This is my first time writing a PSA, and I really didn't want to have to do this, but the lack of communication or regard for commissioners leads me to believe it's necessary -- if only to warn others in the interest of protecting their assets.
I commissioned this artist on January 12th of this year, for two flat-colored pieces with a simple bg totaling $140 (transaction proof below).
After the initial back and forth regarding references and payment, during which they were very fast to respond to me, I was content to wait and left them to their queue. On March 16th, I politely asked for an update given that I hadn't heard from them.
There was no response, and I made another attempt on the 30th just in case they'd missed it. Finally, on April 20th, I decided the lack of reply was too uncomfortable to wait any longer, especially when they were still active on the twitter, stream, and tumblr accounts linked in their website. I filed a claim through PayPal a week after informing them of why I was doing it over both email and DeviantArt notes, since I don't have a twitter.
I finally got what seemed like an apologetic and acceptable response on the 22nd, seen here asking me to close the claims in exchange for wip images. To my relief, they were able to provide them.
My reply here. At this point, I was ready to close after seeing the very sketchy WIP images (NSFW, so they won't be posted here.) Please learn from my foolish mistake: if you ever feel the need to file a claim with paypal over a piece of artwork and consistently can't get a response, only close it once the work is finished. In retrospect, I was a pushover and I was way too ready to close the claim to avoid conflict.
The last communication I received from them was on April 22nd sending me a second WIP. I sent a request for a few small changes in response.
On June 8th, I sent another polite poke, followed by a more serious request on June 20th. I've gotten no response since.
It's now been over seven months with only minimal and dodgy communication on their end, and none of the promised art.
This is not a personal attack on @felixavenier , only an unfortunately necessary warning since they're a popular artist with a lot of commissioners. Please note that their ToS mentions frequent updates . Sadly, the impression I've been left with is that the only updates that will be given are if you threaten action via PayPal.
Beware
Written on September 11, 2019
Who: Ohmega Suit Studios/Ohm Protho/Ohmnog
When: November 9 2017 - 2019
(Still ongoing)
Where: ordered via Facebook messenger, other discussions via Twitter, Telegram, and via email
What: A pair of all blue, no claws or pawpads: handpaws, feetpaws, and artwork- headshot
Total amount: $231
-- most paid through friends and family
Things to note:
Ohm and I were friends at the time of the commission start, somewhere between it all we just fell through.
Ohm will be referred to by they/them/theirs out of respect for their choice of pronouns.
I understand the situation in which Ohm had injured their hand in 2017 and when they had to move out of their apartment in 2019 AZ due to AC and space issues.
I understand there was a period of time where Ohm's messaging on almost all social media outlets was really glitched out and communication would be faltered. Hence why I decided to reach out to multiple at a time.
I do not wish ill will towards them or their future, I really do wish and hope for Ohm to be successful in their endevours.
Why: Failure to show updates of any kind, failure to keep client (myself) up to date, failure to provide a queue, communication issues, poor business practices.
I would like to start off by saying, do not actively seek and harrass Ohm. This is an ordeal that is between the two of us, however, I am making this to make others aware of my situation and to warn others before possibly conducting business and/or trades. It has come to a point where I have to make this public in order to get some sort of confirmation, update and something set in stone from them.
Back in 2017 I had just started really getting into the furry fandom. I had met Ohm online via Facebook and we started off being pretty good friends. I was so amazed to see their work and how much potential they had. I supported them in all of their work, progress images in art and suit making. I really looked up to Ohm and was so excited to have a new friend.
Looking back at the screenshots, it seems as though I commissioned them for some artwork before we got to meet for the first time in person, also at my very first furcon. We talked about how our lives were and what we had planned for the future and I gifted them a very small badge. (I know the badge is irrelevant, but somewhere deep down I hope they still have it.)
After meeting up with them at AZFC 2017 (just a few days prior Ohm had an accident where their hand got cut by their glass window.) I had saved up enough to be able to commission them for a set of feetpaws; specifically sockpaws. I had made my payments pretty quickly, all under friends and family because I knew I could trust them. I knew that they were my friend. (This was before I knew to always send payment for commissions in business PayPal.)
I understood that I was going to be put at the bottom of the queue as there were others ahead of me. I wanted Ohm to feel comfortable knowing that I was going to be a reliable and understanding customer. If I remember correctly, a few people prior had either canceled commissions or asked for refunds from Ohm. I didn't want to cause anymore trouble or hassle than was needed.
I do recall Ohm having trouble making ends meet for the apartment rent and even groceries a lot of times. I thought it might be helpful to add on to my order, handpaws, and to even buy artwork from them too, which were both added on at a later date.
Throughout the whole process I did not have any knowledge of where I was on the queue, when my materials arrived, or when the sockpaws would even be started. The one time I did reach out to ask about it I was told that parts are not on the public queue because they would be done in-between bigger suit work. Ex: heads, bodysuits, etc.
I was very patient and still hopeful, yet a bit weary at the lack of communication. Then there came a point where whenever I talked about my commissions I was ghosted. I would see Ohm's profile say "Online" and message them at those times, but never got responses. Then there came a point where what I wrote was not seen. I gave it some time, since I knew the IMs for Ohm was kinda glitchy, but then hours became days, days became weeks, and then months.
Every chance I got to reach out to them it's always an, I'll get to you later. We can do it by x date. I'll be sure to get back to you. Deadlines came and went. Now here we are 3 years later
I see commission after commission being completed. Heads, bodysuits, handpaws and feetpaws, many artworks, yet I have no idea where I am on the queue. I have absolutely no idea if my items have even been started since 2017. Now, I see Ohm opening up again for more commissions once more.
I just want an honest answer, what happened to my order, to my items?
I know now I won't be able to get my money back. As much as I don't want to admit it, I don't think I'll ever get my hands, feet, and art from them at all either. I know now that we're not friends anymore too. And it sucks that it had to end this way.
I really wish the best for them, OhmegaSuitStudios can go far, but please Ohm, my once close friend, don't do this to anyone else. Don't let others wait for months, years even for a response on where they are on your queue. Leaving them wondering if you ever started on them. Making them feel like a burden to talk to you because the items have become the only thing to talk about.
So that's why I wrote this beware.
Be aware of what OhmegaSuitStudios, Ohmnog, Ohm Protho has done.
I hope this never happens to anyone else. I hope I'm not too late either…
Evidence:
Note: I included all of their WIPS/Updates channel to date for proof of no knowledge of my own order being worked on
Anything new will be added in the "new information" folder
**All personal email, names, and addresses are drawn over for our privacy and protection.
As of Sep 12, 2019 at 11:55 EST, I have been refunded in full. This beware will still stay up however as reference.
All new evidence is in the "new information" folder.
I can't believe it took almost 3 years for me to get refunded...
The incident happened shortly after I joined furaffinity. I was very naive and decided to unconditionally trust my first ever commissioner...
All the attached files must be read from the bottom. Pay attention to dates. Also sorry I'm not good at expressing my thoughts in english (｡･･｡)
Proof that the 1st commission was done:
Proof that the 2nd commission was done:
Discussing the 3rd commission:
proof that the 3rd commission was done
Before drawing it I asked about payment for the first 2 arts but Dumas wasn't very willing to pay
And this is me trying to get my money but constantly being ignored...
In the next image all the white is too personal where Dumas is yet again writes excuses why he can't pay
This is the last ever note he sent me claiming that I harass!!! him for demanding payment and threatening to contact paypal.
If you're just planning to start taking commissions please don't make my mistake of working without being paid first
What/beware type: disappearing abandoning with debts still owed, theft, leaving when they owe $670 usd
Details:
March 2018 I commissioned a sketch book commission from valleyhearts, February 2019 came and I asked about it and we agreed on a refund, it’s September and he has deactivated all his social accounts (furaffinity and toy house are still open but I m going to say they’re inactive) I messaged him on TH but haven’t gotten a reply
Emailed but haven’t gotten a reply
Done business before and hold out his part on art, but his abandoned online for now, with debts owing
Can’t do anything with paypal cause it’s over 180 days (tried)
Since I’m not able to do anything else (I’ve been recommend to do a small court claim but I don’t know how) so beware is really only thing I think I can do
Proof
(deviant art with proof of purchase and me sending $670)
Instagram (the agreed refund) I don’t know why he said $600 when it was $670?
his deactivated accounts
PayPal (payment sent)
BUYERS BEWARE!!! I can finally make this post as the bank closed the cases in my favor... AVOID THE MAKER SPLOOTSUITS! I commissioned them for a head and bodysuit at MFF last year, in the amount of $1340. They only communicated once every few months, and would never provide any WIPs or actual updates to progress! Finally, they tried saying they would deliver the head in person through an unnamed 'friend' at AC, on July 8th, nearly 8 MONTHS later! Still, they would not send any updates, and when the suit never arrived, they made excuses to get out of any blame. Finally, after trying to resolve with them (to no response), I had to go through my bank, a nearly 2 month process of not knowing whether my hard earned money would come back. SO PLEASE do not commission or buy from @ Splootsuits. They will more than likely do the same to you. I hate having to make a post like this, but I feel like it is necessary.
Above is the post I made onto my Twitter account, sharing this information before I learned of this website. I have attached a couple screenshots for this case. The two telegram screenshots are of the last few messages I sent to the seller. In addition is part of their excuse, their last message to me before their final loss of contact. In total, out of 8 months of waiting, I was only in contact for a total of 4 to 6 days interspersed within that timeframe.
Finally, the last image is from my bank, showing the completed credits back to my account after all of these issues. These credits were officially added back today (Sept. 8th), as they were provisional during the time of the investigation.
I opened this YCH for 2 slots scene [NSFW] http://www.furaffinity.net/view/31649056/
This person noted me they wanted to claim both slots with the other person.
The buyer replied giving me link to character's ref and email for PayPal invoice
I have received the payment and started working on the order.
On July 21st YCH had been already done and sent to both customers and was uploaded to my gallery. Also it shows that person had been read the note with the finished artwork. I didn't got any reply from this buyer, but since I had some similar not talkative customers, I assumed that everything is ok.
But just recently, on April 30th, I discovered an open dispute in PayPal from Fijipupper with the only description "they scammed me, sadly".
So I tried to contact Fijipupper using a messages in the dispute window and here through notes on the FA, but was ignored. After turning to PayPal, the case, unfortunately, was not closed in my favor.
(Sorry for the bad quality, the schreenshot was made via phone)
All of this has really stressed me out now.
I used to get a case in PP before, but after talking with the customer everything was peacefully decided and closed. But seems not this time.
In any case, I want to warn other artists to be really careful receiving orders from this person.
On December 31, 2018, I commissioned Bree Drake for a full body badge while we were both vending at NYFB. I have screenshot proof of this transaction, despite the fact that it was a verbal, at-con, cash transaction, because I sent them a digital copy of my ref sheet via telegram:, at which time they asked me to confirm the type of commission I had purchased from them.
On January 10th, I was contacted via telegram with an update as to the status of my badge, at which time Bree informed me they would be starting work on my badge soon after having some personal issues.
Two months later, on March 18th, 2019, I attempted contact on Telegram for an update. My message was read, but not responded to, meaning that Bree elected to actively ignore my message there. She has not been active on telegram since July.
Shortly thereafter, on March 21st, I sent her Facebook Page for her studio a message, asking the same question. At this point I was concerned because I was not listed anywhere on her Trello and had not even received the promised WIP. As you can see, some point after this exchange Bree deleted her business page, leaving me unable to contact her here either.
As of September 6, 2019, I have not received a badge, a WIP, any further contact (nor can I contact her, as all her accounts seem to have gone dark as of March 2019), or any attempt at a refund.
In January I had commissioned neoarcadianx for a reference sheet of my character, they had actually designed him originally and had just completed the design a few days before.
currently this is a screenshot of the invoice, I received a refund in April after filing a dispute, then chargeback.
over the weeks I poked them on discord multiple times, asking about the art, and keeping up with their Trello.
i asked for a few changes over the weeks, some not being added to the Trello at all
After getting only one sketch and no updates, and not really getting any information from the artist when asked, I decided to create a dispute through PayPal. It was not a chargeback, and the purpose of it was to simply try to talk it out as adults.
At this time this was not yet a chargeback, but a dispute.
After this was opened I received this as a response.
In every conversation I had had with them, I was never told they had commissions from months before that they had not started, and they never updated me on their rl life or situation.
They also were continually advertising that they were open on public discords, and taking commissions while others had theirs put aside and ignored. Including my own.
After the explosive response I escalated the dispute for a chargeback, and received a refund from PayPal.
A few months ago I had commissioned snuffles to draw my Vaporeon.
I did not give any specific action to draw, as I just wanted to see what she could do.
The tweet in the discussion of the commission also doesn't appear to exist anymore, as the tweet cannot be found.
After a couple of days she began working on the commission and I received the finished piece.
A few days ago I received a message concerning the commission, asking if it had been mine and if I had known what had happened to it. They showed me the art that had bee traced, and my own that I had commissioned, and it was exactly the same with minor changes.
https://e621.net/post/show/1790823 This is the art that had been traced.
https://e621.net/post/show/1978875/butt-digital_media_-artwork-eeveelution-female-hi_
This is her post of my commission
After these were confirmed traces it is believed a few other commissions she had done and pieces of artwork were also traces, but I can no longer find the said links and artwork for some of them, as I believe they either were never uploaded to her gallery or deleted after being discovered as traced.
The artist did a collab of my pic on their canvas (my pic: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/27767027/ (NSFW)) and traced parts of it to make it look different https://i.imgur.com/sriQT4B.png (NSFW). Giving this as a result https://www.furaffinity.net/view/32385408/ (NSFW)
