been ANYWHERE NEAR what happened in this situation - but that it probably wasn't uncommon for, say, that single piece of black lint on the back of the badge to occur.

Experiences are different. Things are subjective. I don't think a single speck is a giant issue, but never disagreed that what they received was unacceptable.

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

I get what you're sayin.
The laminate I use attracts cat hair LIKE CRAZY and it's staticy so it's almost impossible for me to get all the hair off. :( I keep my laminate stored in a good place to avoid hair and make sure to wash my hands and wear a new-from-closet-clean short sleeved shirt, but sometimes hair gets on the laminate anyway.
Luckily, I've never ruined a badge that way and it's almost always on the back if there is visible hair. I double and triple check before putting it in the laminator, but there's still always a chance.

Edit: That said, the food crumbs in the laminate in this case appall me. I don't know how that happens.

[leahtaur.livejournal.com]

Was the badge's original art scanned and sent to you? Maybe an option would be to print it out if the file is high quality enough and laminate the printed copy. Staples and other places like that can do it for you. Gorehund probably has the full sized file.

[corghi.livejournal.com]

I actually doubt she does. I commissioned her and all I was sent were cell-phone pictures. In fact, I don't actually offer scans of my badge work. This is a very good idea, thank you for that.

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

Yes! I always always get high res scans of my badges before I laminate them JUST IN CASE. I've never had to yet, but if I ever have to print and re-laminate one to send, I'll offer the client a small refund if they choose to accept it and ship the damaged badge to them as well.

I generally avoid this by only doing digital badges, but I've done 2 or 3 traditional ones in the past few years, too.

[brosiusra.livejournal.com]

This was a traditional badge, so it's the only copy and there's nothing to print.

EDIT: And I don't believe they scan their traditional badges.

[sableantelope.livejournal.com]

Would an option be to scan it and have the artist retouch away the crumbs/stains and then print it and laminate the print?


I would say if you were willing to provide the scan the artist should be more than willing to do the lamination and mail it off to you as good customer service. My vision is atrocious these days but that retouching is something even I could still do! From touch up to laminating the print it should only take half an hour or so.

Heck if the artist gave you permission to have it done I'd be happy to do it for you and mail your way. That's how simple a thing it is.

[brosiusra.livejournal.com]

Honestly I'm finished with this whole thing. From a distance, the bits aren't noticeable and I still plan to wear the badge at cons.

The crumbs and everything were disappointing but the main purpose of me writing this beware is to highlight their lack of customer service skills and blatant lying regarding shipping and providing a product.

I do appreciate your offer though!

[gaturguts.livejournal.com]

I want to parrot this as I really suggest more artists take this route when they do traditional badges. *Always* have a scan of the original. Badges are lost and bent really easily and scans are valuable in case anything happens to the original.

I personally really like the idea of laminating a copy of the original as a wearable badge instead of the original itself. Originals are valuable and I have a couple badges I would have prefered to have had framed instead of laminated.
And not to mention lamination can sometimes cause unwanted affects to occur because of the high heat (Ex. Yellow markers tend to spread over time because of a heat reaction! The original gets ruined!).

Something to consider, for sure.

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

I super rarely do traditional badges and I always get scans before I laminate the originals but I think I will totally start laminating prints instead. That is a great idea.

[jellyfishee.livejournal.com]

OMG I gagged when I saw that hair.

Beware received D:

[meihyr.livejournal.com]

Likewise! YUCK!

[jessibean.livejournal.com]

This. I could maybe understand a stray tiny speck of dust or lint, but the fact that it was stained prior to laminating... and then that /hair/...disgusting.

[digivolution.livejournal.com]

Same, ew

[jessibean.livejournal.com]

Aside from the hair, which I commented on above, it really bugs me that she said "I noticed the stain after laminating and was really upset!" Why didn't she tell you about the stain before she shipped it? I feel like at that point she should have immediately informed you and made another. That's not just one tiny speck. It's a pretty noticeable stain. I'm just really bugged by the complete lack of communication. It's pretty clear she was hoping you wouldn't notice...

[hunty belmnt (from livejournal.com)]

THAT IS SO GROSS. The artist just didn't give a crap.
Sorry you had to go through this!

[queer kitten (from livejournal.com)]

Not trying to be rude but unless you didn't pay extra for the icon then it seemed kinda greedy to ask for it :// the crumbs aren't really that big of a deal, but the stain and hair is pretty gross

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

I'm going to disagree that it's even remotely ""greedy"" to expect compensation for a badge that is essentially ruined by the stain. If anything I'm appalled that any fellow artist would have the audacity to send that out and not mention a word to the client.

[bearprince.livejournal.com]

It was the artist who offered the compensation to begin with, and the OP who thought an entirely new badge would have been unfair to ask for. Would you have expected the OP to pay extra for a new badge as well?

Besides, companies offer compensation for poor service all the time. I don't think this is anything unusual.

[roxyfur.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't think it was in poor taste at all. Gorehund suggested compensation in the first place, and the client brought up an icon as a quicker piece rather than an entire new badge. The client would be entitled to a new badge imo, since the food stain essentially makes the badge damaged goods. If the artist didn't deliver what was promised, then the client is entitled to some sort of compensation.

[brosiusra.livejournal.com]

I don't really appreciate being called "greedy" for expecting some sort of fix. I didn't pay $65 for debris to be laminated to my badge.

Like the others said, specifically roxyfur, gorehund is the one that offered compensation in the first place. http://imgur.com/DcNED7f "Is there anything I can do for you to make it up?" And since I figured an entire new traditional badge would hold up their current queue and make others wait longer, I suggested the digital icon. I figured with their artistic experience, they could finish it quickly and this whole scenario could be over and done with and they seemed more than happy to provide that for me.

[laughsatthunder.livejournal.com]

OP isn't "greedy" for receiving the icon the artist suggested as compensation, if anything she was well deserving of it for getting a curly hair and crumb in her badge that she commissioned to have made.

[hunty belmnt (from livejournal.com)]

That's not greedy at all. Ffs, she got HAIR AND CRUMBS AND STAINS on her badge. The OP deserved a quality badge free of any scoffs, hair, crumbs, semen or god knows whatever else a careless artist can do.

[meihyr.livejournal.com]

Uh "greedy"? I don't think so.
As others have said, the icon was offered as compensation for the botchy lamination job.

[morgananana.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. Having some small dust bits under laminate is one thing, but the hair and food crumbs? Disgusting. The idea of wearing that badge with the hair there, even though it's under the laminate, makes me cringe. How do you feel good about shipping that out!? I'd have been way too embarrassed to send something like that to a customer. I'm sorry you've had to deal with this!
Beware well warranted.