Advice

[bf-fursuits.livejournal.com]

so, I set up a trade with someone just before last may, fur for a foamed fursuit head base for my character... I sent out the fur after being told that the head was sent out.

the fur arrived with them, and I had a may deadline for finishing the foam head being sent, it never arrived, and only when I inquired about it was I told that it was sent back to them. I kinda took that as a post office fail, whatever...

then, I posted about doing trades on the fursuit auctions LJ, the person replied to this saying that she would finish up that head base for me in exchange for a head of her character [who needed redrawing, and I couldn't start until the new refs were done]

now to the 'beware' part:

this was around june-july last year, most of the messages about this incident were lost with the FA fail that happened in december, in journals and notes. but, the jist is this;

I inquired about the art for my half so i could work on it, and any progress if she was working on mine, and she said it was all furred and waiting airbrushing, but was in storage so she couldn't take photos, no new ref art either

this went on for awhile, until I was told that the head was airbrushed, but she ripped off all the fur because some of it went wrong, fair enough... it happens.

no contact for months, followed by at least 5 auctions for premade heads being sold to fund her personal stuff

when i contacted again about photos, i was told she was sorry and that i didn't have to work on the head trade anymore and that i would recieve the head for free and it would be shipped in time for october, using a resin base instead of a foam one, that deadlined passed, then december, also passed...

she posted a mass of photos afew days ago, including commissions and MORE personal suits for sale, i asked about my head again, and was told she would take it out of storage for photos the next day, that was yesterday... and i'm still awaiting photos :/

I know its free [well, not quite, theres the fur trade that I never recieved the other half for] so, what should I do? cut my losses [the fur itself was very pricey, thus the rather big trade for it], or is there something else?

the character has had 3 full overhauls since, so its not even going to look like my character anymore :/ so its just going to be sat collecting dust in  my room, its not something very... sale-able either

not naming names, though I will if things get much worse than this.

EDIT: 'final notice' note sent not long ago under the cut

 "its getting alittle stupid now, I'm patient... but its been almost a year now and I've not seen anything in exchange for that purple/white fur I sent you [the fur used on the bunny]

so, on the advice of others, I'd like to see some progress shots of it before next friday at the latest, if that can't be done, I'd like the full retail cost of the fur back, which is roughly £110 [bought from this website, when it wasn't on sale http://fauxthrow.com/faux-fur-fabric/silver-fox-faux-fur-fabric-per-meter.htm ]

at the very least, the original item for trade would be good [resin base, with teeth/ears/eyes/nose]

i can understand things getting sent back in the post, i can understand airbrushing going wrong, but I can't understand putting out all these premades when you have commissions and trades waiting, its not good business sense."

EDIT 2: the person in question can be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/sharpe19

the note has not been replied to, and they have been online 4 hours ago at least. [of posting this edit] and the note I sent is 2 days old now, and left unread.

she also avoided me when I asked about it on a stream I found her watching.

at this point I'm finding it very unlikely that I'll see anything out of this 'trade' :/ I've also noticed that on her updates she posts on FA, she /always/ forgets my name on the list [kimi, being the name of the character] and I always have to ask her to add it. if anyone on here knows her/is in contact with her, I'd appreciate the help. I've been more than accomodating, but I just feel used at the moment :/

EDIT 3: recieved progress photos, and a note appologuising for the delay http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/9110/kimmi001.jpg

and a different beware that was recently updated, is ---> http://community.livejournal.com/artists_beware/415121.html

Comments

[jakejynx.livejournal.com]

You were apparently scammed out of some fur, and almost scammed put of a head. I'm curious as to why you won't name names, or how this could get much worse, at this point?

[findmealone.livejournal.com]

Seconding this!

[jakejynx.livejournal.com]

As for advice, I'm not sure what to tell you other than to set a date. Tell them you want the head, the fur, or the price of the fur returned to you by X date (and anything sent in the mail needs to be insured), of you'll start warning others about the shady behavior.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

Yes, this, all the way!

[bf-fursuits.livejournal.com]

they already used up the fur on a partial, which I saw in person at eurofurence... I wasn't impressed to say the least, the teeth were falling out and the whole thing was wonky

[bf-fursuits.livejournal.com]

the fact they offered it for 'free' is whats holding me back, if I don't get any kind of progress by next friday, names will definately be named [as said below]

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

In addition to what jakejynx said, since you've never gotten photos of this head who knows what state it's in, how done it is. IF this person gets back to you and basically there is no finished head, but they still want to make you a head (with updates on a timeline and to be finished by some final deadline, as stated above), then I don't see why you shouldn't update your details and get a head of your current character.

Again, that's a lot of ifs - IF the current head is actually not finished (and from your description it sounds like they were planning on remaking it anyway) and IF you continue to try to get a head out of the artist. (at this time, the fur or its cash value might be best)

[bf-fursuits.livejournal.com]

I'll be giving them until the end of next week, I'm going on a mini vacation this weekend to have a more 'fresh' outlook on things

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Would it be possible for you to stop the transaction with this person and ask to be reimbursed the cost of the fur you sent them? Since their work has been shoddy and your character has changed, plus no proof of work done on their part getting your cash back and calling it quits may be best.

[bf-fursuits.livejournal.com]

i messed them about that afew hours ago, the total cost of the fur was £110, without shipping costs, I told them to either send that, or provide images of the 'finished' head that they are doing, or at the very least a resin base I can finish myself

[bf-fursuits.livejournal.com]

messaged, hurr

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Still, what strikes me is how they want to make this a second trade, a full head from you in exchange to finishing their part from the original trade. In effect this means, unless your work is worth a lot less than their own, that they got the fur in the original trade for free, essentially.

[bf-fursuits.livejournal.com]

i've seen some of their work in person, it looked rushed and wonky :/ and that was a new partial and one of the premades that was sold [made out of the fur I gave them too!]

[fuzzwolfie.livejournal.com]

Just seconding everything that has been said. I definitely think you should name names at this point. You paid for this builder to have very nice materials and it's already sending up red flags (for me, at least) that you have yet to see the item you originally traded for. That alone warrants some sort of beware I think.

Also taking a mini-vacation sounds like an excellent idea! You deserve better than to have to worry over things at this point. <3

[bf-fursuits.livejournal.com]

updated again, on two bewares, seems I never get anywhere with these~

[roadkillonrt3.livejournal.com]

have you tried emailing her? i am waiting on two commissions from her and am sure she will get things done. i know she forgets a lot and she has recently gotten engaged. i think she has a lot going on and is catching up on work and trying to save up money for her wedding, which is why she has been selling the premades. while it might not be the best choice from a business stand point, it will help her pay for the wedding. i know business and personal lives should be kept separate, but i think shes just too excited. im just throwing in my thoughts, i have been a really patient commissioner and i know she tries to go out of her way to make people happy. both our commissions were last updated about a month ago on the 22nd. an email would be more direct since notes can be lost or easily unnoticed and i dont think she goes on her fa very often. i hope things get resolved!

[bf-fursuits.livejournal.com]

she never gave me an email or any other method of contact :/ lost notes on FA come up as read as soon as they have been sent anyway, neer posted that on his journal some time ago as a way to spot that bug