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A place to voice positive or difficult experiences with commissioners or artists. This includes both paid transactions and art trades. Customer and artist reviews, lost contacts, and reports of art theft are welcome.

This community is also open to discussions and questions on how to conduct business between artists and their customers.

Please read and keep in mind our Community Rules which are located on our Profile Page. Also remember, that artists_beware does not allow the deletion or screening of posts and comments by its members. If you are having difficulties, please inform a moderator!

If your links contain material that is either adult (NSFW) or dangerous (malicious code/virii/trojans) please state so immediately before you encourage the membership to view.

Updates of Note:

-2014-
6/30 NOTICE: 2 Rule changes [Art theft] & [Censoring sensitive information]
4/27
celestinaketzia joins staff
4/16 & 30 Sigilgoat & Shukivengence retire
4/15 Kerstin retires; kayla_la new owner
2/25 Bazeel no longer A_B/FA Liason; removed from FA Staff
-2012-
Beware unofficial social media 'mirrors'
-2011-
12/12: Harassment is Unacceptable
10/19: 5-day ban instated for deleted comments/post
10/3: Reminder: Do Not Delete Comments!
9/25: New Mods! sigilgoat & shukivengeance!!
3/1: Artists Beware Report Template


Monthly Positive Feedback

Artists Beware only has three officially recognized sites:
artists_beware ab_archive & Artists Beware on DW
Hi there! I've recently made the jump to selling small polymer clay items on Etsy, but so far I've had to shell out $5.75 per box for flat rate priority mail shipping (I picked it because it comes with insurance and tracking). Since my items are only $10, I feel like raising shipping to flat-rate price would deter customers.

My questions to folks who sell similar items are:

1. What service do you use, and what does it cost?

2. Are both insurance and tracking an option for it?

In the meantime I'll be researching this myself, but I wanted to get more experienced artists' opinions on this as well.

Thanks!

Edit: Thank you for the replies!

Community Tags:

Before commenting, please read our Community Rules.
Do not go after persons posted about here, by leaving comments on their art pages.
If you have been posted about, please read I've Been Posted on Artists_Beware, Now What?

Positive Reviews Post: December 2014!

Christmas!

If you've had a great commission experience, either as an artist or a customer, please comment here and spread the word. It doesn't have to be a full-on story, though you're welcome to type one! All we need are a few lines on why this person was so great to work with. You can also recommend companies, such as printers or fursuit-making teams, as long as it's relevant!

There are plenty of reasons to post someone here: perhaps they went above and beyond the call of duty to fix a problem, or were so prompt with communication and payment it was like having them right next to you, or were very professional and courteous every time you contacted them.

To help keep things organized, please follow this simple form:

1. Name of the person you recommend:
2. Link to person's website or art page:
3. Approximate time period of when you did business with this person:
4. Details
(Here's where you tell us why they are so awesome! What made the transaction go so well? Perhaps link to the art or suit you bought/sold if you feel like sharing. Please mark NSFW if the subject matter is adult!!):

If you have multiple people to recommend, please put them in separate comments to keep things organized.

Trades are just as welcome as paid transactions. But try not to post for friends (or yourself) who are looking to be commissioned. If customers are what they/you seek, teenycom, artsales or artcommissions is for them!

Community Tags:

Before commenting, please read our Community Rules.
Do not go after persons posted about here, by leaving comments on their art pages.
If you have been posted about, please read I've Been Posted on Artists_Beware, Now What?

Nov. 30th, 2014

WHO: Naomy.

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

WHAT: Three iron artist slots for the month of september

WHEN: August 20th up until the current date.

PROOF: Down below.

Read moreCollapse )

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Do not go after persons posted about here, by leaving comments on their art pages.
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I would very much like to constantly let everyone know what's going on with their commissions so when I post personal drawings and open for more commissions, it doesn't look like nothing is getting done. I have a rather large queue you see, but I am constantly work on it, but also give myself enough time for breaks and such. I essentially work myself like it were a job with 8 hour shifts. Monday-Thursday; giving myself Friday-Sunday off.
Granted, most of what people will have is word of mouth, but I also keep this updated at all times: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2070488/ So what you see there is very much up to date. However, I know not everyone reads. And I personally would like to NOT message everyone individually.
Do you think mass emailing people instead would help? Like every few weeks I can message people to let them know what's up? Do you think that would be better?

I am open for suggestions.

Community Tags:

Before commenting, please read our Community Rules.
Do not go after persons posted about here, by leaving comments on their art pages.
If you have been posted about, please read I've Been Posted on Artists_Beware, Now What?
WHO: Royal Tenrou

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/royal-dog and http://www.twitter.com/royaltenrou

WHAT: Fullsuit

WHEN: March 2011 to Now (November 2014)

PROOF: Please note - You have to read the early emails from the bottom up. Click for larger versions.

Read more...Collapse )

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Before commenting, please read our Community Rules.
Do not go after persons posted about here, by leaving comments on their art pages.
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Opinion: Refund or Not?

Hi all,

Sorry if these sorts of posts are frowned upon, but I wanted to check prior to posting up about the issue further.

So for the most part of this year (initial contact dating basically back to January, with a process in place a month or two afterwards - I'll dig up accurate dates if need be later) I'd paid for, and waited for a custom hoody to arrive. In total, it ended up costing me $340 CAD (more than expected, as when they posted it they noted the shipping was $120 total). Essentially it broke down into $110 for materials, $110 for labour, and $120 for shipping.

To give a timeline, here's a rough idea:

Read more...Collapse )

Community Tags:

Before commenting, please read our Community Rules.
Do not go after persons posted about here, by leaving comments on their art pages.
If you have been posted about, please read I've Been Posted on Artists_Beware, Now What?

Artist Beware: Nayel-ie

This post does contain NSFW Images and have been marked appropriately at the very bottom of this post. All links in the body are SFW as they are merely screencaps of conversation.


WHO: Nayel-ie

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/nayel-ie

WHAT: 40% Off digital "Full Shaded Bust"

WHEN: Agreement & Trouble: November 13 2014

PROOF:
First contact notes on FA: http://i.imgur.com/gwrNFn0.png
Proof of payment: http://i.imgur.com/wdRBA0L.png
other email screencaps in the body (the time differences between the emails and first contact times was we first communicated through notes on FA until she was done, she then ignored the next 2 i sent, i waited a few days and sent the emails)


EXPLAIN: I Wish i knew about this site prior to commissioning her.

I got a 40% discounted commission from Nayel-ie for a "full shaded Bust" normally $100 through a journal she had posted on FA, she got it done within the same day of agreement and receiving payment, but that's not what I'm disputing. The finished piece was no where near the quality of her other artwork nor did it look anything like my character, so i sent her an email about it. The response i got was that the references made her "look like that", she tried a different shading style (which i never approved or was even told about) and that the examples i linked back to her (i linked some of her art from her gallery, expecting i was meant to get something of that quality) i was told they were a "higher tier" commission, which is a blatant lie, there is no tier above what i paid for. At the bottom of this post i have linked the final product i received, the references i gave her and the ones from her gallery i used when I questioned the quality along with a current copy of her commission prices. She has also deleted the original journal in regards to the commission sale and never used any references to show what the quality was to be like so i believed the examples i pulled from her gallery were her "highest tier"

http://i.imgur.com/LyaXqT9.png (Email for above paragraph)

So of course not being happy with the answer, which to me it sounds like she's just trying to fob me off without even caring, which according to her TOS I'm very much thinking this is how she runs her "business" which by the way have to be the worst thing ever. I must mention i DID read her TOS but i didn't think it would be a problem because the art in her gallery showcases a standard well above what she i received.
Her TOS: http://nayelie.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/terms-of-agreement-2013/

I send her another email and the response is below it
http://i.imgur.com/HUcYXNe.png
(i have not sent anything after this email)

So once again, a short answer and not really helping, so at this point I'm most likely just going to give up and say i learned my lesson, regardless of how good someone portray's their art, never commission anyone with such terrible TOS that basically screws you over completely at every turn.


The Images

The Final piece: (SFW)
http://i.imgur.com/hRNyniI.png

The references of my character: (NSFW)
http://i.imgur.com/bIq2hIG.png
http://i.imgur.com/Tz7Ii0H.png
http://i.imgur.com/n8yypFY.png
(SFW)
http://i.imgur.com/d96bddn.png
(Some how these pictures make her look like a Cat x rabbit or some kind of Fennec?)

the Examples i used from her gallery (SFW)
http://i.imgur.com/Bz5QHYL.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/587qtYf.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0aDmWEV.jpg
(this is why i questioned the quality)

Her current Commission pricing sheet (Which is 30% off, but it's the black numbers that are the base prices i refer to)
http://i.imgur.com/YF3a0rw.png
(Again i paid for a "full shade bust" there is no "full detail" anywhere on that pricing sheet or hints at any thing more)


So as i said, not much i can do about it since she has essentially given her self the right to say "stuff you" to her customers through her ToS and rush out art. Was i within my rights to say what i did?


Kindest Regards.
~Sierra

Community Tags:

Before commenting, please read our Community Rules.
Do not go after persons posted about here, by leaving comments on their art pages.
If you have been posted about, please read I've Been Posted on Artists_Beware, Now What?

ToS question

Hi everyone! I've been wanting to get back into doing commissions and have started writing up a ToS and commission form for myself.

But one thing I'm paranoid about is the sudden influx of chargebacks some artists have been experiencing. I know that there's no sure fire way to protect yourself from this happening, or a way to make Paypal's decision work in your favour, but I did write something in my ToS regarding them:

Please make sure that you are using your own Paypal/Bank/credit card account and funds - if you are using your parents or guardian's Paypal/Bank/credit card account and funds please provide evidence that you have received permission to use it.

If I receive a chargeback from you due to your parents or guardians requesting it despite this you will be blacklisted permanently, a warning will be sent to Artists Beware, and I will request for any uploaded images to be removed by site admins. Images can be reuploaded once payment is received again, and any published warnings will be updated to advise that payment has been received, but blacklisting will not be revoked.

If not stated I will assume that you are using your own accounts for payment - if a chargeback is requested I will be informing Paypal that it was never mentioned that the funds were not your own and that you accepted responsibility to pay for your commission using these funds.


The questions I had in regards to this is:

1. Can I even have something like this in my ToS?
2. If yes, is it worded okay?
3. If no, do I have any other options that might help in the event of a chargeback? (I know people have mentioned sending CDs/USBs to customers, but I'm not sure if that can be an option for me at this stage)

In terms of proof I'm thinking like a screenshot of an email or a photo of a note. I'm not really seeing the need for this, but I know there may be the odd occasion where I may be commissioned by someone younger, or someone that may think they can just buy something without asking to use their guardian's Paypal first and falling into strife later for it.

In the commission form itself I also have a dropdown menu that asks "Are you using your own funds? Yes/No" that has to be filled out before submitting the form, but may revise it to "your own Paypal".

So yeah, any thoughts? I really want to do commissions again but I want to make sure I'm keeping myself covered so it's as headache free as possible.

Community Tags:

Before commenting, please read our Community Rules.
Do not go after persons posted about here, by leaving comments on their art pages.
If you have been posted about, please read I've Been Posted on Artists_Beware, Now What?

Artist Beware: Knuxlight

Who: Knuxlight

Where:
-Fur Affinity: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/knuxlight
-Twitter: http://twitter.com/tehknuxlight

What: Digital Art; Three Icons

Read more...Collapse )

Community Tags:

Before commenting, please read our Community Rules.
Do not go after persons posted about here, by leaving comments on their art pages.
If you have been posted about, please read I've Been Posted on Artists_Beware, Now What?

Accepting Money from "Friends Paypal" ?

I am in a bit of a standstill at the moment and need some advice.
Right now Customer X is trying to purchase an Adoptable/Hatchable of mine and requested I noted them my paypal and information.
I agreed, maybe they wanted to keep it for record. Well, in the note AFTER i give them the details they said the money is coming from their Friends paypal.
Shocked and a bit nervous I refused their payment and as professionally as I could told them I was not comfortable with them using a Friend's paypal.
They send me a note with a bit of a sob story about how it has their bank account and it is their account just a friend set it up for them with their friend's email.
Now I am at a bit of a sit-still. I feel bad for them cause they really wanted it and it is only a small amount of money.
But at the same time I am really really not comfortable with this person's lack of personal use paypal. What should I do?
They begged me to reconsider and I said I would put the adoptable on hold until I thought about it. Which is Why I came here. I am in serious need.

I hope this won't be in the line to long. I really do not want to keep them waiting to long as well as figure out what I should do.

Edit: WHOOPS BRB changing it ms paint messed it up
I blacked out their name but to give those an idea why I am so sketchy about this.

Edit Edit: http://i.imgur.com/spjgIUi.png
Here is the edited version! Sorry about that. x__x

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