6 Months, still no badge or contact from Seel

[shadowclaw.livejournal.com]

This is my first time posting to AB, and really, my first bad experience with an artist entirely. I got a commission at Anthrocon 2009 (so, in July 2009) from Seel ( http://www.furaffinity.net/user/seely ) for a badge. I paid $20. She told me later on during the con that she wouldn't be able to finish it there, and would mail it to me once she had finished it. I agreed to this.

In August, she sent me a note saying she was starting on it; that was the last contact I had with her. On November 29th, I sent her a note on FA asking about progress and she never replied to it. Then once again on December 10th, I sent her another note on FA, thinking something had gotten screwed up in the big downtime the site had through the week before, and maybe she hadn't received the note. She didn't respond to that. A week ago, December 30th, I sent her a note asking either for some sign of progress, or a refund. I still haven't gotten a reply from her, and she's submitted many things since the con. She's been fairly active recently, posting art and comments, and has yet to respond to my notes, effectively ignoring my overdue commission.

I don't know how else to get in contact with her, and I don't want to publicly post complaints on her page. At this point I just want my money refunded; she can forget about the badge.

EDIT as of 10:50 PM CST



I would like to say I have been nothing but patient and polite in all of my notes and my e-mail to her, and even in private conversation about her when other people were angry at her for her tone or inaction. Taking that into account, I am immensely disappointed with her response to my e-mail. I hope she can learn from this situation and not put the blame on her customers for her lack of foresight, in the future. I feel this tone warrants a warning to would-be commissioners, though I'll call the issue resolved as I have received my money. Good luck to you, Seel, you can be assured I will not be giving you any more of my business in the future.
-Kona

Comments

[circlemeats.livejournal.com]

Aw. I know she's been very busy with school and hasn't really done many commissions. She's in kind of an art rut, and was offering refunds a bit ago. I'll see if I can talk to her or I'm sure someone else can. :[

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Please let me know if you get this resolved so I can tag it as such. :) I'm not sure I want to tag it as Beware until I see how she responds.

[shadowclaw.livejournal.com]

I am a bit disappointed in how she responded to my polite e-mail (I have updated the post above with this new information), but I got my $20 back, and that was the purpose of this, so I suppose it can be called resolved.

[dazen-cobalt.livejournal.com]

I don't mean to get off subject but I adore your icon. did you do it? it is very nice

[lichdog.livejournal.com]

Has she seen your notes? If you go to your sent box and look at the little envelope icons, yellow means she hasn't read it, white means she's read it. I would imagine she must have a daunting amount of notes, being as well known as she is.

She JUST started posting around again, and I really doubt she's giving you the cold shoulder. I see your frustration, but these things happen, and I can tell you, having been a customer of hers, she may forget or take awhile, but she doesn't purposely ignore someone. Just be firm and polite and she will definitely come through.

[mialattia.livejournal.com]

According to the journal she just posted, she has not been checking her notes and expects commissioners to wade through her journals for her e-mail (which is not posted on her main page).

If nothing else, I think she should have her contact information more readily available.

[seregei-black.livejournal.com]

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/1134560/ <-- *points*

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

"if you want a damned refund then it's all yours"

Etch.

[the-lest.livejournal.com]

I don't care what her excuses are... when money has been exchanged, she should consider herself obligated to be professional and prompt with both artwork and communication. Everyone has art ruts, real life problems, whatever, but that's not an excuse to be unprofessional.

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

Since the commission was initiated at Anthrocon, it should probably be reported to the relevant AC staff member. (either the person in charge of Artist Alley or Dealers Room, depending on where you got it) The artist may be banned from selling at AC again if they're failing to complete commissions.

[shadowclaw.livejournal.com]

I'm not looking to ruin anyone here. I'm trying to solve this in the least dick-way possible, and that seems a bit drastic. Especially since i don't think she has been posted on here before. (I checked)

[circlemeats.livejournal.com]

jesus remind me to stay away from you

[baronyiffington.livejournal.com]

Overreacting much? I agree that the situation was handled inappropriately by the artist, and her attitude regarding the matter isn't helping, but really? Attempting to get her banned from Anthrocon? Come on.

Also, to help balance the seriousness of this post, I used my baby-punching icon. Hopefully this results in laughs for all!

[iluvhistory.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Highly unprofessional.

[kadaria.livejournal.com]

Fully agree though it looks like it has been 'resolved'. Her behavior reflects on the business practices of the Con as a whole. Who would want to spend money there if it's known that artists will take their money and run with no reprecussions from the venue?

[anuvia.livejournal.com]

Is it me, or are there more people arguing about morality and the right to sale than there is actual discussion about the issue?

As far as I see it; It's solved. The OP was returned the money they were owed and the entry can be tagged as Resolved. The artist in question handled the situation poorly though that doesn't give members the right to launch all out attacks on her integrity as a provider of art and god forbid, attempting to ban them from dealing at cons. This last year has been harsh on most of us weather it be from schooling, the economy, ect. As far as I see it, copping out at the artist when you're not even involved in the issue just makes matters worse. Hell, I bet any money that their reaction was harsh because this this entry; it's there forever and is a stain on your record once it's posted.

This Community seems to be transforming into a place for people to take out aggression and express rage to artists via rants and defamatory remarks rather than to heed a gentle warning to others.

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone was saying "Ban her from cons 4 eva!" even the person that suggested contacting anthrocon (Fenris Lorsai) said that wasn't the intent. They do like to know when issues occur, and anything is reversable if the transaction was resolved as it was here. And no-one resorted to petty insults or anything.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Glad it was resolved. But her email response really really irks me, there simply was no reason to be so snappy about refunding that money. And then go and make a "Woe is me" journal about not checking her notes and having commissioner issues.

Beware indeed.

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

Her response just makes me reiterate my original comment: This was a well-deserved warning. That was rude and entirely uncalled for =/. I don't care if the OP got a refund, I'd rather not deal with the hassle of essentially loaning money to a rude person for 7 months--If I wanted to do that I know mooches with better manners =P

i'll draw you a badge (free) if you want

[grygon.livejournal.com]

Guh, I hate it when they get all rude and it's THEIR FAULT in the first place.

Hey, I've never done a badge before and I'd like to start. Care for a freebie so I can get some practice in?

Re: i'll draw you a badge (free) if you want

[shadowclaw.livejournal.com]

Honestly, that sounds good right about now, but are you sure for free? I'll send you a note on DA regardless. Thank you for that offer.

[dawnofthedingo.livejournal.com]

i have made my apologies to the commissioner and i realize what i did and said was out of line. i didn't stop to think, and i am not very organized or in the right mindset now to be dealing with commissions.

i take full blame for this, the commissioner was not in any wrong here - only me.

(frozen)

[raethdragon.livejournal.com]

It's fine, just be thankful you're in a community that is willing to do business with a barely-literate barely-professional kid such as yourself.

[digivolution.livejournal.com]

...Wow, that last email is uncalled for. Certainly lowers my opinion of Seel, tbh.

[tobekiyoshi.livejournal.com]

Agreed, it totally changes my views. =( Though, I'm glad Seel apologized, it shouldn't have gone that far in the first place.

[growly.livejournal.com]

Disgraceful and brash? o_O How is ignoring your customers for half a year not disgraceful?

[likeshine.livejournal.com]

man, i am glad this is resolved, but i wouldn't dare treat my customers that way. punish them for liking my art enough to buy it? oh noes how terrible of them :p

[pkempa.livejournal.com]

When I commissioned Seel for a googely eye badge a while back, it took a little bit of time but It wasn't too long. The eye fell off shorty after wearing it though, but I'm sure if I can get a new eye it'll be okay.
Just posting to say I never had an issue really.

But wow, the journal and snippy reply was quite uncalled for :(
Kinda makes me not really want to get another commission from the artist, just to be safe :< But I dunno.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

I am still waiting on a bottle cap badge from her after I mailed her two whole packages of bottle caps. :(