Artist Beware: AMWULF

[katsunebear.livejournal.com]

My experience with AMWULF. Lacking the ability to communicate and the extended wait of time of this process has lead me to post here. Over 9 months and still no date of when the commission will be finished or even started. Screen shots and detaild description below. This was paid in full prior to the realization of any issues. 




WHO: He goes by the name AMWULF on Fur Affinity

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/amwulf/

WHAT: My self and a friend paid upfront $55 USD for a digital adult commission over 9 months ago, with minimal updates we have yet to see a sketch, a WIP, or any news relevant to our commission. Both my friend and I have confronted AMWULF several times and we get the same response. Something about how his personal life is in the way, and he has a huge list he needs to complete. While in the mean time making the excuse that he needs to take on more work to live. Since then he has completed several dozens of commissions, con badges, con specific art, and group pictures. We would have requested our money back through paypal but at the time were unaware that after a certain period of time you can not ask for a refund through paypal. And for that same reason I was unable to get pictures of the accepted payment on paypal but I do have it in his own writing that he received the payment.

The first two screen shots are my outbox and inbox of the times we have communicated. The rest are the messages between us both we an explanation of what is going on.





This was the first inquriy about the commission with details and questions about payment. I asked if my friend and I could pay seperatly however he requested to be paid in full due to him being 'cheated' before. So I oblige and send my friend the money, he then sends the payment to amwulf and I verify that he eventually recives it. Due to a mistake of typing in the wrong email address the first time we correct the mistake, AMWULF then verifys payment recieved. 









At this point you can see a week went by to verify payment. No biggie just glad that went smoothly. Below 2 months have passed and I ask about the status. 2 months I feel is not an unreasonable amount of time to wait. I got a response a day later, him telling me his personal life is getting in the way. I think to myself "okay, fine I'll wait a little longer, im sure it will be worth it any who." 
Another 2 months pass, it's late april, I decide to politly ask again the status, I get the same response pretty much. At this point I am frustated but decide to give it even more time. With in this time he completes several other comissions, which he claims were before us, then con badges and art, and now his current flare for orgy pictures. I wait another month and then inquire about a refund, and possibly going to paypal. He pleads that it will be done soon and apologies for the wait. 






The conclusion is that he will continue making excuses that life gets in the way, we all have busy lives and it sure as heck seems he has the time to do other work. I am not sure of who else has had this problem with him, to this day no futher communication has been made. It's to the point where I am lakcing the care to pursue it, figuring my friend and I lost the money we gave him. This is the only course of action I can take short of going to him again to be shot down with another 'my life is busy' excuse. 

I would like to warn other people about AMWUL and I seriously advise to avoid his lack of professionalism. 


Thanks for your time and I hope this does some good. 

Comments

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

How long was his commission list when you commissioned him? Or did you not check? Did you ask how long it would take him to complete it? I see you mentioned to him "I know your turnaround is a few months". I'm unfamiliar with this artist, but I know some popular artists have queues that are months and months long.

[katsunebear.livejournal.com]

I did ask ask how long, in one of my messages. And it's been well over a few months. He said himself how he did not intend for such a long wait. Still have no ETA and I don't expect one. At this point it's a tad ridiculous. Specially with no updates.

[moots (from livejournal.com)]

Nine months is excessive. The artist unfortunately has little reason to actually complete the work as he's been paid up front, and at nine months ago the money is so far gone that he probably doesn't even feel obligated to finish the commission.

[katsunebear.livejournal.com]

Agreed, that's what I figure. And this is about the most I can do. Can't go through paypal to get money back, and he wont refund money. Ugh oh well lol.

[tril-latel.livejournal.com]

I commissioned him almost a year and a half ago I think, when he had the 'birthday half off commissions' thing, on his b-day. I got one of my two so far, and I'm hopeful for my second, but, a year+ is an unacceptable amount of time to wait for a commission.

I don't think I'll be commissioning him again.

[sintocat.livejournal.com]

Woah, that's pretty bad. You should let him know he's been posted here, that sometimes lights a fire under peoples butts to get work done. I hope this gets settled for you two, he's being really unprofessional :/

Seriously, this wasn't handled well on both sides.

[alex dowski (from livejournal.com)]

While I agree that 9 months may be a long time to wait, it certainly isn't the longest I've seen someone wait for a commission. Also, as far as I can tell, you haven't attempted to contact AMWULF before posting here trying to get this resolved. Did you bother trying to get a hold of him before slandering him on here? Also: He has gone through about 3 different moves since you've commissioned him. Having moved about 7 times myself, that can really put you off for about a month or two. I know that you may be annoyed at him for taking other jobs in the mean time, but he has stated this is one of his only forms of income.

However, on his side he's in the wrong as well. He promised a few times it wouldn't be too much longer of a wait, yet failed to deliver. He also didn't provide very many updates, and I understand that this can be annoying. He should have tried a bit more to attempt to get your commission done, as well as other commissions on his list. He does need to work on his times.

Overall, both sides need to resolve this, and this could have been handled outside of this site.

Not the only one

[thedesertwolf0.livejournal.com]

To be perfectly fair this commissioner is not the only one who has some lingering work with Amwulf. It would be appreciated if he replied in a timely fashion or at least kept a running list of backlog. I had been doing monthly checks up until he deactivated the private message feature on FA and that does not bode well for pieces being completed. Responses to Emails are sporadic at absolute best.


I have personally been waiting on a piece for a good bit over a year now. There is essentially zero communication to long overdue commissioners. As much as I enjoy his artwork, the way he handles it is highly unprofessional and I would sincerely consider a good dozen other artists with a better track record before requesting a piece from him again.

Re: Not the only one

[thedesertwolf0.livejournal.com]

Update. It has been over two years now, communication has marginally improved as long as I am the one initiating it. The piece has still not been completed.

[kerstin-orion.livejournal.com]

Whatever your feelings or experience with this person may be, please refrain from using personal insults in this community.

Same experience

[arsentiger.livejournal.com]

I had the exact same experience with him and periodically would ask for updates and how far down the list I was. I found out from a friend that someone who commissioned him a few months AFTER I commissioned AMWulf... that he got his artwork before mine was even started. I asked for anything, any progress or even a list to see how much longer I could expect something from him but I ALSO hit the 9 month mark. His refusal to even update people with more than "It's coming up in the next batch!" to "I don't post lists... I don't like to see how much work I have to do." Was less than professional. I understand the need for trying to make money any way you can... however when it comes down to taking money without giving so much as a rough idea as to when you can expect the contracted work to be completed... then absolutely... you should not bother. I asked for a full refund or at the very least, a partial if he can provide me with whatever work he did manage to do. Not shortly after, he changed his refund policy to keep some of the money even without doing any work to earn it.

Not long after THAT however, people had to start charging back from paypal because getting him to do anything was like pulling teeth and he was already in a bad financial situation and the money, while not earned, was already spent.

[sheeberton]

I'm glad to find something posted about this because there's a ridiculous number of people in the same boat as I. Been waiting for a commission for two years and some odd months. He's consistently done new commissions while not really touching any of the old commissions. He's given no attempts to actually contact his commissioners at any point in time. He's shown no sign of caring whatsoever about his past commissions, only offering the same excuses that have already been posted here, but in journals on FA where a majority of his commissioners are probably never going to see it. I've messaged him numerous times over the last two years, and these are literally the EXACT responses I got.

Honestly, as much as I hate to post ANYTHING about artists, this practice has been inexcusable to the point that it feels a bit offensive to me. I cannot recommend this artist until he gets rid of the backlog which is getting larger instead of smaller, and practices some true work ethic.

I'd say hopefully check up on him in a year, but for now, steer clear.