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  • Caution: MawByte


    MaverickTarot
    • Who: MawByte, Mango Bones Studios
      Where: https://twitter.com/Mawbyte
      When: 12/07/2021
      What: Commission

      Resolved

    I contacted Mawbyte on Twitter after seeing an ad on their Twitter for page dolls. The page dolls were $30. I messaged them with my reference sheet asking if I could get one and they sent me a message saying they would take me but needed to add a $20 complexity fee. I found this a bit strange since my character is pretty simple but agreed anyways. 

    Here is a picture of the reference sheet: 

    1997674740_maverickreferencesfw.thumb.jpg.ac69cefca9285a5d171e1f15ab22525d.jpg

    (Image is much larger but keeps getting shrunk on here) 

    The initial conversation for the transaction: 

    IMG_1736.thumb.PNG.7003c3e60947a4804f09592380448881.PNGIMG_1737.thumb.jpg.7b8960760ef3bedf960520c26e9673ee.jpg

     

    An invoice was sent for $50. I added a $10 tip for the artist and was given the link to the Trello where I could track my commission. I was told I could contact them if I wanted any changes to be made or if I wanted anything added or removed. 

    Invoice: 

    IMG_1750.thumb.jpg.ac628edfa5bffa87b5983348c9d7cc36.jpg

    Conversation about the invoice, what to do if I wanted edits and the trello information given: 

    IMG_1738.thumb.PNG.f3ae962b59cbe6011bdbc7f6bb6f6ac8.PNG

    Me asking for clarification on what the complexity fee was for: 

    IMG_1739.thumb.PNG.fcb275f66a76dce1c3b02ce4dedf77eb.PNG

    I heard nothing from them again until 12/14/2021. Upon opening my commission I realized that even though it is a very clear reference sheet my character was missing half of their markings. Additionally the quality of the lines did not match anything of their other work and the work appeared extremely rushed. I contacted them back and asked if the markings could be added. Being charged a complexity fee those markings should have been added. 

    Quality of chibis advertised: 

    IMG_1622.thumb.jpg.74bc7a34b67770590ec2cfde3cb8c07f.jpgIMG_1628.thumb.jpg.d10f512022a280c505cd0152d80065aa.jpgIMG_1752.thumb.jpg.6c8bde57270331872c3f40087cd3bb6c.jpgIMG_1753.thumb.jpg.e0fbd435febd41711ea8436f8709c83e.jpg

    Message sent with my file: 

    IMG_1740.thumb.PNG.789b315f6a8a310d656179dae4198ec8.PNG

    The file: 

    IMG_1756.thumb.JPG.e00c83654343050f5bd08174054c3c00.JPG

    I did not hear back from them. I contacted them again on the 15th and still heard nothing. Then I contacted them again on the 17th and finally heard back late in the evening. I was told they had deleted the file and that there was nothing they could do about it. I asked them about getting a refund for the complexity fee since my character’s markings were not actually completed. I was told they don’t do refunds and that they simplify the markings for the smaller page dolls anyways so they were sorry but they didn’t know what to do. 

    Proof of asking for changes: 

    IMG_1741.thumb.PNG.8ba817209901b4a08a22b3c02b8f306e.PNGIMG_1742.thumb.PNG.b58f308924a65f1d85a170cc7082121d.PNG

    There were several chibis done that were a lot more complicated than my character. I had never been told about potentially simplifying the character and that does not mean leaving entire markings out. I mentioned writing a beware and then was told I didn’t communicate well enough about what was important for my character. The reference sheet I sent is very thorough and answered any potential questions the artist might have had. They also could have messaged me at any point to ask me the questions but they did not. 

    Excuses given for why it couldn't be changed: 

    IMG_1743.thumb.PNG.a2167e9ff5599a702b8eac3bdf45d362.PNGIMG_1744.thumb.PNG.47d556e379f63228f60df96ff5438c46.PNGIMG_1745.thumb.PNG.c6acd5cf70ee06da4698ad594a50a819.PNGIMG_1746.thumb.PNG.3de40d751111e3156bddc7d76eae0121.PNG

    They finally painted the markings onto the image and said they were blacklisting me. I was asking simply for what I paid for. 

    The rest of the interaction: 

    IMG_1747.thumb.PNG.c41fe9aa0c57aefb6c825a12377d625b.PNGIMG_1748.thumb.PNG.c62e50a8d846bb28810c7d768ec04af9.PNGIMG_1749.thumb.PNG.7b7a9761e58922883b6b287334e77980.PNG

    The final changes I received: 

    IMG_1757.thumb.JPG.551e39c3e9030e6e6b53f17a46f29119.JPG

    There are still several details incorrect on the character. The line quality is horrific especially in the feet and tail. The line making up the claw on the foot is not even closed. The line for the right ear can be seen through the horn. There are several areas such as the arms that are not colored all the way. The elbow being laughed into has a bit of fur colored in as the scales on his arms. I was charged an extra fee for complexity and then when I asked to have things corrected got blamed for the mistakes and then blacklisted.

    I want to make people aware of the bad conduct, communication and final product of this artist.

     

    Edited by James
    removed duplicate cap




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    • Administrator

    Since when is someone having poor file management the client's problem?  Yes, they should overpaint it.  And fix the lineart while they're at it, because it's not near the same quality as the examples.  Your markings weren't even done neatly on the tail when the complex markings on the leopard look lovely.

    I'm just baffled by this.  "Pick what parts are important"  The ref sheet has it right there.  I'm literally half blind and visually impaired and see what's wrong.

    Every once in a while we get a submission that just leaves me completely thrown for a loop, and this is one of them.

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    I personally am speechless at this. The image you received looks like a definite rush job. The linework is incredibly messy; the lines look moreso like a cleaned up sketch as opposed to actual linework as is present in their examples. The coloring too, is haphazardly done, very obvious on the tail. The attitude of the artist is appaling as well, especially the blatant guilt tripping over apparently prioritizing you over other clients. I'm sorry you had to experience that.

    If the artist will ever see this, I'd like to offer genuine advice:

    If you decide to charge an additional complexity fee (especially then), be sure to double or triple check the design while drawing; this way you most likely won't miss any markings.
    Actually send out WIPs and make sure the client can review what they're getting, if this client had the chance to see a WIP, they would've definitely pointed out flaws just in time.
    Don't delete files before the client has approved anything. Not to mention how incredibly unprofessional this was, it also makes things ten times harder for the client and especially you.
    Among other things, general improving on professionalism will help a lot. As stated above, the guilt tripping as well as prioritizing clients over others leaves a very sour taste behind. Not to mention that you kept an additional fee without actually doing the work intended for said fee and then blaming that carelessness onto the client; I found that incredibly scummy, personally.

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    oh nuts I have bought from people like that, some of them with substantial followings.  I absolutely believe the file deletion, if it occurred, was a control tactic; you are supposed to get that news and think "oh gee them's the breaks!"  and if any fixes occur they are shoddy and leave the piece worse than before.

    I hate to suggest this but I strongly advise tipping someone you haven't bought from before until after they do the work, and also not to pay any surprise charges without a full and satisfactory explanation.

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    This person really contradicted themselves with their own payment fee, which is just baffling to begin with.

    - "If I was to do this character I would charge an extra $20"

    - "The complexity fee covers things for the tiny details on the character, such as the markings, the spike on the tail, the tail details, and the feet!"

    -"Page dolls are simplified in the markings because of how small they are."

    If the page dolls are simplified for the markings, then why did he have you pay extra for them?? That doesn't make any sense, this piece doesn't live up to the quality that was represented in his page doll examples. I can clearly see open ended lines and lines that should have been erased/trimmed. Not only that, but even after the 'fixes', there were more fixes to be made! I wouldn't consider this to be a finished product at all and to be honest with you, if I were you I would file a charge back as the product isn't as described. Even after the fixes.

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    12 hours ago, bimshwel said:

    oh nuts I have bought from people like that, some of them with substantial followings.  I absolutely believe the file deletion, if it occurred, was a control tactic; you are supposed to get that news and think "oh gee them's the breaks!"  and if any fixes occur they are shoddy and leave the piece worse than before.

    I hate to suggest this but I strongly advise tipping someone you haven't bought from before until after they do the work, and also not to pay any surprise charges without a full and satisfactory explanation.

    Yeah my intuition was telling me something was up and I stupidly ignored it. I’m an artist myself and so I like to tip other artists but learned the hard way this time that not everyone has your best interests in mind. 

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    17 hours ago, James said:

    Since when is someone having poor file management the client's problem?  Yes, they should overpaint it.  And fix the lineart while they're at it, because it's not near the same quality as the examples.  Your markings weren't even done neatly on the tail when the complex markings on the leopard look lovely.

    I'm just baffled by this.  "Pick what parts are important"  The ref sheet has it right there.  I'm literally half blind and visually impaired and see what's wrong.

    Every once in a while we get a submission that just leaves me completely thrown for a loop, and this is one of them.

    I was trying so hard to stay professional toward them. I had to walk away from my computer and take a few deep breaths when I was told to pick what was important. It was so ridiculous. 

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    Eeeesshh. I used to follow Maw and have for a hot minute now, this stinks to see. :’/ It’s really upsetting how no matter how many/who explains it to Maw, they still believe they aren’t in the wrong. Maw has also been blocking anyone who doesn’t agree with them 100% apparently. When Maw said they’ve been dealing with a lot of charge backs lately I thought it was a string of bad luck but now I can only assume it’s more cases of this kinda thing. 
     

    I checked earlier and I guess I liked the beware on Twitter so I was blocked. Ouchies. 

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    9 hours ago, Badoinke said:

    Eeeesshh. I used to follow Maw and have for a hot minute now, this stinks to see. :’/ It’s really upsetting how no matter how many/who explains it to Maw, they still believe they aren’t in the wrong. Maw has also been blocking anyone who doesn’t agree with them 100% apparently. When Maw said they’ve been dealing with a lot of charge backs lately I thought it was a string of bad luck but now I can only assume it’s more cases of this kinda thing. 
     

    I checked earlier and I guess I liked the beware on Twitter so I was blocked. Ouchies. 

    Considering this was resolved most likely the artist had to do a chargeback to get their money back. plus the quote retweets from the beware on twitter and the update for the reason for complete proof here. This caution is really warranted.

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    So sad to see this. I had been following maw for a couple months and i loved their art, thought they were a nice person as well.

    this commission looks so rushed and it was dealt with so poorly on their end.

    the fact that people are being blocked for siding with the customer baffles me. I too had been blocked too. Not enough people on twitter are talking about this.

    it’s like some big accounts just get away with anything. I hope the person got their refund or a fix on the commission.

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    11 hours ago, DarlingDeary said:

    So sad to see this. I had been following maw for a couple months and i loved their art, thought they were a nice person as well.

    this commission looks so rushed and it was dealt with so poorly on their end.

    the fact that people are being blocked for siding with the customer baffles me. I too had been blocked too. Not enough people on twitter are talking about this.

    it’s like some big accounts just get away with anything. I hope the person got their refund or a fix on the commission.

    From the resolved tag on this caution most likely mavericktarot did a charge back after taking soundbbabe advice. 

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    some of the characters in their own examples are clearly more complex with smaller more detailed markings than yours. absolutely ridiculous that they charge you almost twice the price and don't even take the time to clean their lines or look at your reference.

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