Search the Community

Summary: In December of 2017, I paid the artist $110 to create a single character, colored animation loop. A rough work-in-progress was shown in January of 2019, but the artist has ignored contact since then and still has not delivered a finished product. Timeline: 12/01/2017: Xhybora contacted me via note on Furaffinity, asking if I would be interested in commissioning an animation from them. [1] 12/03/2017: We moved our conversation to Discord, where we discussed the particulars of what would be made and how much it would cost. The final agreement was that it would be a single character, colored, looping animation for the price of $110. [2] [3] [4] Later that day they sent me a PayPal invoice, which I paid, and was confirmed to have been so by them. (I have the transaction info if needed, I just didn’t include a screenshot because it was under the artist’s real life full name) [5] 04/16/2018: The artist messaged me through Discord that they would be providing a progress update soon. [6] 06/21/2018: Concerned that it had been 6 months without any proper update, I contacted the artist asking for a progress update. The artist responded assuring me I would get an update the next day. [7] 06/23/2018: Two days later, I messaged them asking about the update they had promised. I received no response. [8] 07/27/2018: A month later, I asked more forcefully, this time specifically asking for a WIP. [9] 08/02/2018: The artist said they would be going on a trip, but would provide a WIP as soon as they get back, claiming to have already started animating the commission. [9] 09/03/2018: After another month of radio silence, I asked again about the WIP they had promised. [9] 01/07/2019: After seeing a Twitter thread of several other people claiming to have commissioned Xhybora and never gotten a finished product, I delivered an ultimatum to the artist on Discord: Either provide me with a WIP or refund what I had paid. The artist responded that same day asking to talk. [10] They sent two rough WIPs [11], and I apologized for doubting them. The artist then admitted that the Twitter thread was true and that there were others who had been left hanging like I had, but the artist assured me that they were working to make things right with all of us. [12] 03/27/2019: The artist contacted me via Discord saying that the animation would be finished in 2 weeks, but inquired if I would like more added to it. I told them I didn’t have the money to do so and they said ok. [13] [14] This would be the last I ever heard from the artist. I have tried messaging them on discord but have gotten no replies. I noted them on FurAffinity but have gotten no reply. I left shouts on their FurAffinity page, that have been removed by the artist, after which they blocked me on the site. [15]

midderoo (midderoo) wrote in artists_beware, @ 2018-12-23 22:03 Xhybora WHO: Xhybora WHERE: Furaffinity ( http://www.furaffinity.net/user/xhybora/ ) and Discord WHAT: Single character short looping animation WHEN: First payment made December 30th Second payment made January 12th. EXPLAIN: This'll be a bit all over the place because of how FA's notes work. And I want to get every single screenshot so it shows everything. (It reads from bottom to top when it comes to the back and forth, in case it looks a bit confusing to read.) Note: Some of the conversations via discord are NSFW. 29/8/2017 I was first approached by Xhybora on the 29th of October where they expressed interest in doing an animation for me. [1] I of course responded, not having had many people actually express interest in me and my OC's so much they actually come to me. I try to keep it buisiness like but friendly at the same time. [2] 30/8/2017 The next day he replies telling me how much the base price normally is. [3] I respond to them, telling them where it's easier to talk to me and how to keep in contact with me as well as telling them which characters would be good for the animation they had in mind. [4] They then ask for my Discord. [5] I give them said Discord. [6] Through Discord we discuss the idea. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] 11/12/2017 He messages me to check up on if I'm still on board with the commission and when I will be able to pay. [12] I suggest a payment plan since my PC had kicked the bucket and I had to spend any money I'd been saving on a laptop. He also reiiterates the idea he had in mind as well as which OC he wanted to use, which was my Fursona. [13] He tells me how much it will cost and what it will come with. I also express interest that if the animation turns out well I'll return for more. I think you can tell how that went. [14] I work out roughly about how much I can pay for and when I'd be able to. As I always like to give explanations on how/when I get the money and when it'll be in Paypal. As being transparent with the artist and explaining everything to them is something that I find they like. [15] We continue talking about the commission and not much else. [16] 28/12/2017 - 29/12/2017 He messages me again to make sure I'm still interested. [17] 30/12/2017 I pay the first payment. 30/100 USD. [18] The Invoice. [19] Him and I discuss when I'll be able to pay it all off/make another payment. [20] 12/1/2018 He asks for the rest of the commission payment, which I pay in full. [21] The Second Invoice. [22] 25/5/2018 - 23/12/2018 I ask how the commission is doing. To which he says he'll get me a wip soon almost a week later. I wait a few months, ask for the update he said he'd give me months prior. I wait 12 days before giving up waiting any longer. [23] I make a payment request through PayPal since I don't know what else to do. [24] Overall I kinda just feel crappy. I got a bad feeling once or twice around the time I was paying him. But I didn't listen to it because I always feel bad saying no and/or making people upset. I was just too naive and gullible. I am not sure if it'll get solved. If it does that's a plus. But I'd like this to be here as a warning. Do not commission someone if you get any sliver of a bad feeling. And please, be wary of people that come to you for a commission.