Galagya - great art, very long unexpedicted wait times, and little to no updates

[coobiee.livejournal.com]

Aye, hello there. I'm relatively new  to all of this, including LJ, so please forgive me for any mistakes.

I'm not really doing this for myself, but more for everyone who is still waiting and anyone who ever goes to do business with her. While her art is absolutely fantastic her business manners and time for getting things done is absolutely terrible. Though she is usually pretty good with giving refunds if you ask for them.


WHO: Galagya, http://siedend.deviantart.com/ , http://galagya.deviantart.com/

WHERE: wolfhome forums/serenityisles forums

WHAT: premade poses for the chats

WHEN: September 9th of last year.

PROOF: Since it's been so long I can no longer grab proof of me sending the payment for them also I didn't pay with paypal I paid with the chat's currency which is deltas. Although I did earn those through commissions so I guess it still counts? Here's the topic where everything is even all the screenshots are taken from there.

EXPLAIN:
September of last year she had posted a topic on Serenity which contained a presale of a premade wolf set she was working on. It was $25 Paypal/50 Deltas to preorder them all so I sent out the deltas for all of them because I'm a really big fan of her artwork. When she posted said topic there was a little preview of them already and she stated that they were just WIPs for now but she was getting close to being done with some of them. (screenshot) So I figured okay then it shouldn't be too long for them to be completely finished. Well that's where I and many people were wrong. March of this year she finally comments on her topic after not giving any of us any updates at all
apologizing for not posting in so long and saying she had redone the poses. She asked us if we wanted to see them so far or if we wanted to wait and most people said they'd like to see a little sneak peak of the new ones. (screenshot) Well that never happened. More and more time went by with no more updates or even a preview of the newley redone poses. So someone finally sent her a PM on the forums asking for an updated and apparently she replied with this. That was on June 11th of this year. More time went buy and in August someone posted a comment saying they were keeping an eye on a topic she made over on wolfhome forums with premade sets. I decided I'd take a look into and to my surprise she had started another premade set without even finishing the one she started over on Serenity. (screenshot)
On Augst 28th someone had posted what Galagya had said through a PM on a different forum. (screenshot) Later on that day the same person gave us an update for the 20th of August saying Galagya was going through a move and her family was visiting her. They also said that she was busy with making her own chat instead of working on all this owed artwork that people have already paid for. (screenshot)
I figured that's okay, real life things pop up and can't be avoided so I just went about my way. On September 23rd, it had already been over a year since myself and many others paid for these poses, I seen on wolfhome forums that they were finally all moved into their new place and even had internet. I also seen a topic Galagya herself posted on wolfhome forums August 31st. Which can be seen here.
More time passed and still nothing. Now back in April she made a topic on wolfhome forums selling puppies which people had to buy and then in a few weeks they were suppose to get the completed refs of the adult versions of those. By this time those people that had paid for those were starting to get a bit frustrated. Which I can understand, but that's a whole different story really. Lets just say out of all 10 of those people who paid $20.00 for a puppy have yet to see a single ref finished. Not even so much as a sketch.

Anyways it's now September 30th she still hasn't completed the premade set. Not to mention she owes quiet a few peple things they've already paid for, but that isn't for me to get into. Many people have sent her emails and PMs reminding her about them and asking her about them and still nothing. No updates, no previews, no nothing.

Now like I said she's generally good about refunds if you ask her for one, but sometimes she gets an attitude about it. No I don't have proof, just past experiences. This isn't really anything new for her since she's been this way for a really long time from what I've noticed. About a year or two back there were people who had been waiting 3 years for a commission. I'm not sure how that is now though I'm pretty sure she refunded everyone or something.

But yeah if you ever go to commission her just beware of how long it could possibly take her and don't expect updates. She gives little to no updates. Her art is wonderful, but the wait and no updates isn't.

Comments

[graffitistryx.livejournal.com]

I am very familiar with her poor business practices, and I think that it is about time she has been posted up here... I really hope the numerous others in a similar position will also come forward. :/

Good luck getting this resolved! I am hoping this will help kick her toward finally forming better business practices, but it's such a well established pattern that I sincerely doubt it.

[cupycake-face.livejournal.com]

What's sad is that she was on wolfhome last night at about 5am and someone told her to update her Poopies, the one where she sold those puppies, topic TWICE and she just ignored her and didn't do a darn thing.

[pumpkin314.livejournal.com]

I hope to god this doesn't ruin my friendship with her...

I bought that premade set for "pre-sale" and wasn't even added to the permission list and people have been waiting over a year for a set that was almost complete, I think they definitely deserve at least a "sorry for the wait I am finishing these up here is a new preview" or something.

The thing with her puppies is just a serious mess...she posted a few times saying they were near completion: see here (http://www.serenityisles.com/images/gala1.gif)

I have worked with her in the past...she seems to be a "hit-or-miss" type when commissioning her, sometimes your work will be completed really quickly, sometimes it'll take awhile. She is VERY good with refunding or offering credit (She has given me "credit" in the past worth double of what I had originally paid).
Something similar to this happened awhile ago...maybe over a year, it was basically a "wake up call" of sorts for her and she started to get everything back on track, maybe that's all she needs now...I hate to see her ruin her reputation like this, because I know she can do better, but... :\

[riskanja.livejournal.com]

Dealing with the same crap; long wait times, no updates. Despite insisting that she'll respond to emails, she has never gotten back to any I've sent her.

[ellonwye.livejournal.com]

I saw this thread on Serenity and was very concerned at just.. the complete lack of any kind of update when people were making posts worrying about how long it was taking. I seriously do not agree with pose presales, because I've seen how often it just goes wrong. Once the artist has your money it seems there is rather little incentive to finish the work. Obviously not true of every artist, but still something people should be wary of.

Waiting a year for poses that were apparently 'almost done' at the time the initial preview was posted is just ridiculous. Gala, finish them or give these people their refunds. It's going to hurt your bank balance for a while but you owe it to them.

[poizenkat.livejournal.com]

Oh wow i hope more people post about her and such. This is horrible, best of luck to everyone waiting on art from her 8/

[terra stella (from livejournal.com)]

I'm one of the people who bought a custom from her, and a 'poopy'.
The times I have PMed her she HAS gotten back to me, saying basically what everyone has, here.
But I've been patiently waiting, and it's getting tiring. I want to trust her, but as of right now a refund sounds good, considering I have no job and money is low.

[cupycake-face.livejournal.com]

I sent her an email this morning while she was online asking for a refund and still no response. So I guess I'll wait a few more days and see what happens. :/

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Could you please not use tiny font?

[cupycake-face.livejournal.com]

It's not tiny on my screen it's the same size as yours and everyone else.
http://i54.tinypic.com/azayio.png

So I don't understand what you mean by tiny..?

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

.. Please don't delete your comments, either. That's against the rules. Please read the community rules before participating further.

[cupycake-face.livejournal.com]

I didn't delete any comments though? I've only posted those two and nothing else.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure why you think I'm speaking to you? I don't mean that rudely, I was replying to someone else whose comments are unfortunately now deleted. They used a tiny font, I asked them not to, then they deleted their original comment, reposted it, then deleted the new comment when I asked them not to delete comments.

[cupycake-face.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm sorry then, it was my misunderstanding. c:

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

No worries, I realized it might look like I'm speaking to you since the comments are deleted. I'm not a crazy person, promise!

[wildwolfdragon.livejournal.com]

She no longer does refunds. Btw, I'm Xiahtic on the screenshots. I've known her for a very long long time and she is a great person and great friend, but she's not very good in the business sense. I suggest people only buy things from her that are already completed, unless you are prepared for a long wait, or not being completed at all.

I don't want to loose her as a friend either, and if she does read this, then it shouldn't be a huge surprise, I've already told her about this issue she has. If this ruins the friendship, then the friendship isn't worth having, just my 2 cents. I really don't dwell on things anymore, and I don't really care what others think of me, because I've been outcasted and alienated by all my friends before, and I got through it and changed my personality so that people would like me again.

[poizenkat.livejournal.com]

Ehh that sounds more like a huge scam. No refunds, no work, just taking money and not doing anything.

This isnt really an "issue" this is a big problem. By now im sure she knows what she's doing, unless she's pretty young.

[wildwolfdragon.livejournal.com]

I wasn't making excuses for her. I was agreeing with this post, I'm not sure why everyone is trying to tell me this is a problem, when I know it an already agreed that it was. I've known her 10 years and she's been doing this kind of "business" the entire time. I think she should either learn and change, or be punished for all the wrongs she's done. I've been punished for mine, now it's her turn.

[poizenkat.livejournal.com]

I was just pointing out that it was not just an "issue" as you put it.

honestly, i dont think your personal issues (wrongs you've done, etc.) have anything to do with the post and i dont get why you're bringing it up. Almost everyone did something wrong and got/will get punished for it. Hopefully she gets what she deserves, and/or makes it up to all the people she's scammed.

[wildwolfdragon.livejournal.com]

I was bringing it up in case she reads the posts, I want her to know why I'm even posting/commenting on this LJ Community. It has nothing to do with anyone here.

[ellonwye.livejournal.com]

'She no longer does refunds.'

This is not an option and she must not continue thinking it is. Deliver what's been paid for in a reasonable time or refund people's money.

[sigilgoat.livejournal.com]

"She no longer does refunds."

That's just about the one thing that an artist can say that tells people that they do not care at all about their future as an artist.

I hope people find this post in the future so she won't rip off anyone else.

[wildwolfdragon.livejournal.com]

Here's the latest:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g257/WildWolfDragon/SerenityStuff/21e606ba.png

[wildwolfdragon.livejournal.com]

By the way, 1.00 Delta = $1.00, so yes, she has 400 "deltas" on her account, which means she has $400. But is refusing to give refunds, after making everyone wait over a year. Yep, that's about it.

[ellonwye.livejournal.com]

Ok Galagya that is completely unacceptable. You DO do refunds, you absolutely MUST. Taking people's money for a service you apparently have no intention of providing is THEFT.

[astraldescent.livejournal.com]

The fact that she offers to loan you "deltas" when she should be REFUNDING you is absolutely ridiculous IMO.

I can't believe this person has gotten away with this behavior for so long.

[retrotea.livejournal.com]

I've had to have people wait on my art, so I can understand that part. But giving no refunds or at least compensation in some sort of way really is theft.

I'm waiting for a custom pose and a puppy as well.

I love Gala's work but she has told me on more than one occasion on MSN that she is "almost done" and even "about to post them" on the internet. As many times as she has told not only me, but others, I see this as lies. Especially considering the comments above with the pre-sale being nearly finished, these so called "updates" of hers are the same exact thing played on repeat.

Either compensate, give updates and finish the work or stop doing commissions. We all get busy, we all go through rough times and sometimes we simply can't complete stuff- But if this is happening this often maybe stopping commissions for a few months sounds like a good plan.

I hope everyone gets what they've paid for, compensated or refunded. This really is all ridiculous,and if it's happened this much she has got to know what's going on- there really is no excuse at this point.

[cupycake-face.livejournal.com]

You know I could understand not giving a refund if the product was half completed or nearly done, but even then a partial refund should be an option. But this, she's hasn't finished anything nor provided any proof that she's even started so a full refund should be an option.

[retrotea.livejournal.com]

I agree, but compensation is ALWAYS an option if a person has waited at least 3 months. A year, that's ridiculous, nearly 5 months still so- and even more so considering the so called "false updates" that have been provided numerous times with no proof whatsoever.

I give compensation to those that have waited a month usually. This is blasphemy.

[wyla.livejournal.com]

I sent her 16 deltas/dollars for a pick of any three poses from the presale and, like everyone else, have seen no work done on it at all.

I find her behaviour absolutely disgusting. It does not take long to post a quick "sorry guys, I'm on it" on a forum topic.

[terra stella (from livejournal.com)]

Well, she posted on her topic with this (referring to her customs):

"Hi guys -

I'm not open right now unfortunately, because there's been lots of chaos going on in the ~internetz~ when I wasn't looking. :(

Once everything is cleared up, yessiree, I will be taking more! I will post when that happens."

[cupycake-face.livejournal.com]

She did give me my 50 deltas refund so yeah.

[cupycake-face.livejournal.com]

50 delta refund*

[terra stella (from livejournal.com)]

Lucky! I don't think I got anything yet, just hoping I receive SOMETHING.

[wildwolfdragon.livejournal.com]

I just received my full 25 deltas refund from her last night. I'm now perfectly happy and won't hold this against her any longer. :)

[aperturefox.livejournal.com]

Did anyone else get their things?
I saw her on the forums, and she did one thing. I think I'll ask for a refund because it's been long enough.