Grausig Vampyr

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

I am posting this for feed back on what to do AND to warn others that sometimes good artists aren't that responsible.

Despite warnings; on December 2005, I asked for a commission from Grausig. She had three open spots for commissions. So I jumped at the chance. She has really good art, and I have heard equal amounts of Good and Bad comments about her.

So I waited... and waited. A month or so later, I asked if she started, she said no, so I told her, I want to switch my Book Mark commission to a Conbadge. She says okay. So I waited. And I waited some more. I noted her a couple times, I even bothered her on AIM. She said she was sorry for taking so long. I told her it was okay. She said she would draw me extra art because I'm waiting so long. So I figured, 'Sweet deal!' and I completely forgot my problems.

Well... she began offering art trades, and stupid me jumped for that too.

I just recently [ about... 3 monthes ago I think ] finished my half of our art trade. So I've been noteing her over and over, asking her for a commission status, all I wanted to know was, "What have you done and what do you need to finish?"

She blocked me through AIM, YIM, Myspace, stopped answering the notes, and e-mail was my last chance to contact her.

So... I had enough. I e-mailed her and pretty much said, " If you don't answer this, I will have no choice but to warn others. Because you are not going to give me what I paid for, and you aren't giving me a refund. "

And she responded back a few hours later, [ Note: This was the first I've heard from her in MONTHES ] She pretty much writes a whole bunch of putting herself down, talking about ' it takes me a day or so to answer everything. ' But after that, she states she HAS finished the badge, but she claims it looks bad [ I wouldn't know because I didn't even get as much as a WIP sketch or anything of it. So I still don't know what it looks like ] and she says she was going to redo it. But if I wanted it so badly she could scan it for me to see and / or mail it out to me as soon as she got my address.

She makes me sound like an impatient a**hole by her statement. Like I didn't give her time to respond to anything. But I've been waiting since December... she's had nearly a year to respond, show me sketches, or give me a status report. But I recieved nothing.

Well. I sent her a response to her statement, Pretty much saying, you know. If you had just answered my note stating "I finished it, it looks bad, wanna see it, and if you don't like it I'll remake it" then I would have never been so harsh with her.

After this, she sent me a "Add friend Request : DENIED " on Yahoo Messanger. To restate from above : She blocked me through AIM, YIM, Myspace, stopped answering the notes, and e-mail was my last chance to contact her. But she claims she finished, why is she trying so hard to get away? But here's the best part...

Ever after stating she will send me a picture... she HASN'T. She has no proof that she has EVER worked on the conbadge, how do I know that she wasn't sitting there sketching it real quick while answering my e-mail? I don't. And she has yet to give me an e-mail back. So I only have ONE e-mail from her. One e-mail after a couple monthes of trying to find out anything about the commission.

Does anyone understand why I'm so upset? Does anyone know what I could possibly do to get through to her to maybe get a refund if she admits to not doing the conbadge? Has any one else had a bad situation with her?

Feed back would be Lovely.
--Kiyoshi

Comments

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

How much did you pay her to start with? I can understand your frustations and it is a very shitty thing for her to ignore you like that and reason would state that she should tell you she is not intersted in doing the commision or the trade any more, but if you didn't pay her she doesn't have any obligation to finish or do the commision.

You said you did pay her but didn't specify when or how much, so I am curious to know how you sent the payment and how much money is involved....

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

She made me pay upfront. I mailed her the money [ $12.00 ] and she stated she has got it. That was like... 4 - 5 monthes ago. >.< She has my money, She has my info. There shouldn't be any reason why she *can't* do the commission.

Yes, I know. 12 bucks doesn't seem much. But currently I'm trying to save all my money and 12 bucks feels like a big amount.

--Kiyo

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Ok I hadn't seen that you had paid her. Guess I should have figured as much. Yeah demand a refund. Tell her you've waited long enough and now you just want your money back.

Coming here was a good first step. I hope you are sucessful hun, and I wish you the best of luck

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

The bad part now is... I can't get through to her to ask for my refund.

She stopped answering my e-mails now. :\

Thank you, I was a little nervous that maybe it wasn't important enough to post here. And Thank you for the feed back and wishes. <3

--Kiyo

[the-snappy-wolf.livejournal.com]

$12 - $120, doesn't matter, hard earned money is hard earned money and no one deserves to be ripped off D=

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

*nods* I agree.

Thank you again, Snappy wolf. =)

--Kiyoshi

[skulldog.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'd start asking for a refund, and forget about the art at this point.

Not a very responsible person from the sounds of it. I can wait a year, if the artist keeps in touch, but this seems like a grab and run situation.

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

You're probably right. :\

But i can't even get ahold of her to ASK for a refund. She won't answer notes, she has me blocked on everything else. And I guess she stopped opening my e-mails...?

Thanks for the feedback.

--Kiyo

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Sometimes artists have this feeling that if a client isn't paying big bucks, then they shouldn't have to pay attention. If she's good enough and gets enough work, she probably gets quite a lot for her work I'd imagine. However, for her to blatantly ignore you, block you from every possible contact, then whine to you about her OWN issues? Then there's a problem. Big or small, work is work and thats an ethic I look for in artists everywhere.

Did you use paypal? Or was it through the mail? I'd demand a refund, like Skulldog has said. I doubt you'll get your art if you havent by now.

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

Well she has her commissions closed almost ALL the time. She only opens them once every year or so. When she does, its only three slots. I took one of those three slots. And her prices aren't that high. And she finished one of them monthes ago, so I know its between mine and the second slot. So its not like she's burried in art.

She instructed I pay her via mail. So I did. I can't even get through to her to *ask* for a refund, let along demand. Thank you for the feed back. But I'm going to try again... and again.

--Kiyo

[the-snappy-wolf.livejournal.com]

Have you tried making an alternate AIM account to talk to her? Or atleast send her a message asking for a refund, stating who it is. I have 4 AIM names myself (Only 2 I really use)

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

She just ignores it. Or signs offline or immediatly puts me on block. :\ There's no point. But I got through her in e-mail... finally.

Thank you for the feed back. =)

--Kiyoshi

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Sounds to me like you're out twelve bucks, unfortunately. Thanks for the warning for the rest of us, but if she's cut you off like that, she obviously has no intention of ever actually finishing your art.

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

*nods* I figured so. But I wanted to get the warning out because I'd hate to see anybody else pay MORE money only to be jipped out of it.

Thank you for the feedback.

--Kiyo

[izzyferret.livejournal.com]

I say ask for a refund but don't be pissy about it- then you WILL be an impatient asshole. I mean, really, for all you know, she could be having person problems, medical problems, family problems...lots of things could be going on. I mean, I know you think she should tell you that, but a lot of people were raised to think that telling people stuff like that is wrong, or they're too ashamed to let people know that they're weak, or all sorts of reasons they wouldn't tell you. The point I'm trying to make is that, you have every right to want your money back, but don't make assumptions as to why she hasn't done your stuff.

[the-snappy-wolf.livejournal.com]

Woah, woah, woah =( If this person is taking commissions they need to behave in a professional manner, personal problems and all. Take time to read the post, this person blocked Wolved_Remorse on everything possible and ignores her e-mails and DA-notes ... =/ This doesn't sound like someone who is just having home/work/life problems, that sounds like someone who has taken the money with no intention of finishing the transaction.
If I were taking commissions and I had something that was keeping me from finishing I would contact my client(s) and inform them that it might take longer than expected and that I would understand if they wanted a refund, not try my hardest to ignore them.

I don't think if Wolven demands a refund that she is being an impatient asshole, I think she's been damn patient enough considering that the artist tries to ignore and avoid her at every turn. It is not Wolven's place to deal with this artist's personal problems, she is in a business transaction, she's not a therapist, personal problems should be kept out of business as much as possible, as I said before, if you know you can't finish the commission, or for some reason don't want to do it any more, then send a full refund and an apology. )=

[izzyferret.livejournal.com]

Woah woah woah yourself, you missed my point completely, or did you even read everything I said? Seems like you red only the "you...impatient asshole". I said she should ask for a refund, but to be polite about it.

And what is it with this community, and how everyone who has put pencil to paper and taken a few bucks to do it is a professional? She's what, 19? And she just graduated highschool? She is NOT. A. PROFESSIONAL. She does not own a bussiness. How many every day 19 year olds do YOU know that could run a business? Probably not many. If you went to a yardsale, would you expect the people there to act like professional retailers? Are they also bound to this completely made up artists_beware ethical code that if you sell something, you have to act like a professional, no matter what? I don't think so.

And looking at her journal, how do YOU know she doesn't have something seriously wrong? I know in this day and age it's difficult to believe that someone might actually have a mental disorder, but hey guess what? It does happen. And how do you know that she doesn't have any intention to finish the commission? Are you psychic, have you talked to this person? I doubt it, so for all you know, she could be really messed up, there's lots of different problems she could have, the first one coming to mind being avoidant personality disorder, but of course there's lots more.

Really, making assumptions is rude, and that's what I was getting at, that we need to think beyond just ourselves, and realize that there might be a lot more to things that we don't know. So when we ask for our refund, we shouldn't be a bitch about it, we should ask firmly, yet politely. But if it's really that absurd for the the OP to ask politely, then if it so pleases you, then I will go to Boston myself and guide her hand to the mailbox.

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

Could you please not get so offended by everything? This is really not worth people fighting over. And truthfully I've had enough drama for the rest of my life.

And yes, she does have something wrong with her [ she has stated it, but everyone has told me so. ]

But, I'm just curious, all this time, this whole year I *have* been trying my hardest to be calm, be patient, and be nice with her. Noteing her once a month or so to keep her contacted with me. But when was she going to stop and think about anyone except herself? How do you think I felt when she ignored my notes, put my AIM sn on a block, ignored my e-mails, and right to my face said, " Friend access denied " on YIM... not once... not twice... but three times in one day [ but I wonder how she found time for work and to answer my messages on YIM all at once ]

I just feel like, yes, maybe I was a bit 'impatient' all year, and not giving her enough space. But if she really intended to keep me up to date, she was doing it in the most distant way I've ever seen.

Thank you for the feed back.

--Kiyoshi Purrlop

[the-snappy-wolf.livejournal.com]

It's a little late for me to reply to this but I've been gone for a couple days. Anyway, I didn't say that Wolven should be RUDE about asking for her refund, I just said that if she got a little snarky in her request I think she has every right ='/ I would have already blown my top, more likely than not, if I had been waiting this long for a simple con badge only to be blocked, denied, and throughly ignored over and over again.. ='/

It's not some made up artist_beware code that people behave professionaly when dealing with business. I'm 19 years old too and while I rarely take commissions I do my damnest to get them done in a timely manner, if I know that I can't I will offer a refund or explain the sittuation, not try to ignore my clients until they have to go public about my innability, or unwillingness, to coperate.

I don't know if she has life issues and frankly if she had my money I wouldn't care, if you knowyou have a problem that will effect your ability to preform a required task then don't accept! If I went to a yard sell I would expect the sellers to treat me with respect, as long as I was equally courtious, I would expect them to pay attention to me when I had an inquiry, and to deliver quality service, if they did not I would cancel my transaction and leave.
But you can't really compair people selling used junk out of their garage (generaly as-is) to someone who is taking money for a commission, custom made to the buyer's requests. As things are definatly a bit different. When you go to a yardsale and want to buy a coffee table you don't have to put in a request and have the seller build you a coffee table, putting your faith in this person that they will finish and provide a quality service..

Anyway, no need to keep up about it sence it's been resolved, I just needed to say my peice in return, sence I wasn't around to do so before.

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Snappy Wolf. I don't think I could have defended my statement any better then you have just done. =)

[wolven-remorse.livejournal.com]

Just to state something for myself;

I *did* e-mail her politely before reading your message, though I did add in a comment [ which I felt was all fair game since I've been pretty d*mn patient for a year now, and I'm done being patient. ]

I know she has had a little... mood swings but how is that my fault? If you know you are going to have mood swings that are going to affect you for a year from completeing something, maybe it would be nice to note the person saying, "Hey. I'm sorry. But I havne't worked on it" But she didn't. She tried to ignore me on everything.

So. Now that I stated what has happened, perhaps maybe you understand a little clearer? =)

Thanks for the feedback.

--Kiyoshi

[gvampyre.livejournal.com]

I feel I have a right to defend myself here. The fact that you didn't ASK me anything as to why I wasn't responding right away (because I always did when I had the time), or why you couldn't get in touch with me on AIM (because I stopped using it months ago, and NEVER blocked you, hell you're still on my buddy list but it seems to me that you are the one who was never online, I was always invisible, yet I never saw your name light up) or myspace (I have no idea why you couln't on myspace, blocking someone from your page [which I didn't do anyway] does not stop them from messaging you) only assume all of these things is the first problem I have with whats here. The other is that what you say almost reaches defamation, the whole story ISN'T here, while a few exagerated things are, and you know that as well as I do.

I don't want to start a fight, I don't want to hold internet grudges, but you stating that "I would have NEVER even thought of reporting you" the day before you post this is kind of fucked, especially after I REPLIED TO ALL YOUR EMAILS AND SENT YOUR REFUND AS FAST AS I POSSIBLY COULD and you know it. Thats a bit hypocritical if you ask me.

Anyway, like I said, I'm not going to say all that I could, or re-tell what is already here with the missing bits added in, but just remember, I was the other half of this "issue" I still have the few notes and emails with their dates to give evidence if so need be.

For the record, my issue is with mailing things out, not the ability to finish them. http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/38081104/ note the date in the bottom corner.

Anyway, I have always thought brining personal matters like this out in the public was very immature, especially because no one here can do anything but say the same thing over and over, what actually happens in only on you and the other person. All this does is feed the fire. I suggest, next time you have an issue with a commission, don't go from asking if its done to warning people because someone "stole" your money within a week. And always wait for more than 24 hours before you start yelling that someone is ignoring you, adults have jobs and lives... they can't always live on the internet.

I know what people are going to think now though, that I am trying to make up all I can to make myself sound better and you sound bad. The question to those is, if I pretty much never offer commissions or even trades, why do I care what people think about how I go about them?

PS. I absolutely NEVER told you to pay up front. If you read my website at all, you would see that it says I ask for money after I show a sketch, thats my way of making myself finish the commission faster. You asked for my address and sent the money all on your own assumption. You never even asked me about it.

I keep thinking of more and more I need to say to clarify the things you asuumed about me. I didn't mail your badge out right away because I did promise to draw you other stuff (along the option for a cancellation at that point which you refused [you forgot to mention that]) I intended to mail all of the pieces together, and it was a little while before that I had pretty much stopped drawing all together..if you didn't notice by my complete lack of submissions. I held onto the bage because you did tell me to take my time.

I dunno, thats it I guess, I'm done trying to make the rest of the world understand what actually happened here. If I do ever offer commissions again, I think that it would be best for the person to actaully go by my policy on payment, for both their sake and mine.

[gvampyre.livejournal.com]

I would also like to know exactly who you are hearing things about me from. As far as I know, there is no reason anyone would have a problem with me. The only time I EVER had an issue with a commission was my very first one, where the girl told me what she wanted then ran off completely and never said another god damned word to me. But I waited more than 24 hours for her to reply.

YES, I DID deny you on yahoo, because I HATE yahoo and if it weren't for the fact that the program I use logs me in on both AIM and Yahoo I would't have anything to do with it. I figured if you wanted to talk to me so bad, you would have emiled me already or even tried to say a word to me on AIM because I never did block you on there.

I'd like to know who else actaully has the right (meaning someone I have made some form of transaction with) to say anything bad about me. Or who "everyone" is that is telling you that I have something wrong with me.

[foxofthenight.livejournal.com]

You do have to understand not everyone can come online 24/7 or everyday. People do get very busy in life however there could have been more ways to come into contact with the person. Many ways actually. :P