Fursuit Maker Kiniro (Wild Dog Horizons) - Disappeared! (UPDATED)

[chikkennoodul.livejournal.com]

Name: Kiniro
Name of Business: Wild Dog Horizons
Links: FA: www.furaffinity.net/user/kiniro/ Website: vindalf.net/fursuits/index.html LJ: kiniro-oniba.livejournal.com/
Commission: A pair of hands and feet for a troll (World of Warcraft) costume.
Price: $175
Status: Commission is apparently complete, but I have yet to see any photos of the finished items.
Problem: Kiniro disappeared without warning over three months ago. Not answering FA notes or emails.

Details
Everything with this commission was going absolutely fine until about three months ago. Kiniro was being attentive and friendly, providing me with fairly regular updates and WIP photos. Then, on November 9th 2010, she sends me a note on FA (FA being where all of our communication for this commission took place) saying that she'd finished making the hands & feet, and goes straight into asking for shipping details without showing me a single photo of the finished items. Naturally I ask to see some photos because handing over any shipping money. The last message I received from Kiniro was again on Nov 9th when she told me that she would be happy to take some photos as soon as she could get some new batteries for her camera. I haven't heard anything from her since. I've sent her several FA notes and emails but have had no response whatsoever.
Now, the last update on her website, on Dec 6th, states that her school work has left her unable to do any work on fursuits, and that she will resume commission work in the new year. So much for that. I also recently noticed on her FA page that she states 'I work rather slowly on commissions during the school year, and I do try to warn my customers of that. During the summer, however, I work on costumes full time'. Right. Well it's one thing to put a hold on commissions due to education commitments - that, while unprofessional and annoying, is acceptable provided you actually continue to answer your customers' enquiries. Ceasing communication altogether is outrageous. Making me wait until the summer holidays for a commission she finished in November is even worse (I assume this what will end up happening). I don't understand what she could be doing that's preventing her from quickly answering a few emails.
The most annoying thing is that I can't even prompt a response by opening a paypal claim, as it's been more than 45 days since I sent my final payment for the commission. I just don't know what to do. Can anyone offer any advice? Are there any other entries on Artists Beware involving this fursuit maker that you could link me to? Also it would be great if someone could fill me in on when school/college/university breaks usually occur in the US, as that will give me an idea of when Kiniro should technically be free to contact me.
Kiniro seems like a friendly person and does great work, but I wouldn't recommend that anyone commissions her at least until she's finished her training program. She is obviously unable to handle both workloads, making it extremely unfair of her to accept peoples' money in the first place.

Update 14/3/11: I happened to check Kiniro's website today, and saw that she posted an update on the 7th - vindalf.net/fursuits/index.html While this doesn't solve the problem of me still needing to see some photos of the completed items, at least I now know that she is still out there and intending to, at some point, finish what she started. I have yet to receive any direct contact from Kiniro. I installed AIM specifically to try and get hold of her that way, but have not seen her online as of yet. I have not yet emailed her friend Vindalf. Hopefully I will not have to.

Comments

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

PMing you her room mate's contact information.

I'm not sure if she is still room mates with him, but he should know how to contact her.

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

Scratch the room mate, it's a friend who runs her website.

Still, he should know.

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

here is an information page with contact info you may want to try.

http://vindalf.net/fursuits/contact.html

[chikkennoodul.livejournal.com]

Thanks IK - I have tried emailing Kiniro a couple of times already , however I did not consider her friend Mike. He might be a bit less busy! I'll give it a try. :)

(frozen)

[tobias-radjin.livejournal.com]

Don't PM her Friend because it would cause all kinds of drama. I_K likes to cause drama 24/7 for people. Best bet is try to PM her again, but be stern in you note and tell her you want to see the Photos, if not you would like a full or a partial refund.

(frozen)

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

The OP is SOL if she doesn't give a refund. There is no way to dispute the paypal charge.

I don't like drama, I'm simply assisting another in contacting a person.

(frozen)

[chikkennoodul.livejournal.com]

I certainly don't plan on harassing him. I will merely ask politely if he could get in touch with Kiniro and let me know when she'll be able to contact me and send some photos. Besides, Mike's email address is available publicly, so I have every right to contact him if I wish.

I've already sent Kiniro several 'stern' PMs and emails over the last three months, with no results - what makes you think that PMing her again will make any difference now? :P It's a different approach that I need, and I_K's suggestion of contacting a close friend sounds good to me.

And it wouldn't make any sense to demand a refund as the commission is already completed. I don't want a refund - I want my troll hands & feet! :P

(frozen)

[hamburger.livejournal.com]

No insults, please. That was uncalled for.

[sigilgoat.livejournal.com]

I don't mean to be posting about IK in a AB thread, but he's still nabbing dox and that's WEIRD, right? Is that acceptable here? I thought giving out IRL info was a no no.

[insane-kangaroo.livejournal.com]

PMing the information is okay long as it's not used in a malicious manner.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds what he's doing to be uncomfortable.

[ciderfox.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I don't know anything about her, but my school goes to summer break around May/June, I think that's standard for US schools in general? There may be some exceptions, but all the schools I've been to get out around that time. :c I hope you don't have to wait that long though.

[chikkennoodul.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks for the info. :)

[mrst4nkr.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, I know you said you sent several PMs and received no response, but were they shown as "read" by her?

[chikkennoodul.livejournal.com]

No, they're unopened. The last message from me that she read was on November 9th.

[slyminera.livejournal.com]

I've commissioned her in the past for a few full color busts of some of my characters, and she got them to me pretty quick after payment.
I think you're correct in that she might just have too much going on right now or something came up suddenly, because she doesn't seem like someone who'd vanish for no reason.
Hopefully she comes back soon.

[bonegrind.livejournal.com]

if she's not going to harass him, i don't see why its so bad to contact to him just to politely ask if he knows whats going on, or if he could kindly ask her to get back in contact with the commissioner.
if he doesn't want to get involved he could easily tell her that he doesn't want to get in the middle of it. if someone bugged him after he's expressed no interest in that, then its really in poor taste.

[fatkraken.livejournal.com]

From her FA shouts (linked in the OP, I'm not stalking), it seems a fair few people are having trouble getting hold of her. In such a situation, I don't think it's a major faux pas for one person to try to find out what's going on via a friend. Not harassment, not a request to intervene, just an enquiry as to what's up and if there is some reliable method of contacting her. It need not even include details, just "I am trying to contact her with no luck, do you have a working email?"

It may turn out to be something simple like the school cutting of access to certain websites, and it could actually save her a lot of pointless emails if that is just made known.

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

Spring breaks are coming up here pretty quick (my old school's break is next week, my new one's in is two, I'm sure the bigger university's will be in three 'cause they like to do that sometimes) so you could try waiting to see if she'll respond within the next couple weeks?

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

This. She'll probably get back to you during spring break, assuming shes pretty on top of her stuff. IDK. She's gotta be pretty busy with a full classload to drop off, but at least she said something I guess. IDK her reputation so cant say anything for or against it.

[pyroro.livejournal.com]

To OP,
To answer one of your questions on the college break situation I can give you a little insight. Now granted some colleges curriculum can be different but I can tell you what I know from what my college breaks are like. There are usually only 2 breaks during the college year. During the Spring semester there is spring break which lasts one week. Spring semester normally ends early to mid April and is out for the summer. If by chance she's taking summer classes these only last 6 weeks tops...unless they are in remedial which could be longer. Fall semester also has one break which is the Thanksgiving break, this normally lasts 1 1/2-2 weeks then comes Winter break (The break transition between semesters.) I hope this info helps on the time frame issue for some insight as to how they are spending their time or possibly lying about their "college' schedule.

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I know of any college that ends in mid-April. Earliest I know of is the first or second week of May, which is still very early compared to what it was for grade/middle/high schools (sometime around June for me.) It's still getting fairly close to the end of the term though, especially with spring break coming up, so hopefully the artist has a chance to get back to the computer to contact her commissioners.

[shivra.livejournal.com]

This possibly yours?
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4128855

[chikkennoodul.livejournal.com]

Yes, the hand on the right is mine. That's a WIP shot though.

[ponthir.livejournal.com]

I would say that something isnt right, as friends of hers have been trying to get hold of her for months and no reply, if it was a common thing ie she vanished they probably wouldn't be so concerned to get in touch with her as it would be just a *oh shes studying etc* but theyre posting worried messages on her FA.

Checking her FA this time last year she was still posting. However before that is a year gap and before that she seems to be posting regularily again.

So its hard to tell if shes vanished or if something is wrong. If there is something wrong, then its not her fault that she cant get online so warning people in here isnt the way to go, unless its a regular thing and being FA has fallen over again you cant tell!

If something could be wrong there is no harm in dropping a casual message to a known friend. It doesnt have to be demanding just along the lines of *hi, sorry to email you, I was given your email, I was concerned for such and such and wondered if you knew she was ok?* something like that.

[chikkennoodul.livejournal.com]

UPDATE: Please see OP.

[imoondancer.livejournal.com]

Kiniro just posted your troll costume pieces to her FurAffinity. Hoping this brings good news to you.

[chikkennoodul.livejournal.com]

Yes, she sent me a Note on FA shortly before putting the photos in her gallery. :)

She also offered to ship the items free of charge by way of an apology, which was cool of her. Once I've received the costume pieces I'll post an update so that this entry can be concluded.

Another Commisioner Enters the room

[neoxfox.livejournal.com]

Just found this thread from a friend, who happened to find it on google, lol.
I am also a Commissioner for Kiniro. go to her Website, im the Fox/Blue Heeler Hybrid Currently in Progress. and you have prolly seen me posting on her shout boxes alot on FurAffinity.

So im the same deal here. I put my deposit down during the 2010 Tax return...ive just lodged my 2011 tax return. so thats 1 year with nothing but "Sorry im Busy".

Ive Emailed her on numerous occasions with no reply too...and to come across this thread of her being on the "Artists Beware" thread is Very worrying indeed. i am now more worried than i was before. and reading the posts im inclined to agree....1 year with no photos or updates is kinda poor customer service. ive paid half of the fullsuit commission on a deposit (Whitch is ALOT of money).

Chikkennoodul and other Veiwers. can you please share with me on everything you have learned about getting in contact with her...im very close to putting in a Paypal Dispute.

Re: Another Commisioner Enters the room

[chikkennoodul.livejournal.com]

When was the last time you tried contacting her, through the FA note system in particular?

Because Kiniro finally starting answering my FA messages again in March this year. She apologised profusely, stating that her education was the reason for her being unable to do any commission work or answer any queries. I accepted the apology, but pointed out that it was extremely bad form to take on commissions when she knew that she would end up too busy with her training course to even talk to her customers.

She seemed well aware of her mistake and shipped my commission free of charge to make amends. I received the parcel some months ago, so as far as I'm concerned, all is well, though she's certainly lost any chance of any future custom from me.

Fursuit Maker Kiniro (Wild Dog Horizons) - Disappeared! (another customer)

[neox88.livejournal.com]

i have no idea how to post a new thread about an artist that has dissapeared..so ill just add it onto this.... i have still not heared from kiniro....it has been 2 years now....no communication on my fursuit being made.....
if anyone has ANY information they can share with me on where the hell this artist is...please email me : neox_lee@live.com

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

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