at this point, i'd suggest going through paypal. it seems as if they have no intention of replying to you and after losing so much money, it's only fair if you get it back as you've received no product, updates, or warnings explaining that the art would be late.
LINK TO DROPBOX POST: Artists Beware: BabushkaVatman
ARTISTS BEWARE LINK: https://artists-beware.livejournal.com/993878.html
ALIASES:
(NSFW GALLERY) https://babushkavatman.deviantart.com/
(NSFW GALLERY) https://babushkavatman.tumblr.com/
ISSUE: Never delivered order.
WHAT HAPPENED: I ordered a 270 USD custom with a back view and extras from this artist back in July 2017. It has not been delivered. The artist has been silent for months and inactive on all known social media.
TIMELINE:
13 July 2017: Purchased custom adopt commission through an auction for 270 USD. (Proof 1. Proof 2.)
13 July 2017: Artist confirmed order and sent invoice. Invoice paid the same day. Artist acknowledges payment. (Proof 3. Proof 4. Proof 5.)
July 2017 - September 2017: I receive no updates despite exchanging more correspondence about the design specifics. Up to 25 July 2017, we made small talk and discussed design details. After that point, nothing until September. (Proof 6.) This screenshot is filtered for notes sent from BabushkaVatman.
During this period of silence between July and September, the artist continues outputting adopts and YCH sales.
19 September 2017: I update the artist's reference links to a neater folder. (Proof 7.) The artist replies, but there is still no visual WIP update.
September 2017 - November 2017: No further updates. Artist continues uploading adopts and YCH sales.
26 November 2017: There is still no update. I request an update or, alternatively, a refund. The artist finally shows a visual WIP, but cannot provide a refund at the moment. (Proof 8. Proof 9. Proof 10.)
27 November 2017 - 1 December 2017: The artist seems genuinely apologetic during our conversation. I relent and agree to wait for the finished product. This is a mistake. (Proof 11. Proof 12. Proof 13.)
12 January 2018: There has been no contact since December. I ask again for an update. (Proof 14.)
22 January 2018: The artist posts another completed adopt.
22 January 2018: The artist replies with an update message. No visual updates. This is the last time this artist has contacted me since. (Proof 15.)
24 January 2018: The artist posts another completed adopt.
4 February 2018: The artist posts another completed adopt. This is the latest activity on the DA page. But not the Tumblr page. Will detail below.
25 February 2018: I ask for another update. (Proof 16.) No response. Unread.
March 2018: While the artist remains inactive and unresponsive on DA, the Tumblr page notes a recently liked post from user nemichen. (Proof 17. [NSFW has been blurred out. Safe to click.]) This post by nemichen was made on 3 March 2018 (link to post here, slight NSFW, male upper body nudity). The artist has been able to access the internet sometime after 3 March 2018. (A more thorough search through recent likes show liked posts from as recent as 2 April 2018. [link]) I did not notice this until recently, but will add it chronologically for easier following.
12 March 2018: I ask for another update. No response. Unread. (Proof 17.)
29 March 2018: I leave a comment on the original deviation of the custom sale. No response. (Proof 18.)
31 March 2018: I message the artist on DA again. (Proof 19. Proof 20.) Unread.
3 May 2018: I leave the artist a courtesy message on the artist's DA profile stating my intentions to write a PSA on Artists Beware. (Proof 21.) That PSA is still pending moderator approval, but I have replicated it here as well.
There is still no response. I also have not seen any of the YCH sales completed and posted, but cannot verify that they were never done.
Given the circumstances, I am aware that if the artist's main income is through art, then regular output of sales and adopts is to be expected while the artist works on a commission. This was never the problem. The problem was the lack of communication and continued lack of communication.
As it stands, I have no finished product and the artist either refuses to get in touch or has neglected to for whatever reason.
But the real lesson here is to never let an artist drag you past PayPal's 6-month buyer protection period, regardless of their reasoning, unless they have solid communication and steady visual updates. Don't make my mistake.
After contacting PayPal, they have refunded me the full amount. This beware remains to warn others of this artist.
21 February 2019 UPDATE: After contacting the artist regarding use of the sketches/designs despite PayPal fully refunding the payment, the artist has allowed me to use the artwork and the designs. (Proof 22.)
Man that must have been right around the same time as the summer adopt I purchased, which I ABed with the intention of getting the secondary sketch. They haven't delivered that or responded to my messages. I'm on mobile but I'll try to get my info to add. We're almost at a year at this point and while I don't mind waiting, I would like communication! !!
LaBelph I’m sorry to hear the artist has, effectively, scammed you out of money as well, regardless of the order’s partial fulfillment in your case.
The deal is not complete until you get what you paid for.
They had the time to browse Tumblr and like various posts but didn’t bother updating any of their commissioners on long overdue orders. This is reprehensible.
I'm having a problem with them as well. Bought a YCH back in december and haven't gotten the artwork or any updates. My notes haven't even been opened. I've been thinking about going for a dispute. After reading this I'm going to do just that. Mine isn't as much as yours, but still $70 bucks is a good chunk of money.
Not sure if this is at all helpful but has anyone tried to send an email to their PayPal email? ;; I do that when an artist seems inactive on dA and have met... some success with it lol. Just a suggestion!
:(
Have been waiting patiently for a YCH as well from them and while previous exchanges in 2017 made me willing to wait - esp when I contacted them I was able to get some visual updates on my com - that's hella disheartening that they haven't even opened your notes even while online.
I’ve sent them a message on Tumblr but I don’t expect any success with it. Generally with more irresponsible types the only way to make them listen is to take your money back.
Sarubia _featherweather I would highly, highly recommend you chargeback. If anything you can always return the money to them if they actually complete the order (and they get punished with the $20 dollar service fee which is a pittance compared to how much they’ve taken for basically free) but at the moment I cannot stress enough that you cannot leave your money with them.
Dolce I have considered it, actually, but figured if they were ignoring me on DA, they’d ignore me there, too. However, I will definitely try it anyway and hope it works out. Thank you!
January I actually ended up with a problem with the user as well. I Autobought one of their older adopts back in May 2017. It was supposed to come with an AB extra, and the extra has never been done.
After it'd been several months I messaged them and asked about the progress, and they admitted that they totally forgot about it and would get it done soon, which I said was fine. But I never got anything after that unfortunately.
Honestly I'm a little disappointed about this because I had AB another of their adopts with the same AB extra and they got the extra to me within a few months so to see that they've basically abandoned their customers is really disheartening. It's even worse for you I imagine since you haven't even really gotten anything and I at least got the original adopt itself if nothing else :/
I really hope they either come back and get things done, or that you get a refund.
January my issue is i at least have had tangible evidence that my item has been worked on, and while yeah, i wouldn't pay that much for a sketch when it should have been fully shaded, i would want to at least give the artist the value for the part they did complete. Is it possible to issue a partial chargeback?
Hawkeye Thank you for the sympathy, really. What tends to happen in these scenarios is that the artist feels intimidated by the sheer amount of owed work and unhappy customers and, instead of addressing the problem, hides away from it all the harder as per natural instinct to avoid unpleasant things. This is obviously unprofessional and a blatant indicator that they are not mentally ready to be taking commissions. The only way to force them into facing the problem is to take the money back (and even then, some artists just let it happen without ever communicating again).
This, unfortunately, results in the same effect as if they were intentionally scamming, even if the original motivation was not so.
This is why I implore any recent buyers of this artist to charge back if something has not been delivered according to what you intended to pay for.
You will either get your money back quietly and without any issue if they choose to completely run away, or you will force this artist to come back and speak with you on the platform from which you ordered, and that means a chance for the rest of us to get in contact with them, too.
After reading this thread I issued my charge back. I'm tired of waiting for replies that looks like arent coming. So, thank you so much for making this thread. It really helped me. I hope that you can at least get something back from yours because that is really terrible.
_featherweather To my knowledge, it is possible once you go into the actual dispute. Depending on the situation, PayPal will investigate and decide if a partial or complete refund is required, but the case, of course, needs to be opened first. You can state in your case claim that you're requesting a partial chargeback, which is something PayPal will handle on a case-by-case basis after the claim has opened.
Sarubia I've given up on mine, since it was my own mistake for prioritizing the artist's sob story over the glaring red flags, but knowing there have been recent purchases from the artist that are still within PayPal's protection range, it was important to post this before others miss that window as well.
I don't think you'll need it, but good luck with the case! I hope PayPal rules in your favor!