Artist Beware: Chesta

Hello, I do not see how me posting updates is unprofessional at all. I am trying to keep everyone up to date as to what is going on.~ 

And now she has sent me a second Note on my FA account apologizing for the first one.

I said nothing wrong in the 1st note. Was simply saying that I was going to do better in the future~

I have tried before to say I am behind and people want to know why because I was just told that I was making excuses so I started giving reasons to why I was behind. No wrong doing intended by briefly explaining what was going on, didn't see harm in it.

I am here to resolve this issue at hand, I am not here to cause drama, I will be posting WIPS here to show the commissioner it's been started. So I have my proof is all. 

The issue is that you're contacting someone who has nothing to do with this business transaction simply because they've been commenting on the beware.

Again, it's unprofessional behavior.

Yes you absolutely correct it is not professional of me to contact you or anybody else regarding this beware and is to why I apologized for writing you. I wasn't upset for you or anybody else commenting on the journal. I was simply explaining myself, it won't happen anymore. We are all human at the end of the day and we all make mistakes~

New update to this beware, I have spoken to the client and have agreed upon completing 1 slot and refunding the remaining 2.

Glad we could come to a agreement on the matter! I look forward to solving the issue at hand. Thank you for your swift responses and understanding. 

Again I sincerely apologize for the terrible 1st experience with dealing with me. I hope in the future when I get back on track that I can better serve you. 

This is going to be a blunt post.  It's not a personal attack, okay?

I hope you can resolve this beware and I'd like to see you succeed with your art.

As others have said, it is unprofessional to give personal details.  

1: It can come across as guilty trippy and make clients feel extremely uncomfortable. 

2: It can discourage potential customers from giving you their business. If you need clients, you don't want to risk scaring them away. 

3: In some of your journals you mention other people.  I don't think it's really fair to them to share confidential details about them.  I would be afraid that if I hired you and the transaction went bad, my personal details might not be respected.

In the future, I would suggest trying to write responses differently when there are delays.

Example of a good response:

"Hey.  I'm dealing with a personal family situation right now.  I won't be able to work on commissions for the next two weeks.  I'll keep everyone updated. Note me if you are concerned."

Example of a bad response:

"I'm sorry.  I can't work on commissions right now.  My life is falling apart. I don't have enough money for rent or groceries and my daughter crashed the car so now I can't go anywhere. I am crying uncontrollably. Please don't note me.  I can't take any angry notes.  I'm this close to breaking.  Don't push me over the edge."

I also think you should update your terms of service.

Keep your queue short, like you mentioned you are going to try to do in the future.

And if you don't have a lot of time for art, bases, YCHS and quick sketches might be a good idea.

17 hours ago, Kei said:

The issue is that you're contacting someone who has nothing to do with this business transaction simply because they've been commenting on the beware.

Again, it's unprofessional behavior.

I respect artist trying to get better and fix their mistakes, but honestly? This is probably the biggest thing that needs to be fixed. Right here. This is very unprofessional, as well as the constant stream of journals always including the "I am a single parent with no time" excuses. 

I'm sure transparency is appreciated by your clients, Chesta, but I'm fairly certain they have all heard this song and dance hundreds of times now. When providing updates, all that should be given is an update on the client's particular commission. No one needs to know what's going on in your personal life. If something gets in the way, "I got tied up, I'm sorry. I'll get your work done [insert timeframes here]" should be all that's necessary. (And actually stick to that timeframe on top)

Yes you are correct at the time I didn’t see any harm in posting updates the way I did. Thanks for everyone’s input I’ll take all of it into consideration of how I will post future journals from now on. I did not mean to come off as throwing a guilt trip or seem to do any such of thing. That is not what I am about, I’m a very open person in rl and I tend to always share a little tmi. I will work on that and better myself for future commissions and how I communicate. I don’t see it as an attack it’s an honest opinion. Thank you for sharing ?

And yes that’s is also a great idea as I’ve already laid out plans for how I’ll handle newer commissions in the future. I will only be accepting 1 at a time, nothing else will be accepted until the 1st one is complete. And I’ll be doing a lot more YCHS and bases/adopts until I feel mentally better working again on a regular basis. So I can start a good new routine starting off slow. 

Proof of refund being sent removed all personal information such as emails and names. 

UPDATE!!

The refund has been processed and got transferred to my bank. Just need my one slot and this Beware will be officially resolved.

I was going to fill up a form too, but seeing how many complains there is already. It comes as no surprise now that it's been an entire year since with poor communication and false promises. Of an owed piece that never seen the light while their trello is basically a mess with the same forgotten commissions she got away with the money.

Going for a second year without my promised refund now.

Overdue update: Sadly, nothing has come to pass yet. Promises of refunds appeared in a journal 2 months ago, and I wanted one. I can't wait anymore, I've done enough waiting. While my name is still not on the brand new Trello she made (I noted her all of the info she needed, but nothing came from it, still on "unread"), I grew rather embittered when she started doing refunds for much bigger projects AND more or less begging for money because of a very expensive event that happened earlier in the month. Nothing but begs and cries about how she can't afford X, despite the fact she had half a year to plan.

The fact she decided to have this event within the same year as the news of said event is mind-boggling to me. One can wait for such a huge event, especially when one has horrid money troubles and a lot of upset customers. Or go to the cheap option by going to a certain building and signing a sheet of paper and BOOM! Done! Do the fancy, money-draining things later when you actually have it.

She seems to be making a lot of her money on adopts, which is fine, but when they got for 3-digit numbers and STILL doesn't have enough money to refund some of the smaller commissions (ie mine, under 3 digits), I can't help but feel irritated and I will continue to pull teeth until there's nothing left but gums. She is back from the post-event, so she is still sending out bases to the people that donated money to her, but just the mere fact that people donated without a second thought infuriates me.

Since she's back, I will have to hammer her hard. This is out of hand and I just want this resolved. She is trying...but frankly, it's not enough. If one actual commission a month-ish with 3 adopts to surround it while streaming every 4 months is trying...well, try harder.

TL;DR Chesta has left all my notes on "unread", went away to a very expensive event, is now back, time to knuckle down.

Update: This sudden activity seems to happen every time I make an update, so I think it's best to keep this thread going with what little news I've got.

My most recent (two days ago) note finally got her attention enough to reply (and ignore all of the unread notes I still have, but that requires work, so...). She basically asked for the commission info...again. After about 3-4 times asking for it. Not once did she mention me getting refunded like I wanted and asked for "NSFW" details on my commission. STILL not on the Trello. That's a crap-shoot by now, I should never expect to be on it...

Proof of note(s): https://sta.sh/01ncdswr9eys
https://sta.sh/0uj5f09q2x3
https://sta.sh/0zk13rjptzu

I will keep my word and note her every week until its done or I'm refunded. I have had enough.

Very quick update: I'm finally on the Trello! But not under refunds. It's under Pinups/Full Body Commissions. Huh, especially after I asked to be refunded (but again, she didn't open my notes, so...but even then I mentioned in the info that I can be refunded), but again, weekly notes and updates. I hope I'm in the home stretch here.