Beware: SanuraPanthress / Darth Ibony Sera

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

EDIT: Sanura and I have since come to an understanding, and are putting this situation behind us. She has acknowledged being at fault and is amending both her ToS and conduct. We are both treating this as a lesson learned and as entries cannot be deleted I would like a mod to tag this as resolved. Thank you.


This is an update of what was originally a discussion post here http://community.livejournal.com/artists_beware/420021.html about how to deal with artists who don't like to be contacted, where the artist was not named. Even though it has been concluded by me getting a refund, and thus I was concerned that this may be viewed as a grudgepost, people who I have discussed this situation with advised me to continue with a beware due to her attitude and conduct.

Her pages are http://www.furaffinity.net/user/sanurapanthress/ and http://www.furaffinity.net/user/darthibonysera/ though it appears that she has now deleted everything. I have no idea whether this means she has run off on her current clients or not.

EDIT: She has moved back to DA, http://sanurapanthress.deviantart.com/ and appears to be in contact with at least some of her clients there so that is a good sign.

I commissioned Sanura fror a coloured bust shot, paying her $25 up front. I was fairly certain in the note she said she'd have a sketch for me to look at the next day, but over recent notes below she claimed she'd said sometime that week. Either way, she missed that deadline as two weeks from the date I commissioned her I have heard nothing, and she posts a journal saying her laptop battery has fried and that she's thinking of doing adoptables.

Now this makes me curious about the status of my commission as I was supposed to have a sketch by now, but that deadline came and gone, her work queue says she hasn't even started on the piece, she doesn't seem to have acknowledged the missed deadline at all and generally I wanted to know what was up. Here is a screenshot of the queue img217.imageshack.us/img217/8113/sanqueue.jpg

She send a reply that rubs me quite the wrong way, telling me she doesn't like to be contacted on the status of commissions and to read her journals. Of course that sends up a red flag, any artist who doesn't want to be communicated with does. This leads to me posting the AB entry above for advice.

I ask for a refund as a result of this advice, not expecting there to be any problems with this since no work has been done on the piece. She initially refuses to refund me because she already spent it. Then she offers a refund, but with no certainty when or if this would even happen.

At this point she posts a journal, publicly complaining about her clients and it incites her watchers to bash her customers for being impatient and inconsiderate. The journal was later deleted but I anticipated this and saved a cap with some comments. I am one of the customers complained about in the comments, but even if I hadn't been the unprofessional attitude shocks me. Here is the cap pics.livejournal.com/shukivengeance/pic/000043bt

Here is our exchange via notes.






After sending that last note I file a dispute with Paypal.

Rapidly enough I get the refund from her, after she posts a few journals whining about needing money for the refund and for her battery. She receives some donations and someone else takes my commission spot, and the refund is sent with a snarky message attached to it along the lines of "I hope you're happy now" etc.

Not wanting there to be bad blood despite how the transaction failed I sent her a note saying thank you and that I appreciated the refund, had no ill will and wished her luck in the future.
She responds "Would have been nice had you waited just a little bit on the refund thing instead of giving me a black mark on my PayPal account that was completely unnecessary. So, your "I feel no ill will against you" seems quite insincere. But, whatever; I'm done."

When I send her the note I saw that her profile was changed. From her artist info on FA:

After my cue is empty, I will no longer be taking commissions due to multiple incidences and an unwarranted
dispute against me on PayPal. This has left me extremely bitter about doing further commissions or any other
work for people. Please do not contact me about doing work for you. I'm sorry..

Her journal footer also said "* -__- Issue resolved after an unnecessary dispute was filed on PayPal against me... Awesome... " but seems to have been removed now. I did not see what it said about me before that edit.

A little drama happens when I post a journal with my side of the story. I do not name names, but regardless Sanura reports me for harassment img208.imageshack.us/img208/4787/sanjournal2.jpg The person who tells them to report me for harassment came onto my page asking why I made the journal when I wasn't naming anyone. Trying to lure me into doing something report-worthy I guess?

After this, I looked at Sanura's FA page once more and the above information is now gone and replaced with "You win. I hope you're happy." (EDIT: This has now been deleted also)
All information, including her work cue and Terms of Service have been removed. Since her ToS was referred to a few times in this entry though, I have a screencap of it too which can be found here. img96.imageshack.us/img96/2500/santosub.png

Even though she has left FA and this entry may seem moot, I recall her leaving at least once before and there is every chance she may come back, or even return under another name. She is very rude and snarky, despite how nicely you may try to approach her about an issue.

EDIT: A cap of her journal announcing her return to DA and leaving FA due to 'drama' img641.imageshack.us/img641/2769/journalentry12954818441.png
After becoming aware of this entry, rather than defend herself here she posted this img7.imageshack.us/img7/7655/igetitigetit12954873226.png

Comments

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Would you mind putting this under a cut? I want to get to it before you get spammed with hysterical OMG CUT PLZ comments.

So no 'Cut this' comments past this point, please!

That said, I'm glad you decided to make this post after all. And I'm totally baffled that she would complain about harassment from your non-naming journal when she did the same exact thing of making a journal that's obviously about you. I guess it's only okay if she does it?

Someone I'll be sure to avoid, so thank you for the warning and I'm glad you got your refund, even if it came with unnecessary attitude.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Already thought I had put a cut before I posted it, but done now!

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

No worries, thank you!

[genkigami.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, what crawled up Judy Attitudey's ass and died? Her journals are absolutely terrible and she totally blew up over nothing.

I'm glad you decided to name a name, this is one artist I would not wanna tangle with!

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

Wow, just wow.

Talk about thin skin -- specially when she's the one that let it get to this stage with her "no contact" policy and skipping her own deadline.

I am seriously glad the identity is now known so that everyone will avoid her.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

:) I'd also like to thank you for your advice too prior to making this post. The meltdown she had over the refund and how it continued even though everything was dealt with was a bit much. Because she said she was quitting commissions due to "multiple incidences" I am wondering if anyone else is going to come forward with a bad experience.

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

She moved back to DA.

http://sanurapanthress.deviantart.com/

http://sanurapanthress.deviantart.com/journal/37819113/

"Looks like it's back over here I go. I had gone back to FA for a bit but recent drama sent me packing lol So, cutting my losses. ;D I keep getting reminded as to why I keep leaving that place lol

But, yeah. If you need to get in contact with me, this is the best place to do it. :3"

[raeraesama.livejournal.com]

My jaw dropped a bit lower with every paragraph. Wow.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

well, the art is cute, too bad the 'tude~

[genkigami.livejournal.com]

Half the comments are hidden. Color me shocked.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Of course! Anyone's free to ask my opinion and advice on things any time, and I'm glad if it helped any.

And that's possible, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if she was exaggerating/lying for the sake of getting sympathy. "LOOK AT ALL THESE MEANIE BULLY POOPIE HEADS HARASSING INNOCENT ME!".

You handled it very well, honestly. If you haven't blocked her, you might want to consider it, as well as her friend that was trying to bait you. I'm just a fan of preventative measures.

[gaturguts.livejournal.com]

Well damn, I know to avoid her now..
I don't understand why people have to be so immature about something that can be resolves so easily. :/

I'm sure she'll just make a new FA account though and pull the same stunt.
Shame really..

Sorry this had to happen to you :c

[gaturguts.livejournal.com]

I gave her a llama to piss her off. <3

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad her commissioners have somewhere to contact her in that case.

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

This is not the first time she's been childish and took her toys elsewhere.

http://sanurapanthress.sheezyart.com/
http://www.sheezyart.com/journal/view/261270/

-----------------
Posted Jan 9th 2007
Mood Blah
Music Lacuna Coil- Our Truth

I'm more than likely going to be taking down this gallery. Due to... um... PERSONAL issues with a certain someone I no longer want anything to do with.

I will not be posting my art publically anymore. I have dealt with art theft as well as I just don't draw enough anymore to be placed on this gallery.

Thanks for watching me though. Sorry that I just have no futher interest.

~Sanura Panthress
-------------------------

[blackberrypie.livejournal.com]

I like how those that leave FA due to "assholes" are normally those that owe a ton of art over a long period of time.

[coyote-feathers.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the warning. I will definitely be avoiding her. She's very immature and overly emotional. You never once verbally attacked her, yet she continuously accuses you of bullying her. I'm sorry, but I don't want to work with anyone with such a large victim complex.

[oraien.livejournal.com]

Um, that was totally my post that was deleted on accident.

It said her LJ was lady yume, but it's not - it's her DOMAIN that is. Sorry about that.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

That's a major over-reaction on her part imho, looks like she might have control issues since the minute you stepped outside of what behaviour she wanted ie you wouldn't take excuses she started acting as if you were being extremely unreasonable.

I will certainly be avoiding this individual, thanks for the beware.

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, due to the actions she is taking, you should set the entry as public.

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

Here's a screenshot of the DA entry for when she deletes it:

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/2769/journalentry12954818441.png

She definitely is very insecure and has control issues. What she is also doing with the whole 7 day policy is unlawful by fraud laws.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

I thought they had to be member's only, but after checking the comm rules I don't see anything that states such. I shall change it.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

I informed her as such but she seems to think that a ToS overrides that and she's only obligated to create the art at some point, not to refund money by demand. That is why I immediately disputed via PayPal.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Oh no, we actually prefer it if they're public, since they get more exposure that way.

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

I would send screenshots to paypal, what she is doing also breaks paypal rules and they will cut off her account for it.

With paypal, you're not allowed to make any rules stricter than laws or their own.
Same with credit cards, you're not allowed to "charge more" for using paypal due to the transaction fees.