Beware: StarFruitStudios/SugarFactory/Kahuna

May 29, 2014

https://artists-beware.livejournal.com/770057.html

WHO: FA - SugarFactory / StarFruitStudios / Kahuna. / gummifruit
DA - aloharilakkuma
Tumblr - sugargalaxy
Twitter - kahunaotter

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/sugarfactory
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/starfruitstudios/

WHAT: Premade Design Partial Suit - Wish the Husky for $180

WHEN: July 13, 2013 to Present Day

PROOF: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mhxc1wlsuia9im5/AADLQqaaARtci-vgZPS61yg0a


EXPLAIN:

In July, I contacted StarFruitStudios about a pre-designed 'to be made' partial fursuit called Wish the Husky (Seen here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11072710/).

Wish was to be started when she returned from Vegas (July 26th) and estimated to be completed within 1-2 weeks. There was one other suit in her queue that was to be completed by July 18th. I set a tentative deadline in August for a con I was hoping to wear him to.

(https://www.dropbox.com/s/vw1r2ylhvla4k0e/initial_contact.jpg)

I sent a $50 downpayment, and the remaining $130 the following Thursday (July 18th).
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/r7i1cqcm5xnrp1v/payments.jpg)

Measurements were sent the same day. Contact waned after this, but I saw she was working on several art commissions and the other fursuit commission in queue, so I wasn't too concerned. I checked in a couple times, and received updates regarding the status of fur and other supply ordering. I didn't receive any updates after October 5, 2013.

In November, SugarFactory posted she lost her job. In December, she posted she was sick and would soon issue refunds. I attempted to contact her in December and January, but received no responses.

(https://www.dropbox.com/s/9zcq79oo8grhufa/WIP_contact.jpg)

In January, I noticed her friends leaving shouts on her page that sounded like she was still working on artwork. One of them I noticed was a collab, so I noted this other artist in hopes they would know more about sugarfactory's whereabouts. They said she was sick, and that she wasn't directly working with them. They suggested to be patient and continue attempts to note her.

(https://www.dropbox.com/s/swahspy6s02s9q9/collab_contact.jpg)

In late February, after an AB post was made (http://artists-beware.livejournal.com/742656.html), sugarfactory posted a journal apologizing and asking everyone to send in notes regarding refunds. She also stated that she would no longer take commissions. That journal has since been deleted. (It is worth noting that on April 10, 2014, sugarfactory started using the 'gummifruit' account to take plush and bandana commissions.)

I sent her multiple notes after this (about 1-2 a month), which either received no response, or a promise that it would be refunded soon (within a few days). At the end of April, she posted that her bank account was compromised for fraud, and refunds would be delayed again. (http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5716269/)

I sent another note and posted a shout on kahuna. on May 21st, and received a response saying I would be refunded in 24 hours. Over Memorial Day weekend (May 23-25), sugarfactory attended Comicpalooza in Houston. The journal posted shows others still awaiting refunds as well: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5738187/

As of May 27, 2014, I still have not received a refund.
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/k5g0tdxj10882zv/refund.jpg)

All shouts and/or public mentions of refunds owed have been quickly deleted.


EDIT: I was contacted by sugarfactory on 6/1/2014 and notified that she will be mailing out a money order for the amount owed on Monday, 6/2/2014. I will update this entry again once I have received it!

EDIT2: Money Order was received on 6/5/14 for the full amount owed. Case can now be considered resolved.