Warning/Watch out: Misty Zabel/AstralMoon/Feverdog/Stellary

[spetznas.livejournal.com]

Warning: This post contains Tl;DR

[edit] she is now under a new alias, STELLARY http://www.furaffinity.net/user/stellary/

The artist AstralMoon on FA, Link herein: www.furaffinity.net/user/astralmoon/ as well as their "abandoned FA" www.furaffinity.net/user/feverdog practices very poor commission business. 

I purchased a painted-style commission for me and my boyfriend from her for 25$. 

Basically she's using paypals "no dispute after 45days" rule in her favor by creating a "policy" on her FA (screenshot) stating she refuses to refund until you have waited 2 months.  Two months = 60 days, 60 days is past paypals date in which you can dispute a charge toward your account.  This is an incredibly sneaky method in which she is taking a slew of people's money and not putting out service.  

She continues to take further commissions, stating that she is unable to pay her bills and is thus, desperate for money, however she goes and buys new pets and does not complete the commissions which other people have paid for already.  This method is poor business and needs to be exposed so no one else should have to deal with this sort of rude behavior. 

On another note, even if you have been waiting patiently for service from her, and decide to send a note, asking how things are, the replies are extremely snappy and vulgar, with her often ending the subject in "I don't have to do that" or "I can do whatever I want to do and commissioners just have to take what I give" (screen shots will be piled below as evidence toward her behaviors)
As I want to keep the write-up as short as possible, I will just post the links of what she has done below and let that be it.







At this point I told her I simply wanted a refund (for the second time) and told her I would be on my way. I was banned immediately afterward from the stream, which was capped by another user: http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2829/x1m7epcu.jpg

Links below here show her lack of doing commissions, however she ignores the older ones which have been paid and is taking new ones and doing those the same day (notice lineart commissions that have been recently uploaded in her gallery--not on the active waitinglist)
She has since bawwwwwleeted all traces of her "refund" section as well, though upon asking the user Renzey@FA, he has yet to have received his refund as well and has been waiting over 4 months.

Immediately after banning me (just a few moments ago) to attempt to cover her ass she created this journal:


And screenshots below this are proof of her blatant ignoring of commissioners from the past, while taking new ones.

She hides comments from people who say that they never received their product.


"Her list" I screen capped this last month after I had received a note from her stating her refusal to refund (this will also be posted as well)


It's a long list
and the comments below are of commissioners/commissions she'd totally FORGOTTEN!


Even dipper is trying to be helpfully pointing her in the direction of work.

Below is my note from a month ago where I asked for a refund after waiting over a month (this was when she stated my commission would take between a few days and a month's time)
my request for refund:


Her reply to my request, which was a double note, one (less significant) stating I was being "brash" by asking for a refund:


My reply to her surprisingly rude refusal/attitude:



I also ask if there are any flaws in my html for them to please be fixed, LJ's coding is extremely backwards. :C


Other places she has demonstrated her attitude and bad business habits: 
(links from you guys who have exp with her, and thanks to those who contributed!!)

Off of FA: http://www.furcartzone.com/index.php?topic=12975.0
Her RECENT changes journal:
Actual journal: http://oi53.tinypic.com/2s9arlv.jpg
Comment thread: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/FrostDragoness/Comments-1.jpg?t=1301356675
screenshot of another person waiting 6 months for a refund: http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr113/ilmazziere/fanotes.jpg

Comments

[hamburger.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, you are the only one who can fix HTML issues in your post. Mods don't have that power.

[spetznas.livejournal.com]

oh, well hopefully it worked alright? It seems to have loaded okay to me.

[pariahsdream.livejournal.com]

Just FYI, she can't prevent anyone from filing a paypal dispute before her ~2 month deadline. You go through paypal and simply cite the fact that you have not received your product and have no indication that it will ever be received.

Also, if her current style is so much easier and faster, why would she need to have a 2 month refund policy unless she was taking on more than she could handle?

Ugh, I'm trying not to be insulting but she's acting like a spoiled, selfish child and I don't care if she can paint the friggin Sistine Chapel, I wouldn't touch her commissions with a 50 foot pole. What a rude little person.

[bonegrind.livejournal.com]

the coding seems fine to me but the first screenshot stretches my LJ page. maybe put that under a cut?

also, WOW. she is so rude, and that 2 month refund thing? thats awful to take advantage of paypal's policies like that. she doesn't want anyone to comment about commissions in her livestream because she doesn't want to get called out in public.
are you going to file a paypal dispute over this?

[spetznas.livejournal.com]

I'll try and fix it now, thanks!

[torikonero.livejournal.com]

Too many artists act like this. It is a step in the right direction when a post like this pops up and documents a specific instance of this attitude/mindset. Thank you. I had suspicions that this artist was performing as you cite, and did not commission them myself and will inform folks I know of her performance (or lack thereof).

[spetznas.livejournal.com]

I've been seeing tons of friends and fellow artists that I know like Acorn and such wanting art from this person and I've been confused as what to do exactlyyy about the situation, how could I warn people about it without looking like an ass myself? Well, I think my screenshots did the talking for me in this case..as I really didn't want to badmouth her or get further involved in her uh,....dramatic-ness

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

I'm happy she was finally posted here. I had an awful time with her myself, even though I got the art in the end. I've heard others tell of her snapping at them and even my friend decided not to commission her when she yelled at him for asking a question.

I definitely agree, no one should commission this artist. I used to look up to her for her art but after commissioning her myself and waiting months while she did others and requests, then being talked to extremely rudely when I asked for updates, I'm never going to again.

[spetznas.livejournal.com]

I thought her art was marvelous, and that's why I opted to buy a pic off of her for valentines day with my bf and I. I had NO idea at the time of her behavior...and I really wish I did. I may be out my money now, and "bawww banned" from her page and etc, but at least the word is being spread of her business practices

[tanginello.livejournal.com]

This post makes me want to name call.

Seconding: Open a paypal dispute. There is absolutely nothing she can do about that and maybe it'll be the kick in the pants this lady needs to get her act together.

Honestly, if I ever treated a commissioner like this I think they'd have full right to punch me in the face and be all "hey Tanginello, get a handle on things!"

[spetznas.livejournal.com]

if you read the top, she forces commissioners to wait 60 days. you can only dispute BEFORE it's been 45 days on paypal, I tried to dispute it a week ago. I'm screwed.

[n.livejournal.com]

She's not limited from behaving like this on FA.
She tried getting into Furcadia and got some backlash when taking portrait commissions there too:
http://www.furcartzone.com/index.php?topic=12975.0

The OP of the thread is notorious for having a poor attitude towards people she commissions, but Feverdog's responses don't put her in a good light either.

I suppose it's somewhat related, I just felt the need to post this here to show her poor practice isn't limited to one place P:

[spetznas.livejournal.com]

thank you for posting, and do you mind if I add these external links to the bottom of my main writeup? I think they are extremely relevant

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

*jaw drop at the sheer attitude* Was she brought up or dragged up? Anyone who feels that they can give the customer whatever they want instead of what the customer ordered and take as long as they like, should not be in business.

Don't want to do it? Refund the customer.

Don't want to refund the customer? Do the work that was paid for.

It's as simple as that.

Clients should not have to read an artist's journal to find out about major changes, they should get a note offering a different item or the choice of a refund.

The other folks commenting in the live stream weren't helping by reinforcing her attitude. Artists may not live to draw for others but artists who sell their skills/take money for doing work have to do the work first and foremost not whatever they feel like doing.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

PS: if http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5223492/ is taking her too long to do, she's either very very slow or doing something wrong. Even my far more detailed portraits online that sort of lines top out at 9 hours max and I'm slow.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, this artist has to have one of if not the worst attitude I've ever seen. I'll do it when I feel like it? No refunds? You'll get what I give you and like it and shut up? And the total hugbox going on in her streams with her valiant whiteknights?

Definitely a name that'll stick out in my mind as someone to avoid like the plague, my goodness.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Wow, her attitude is terrible. Claiming that customers don't need to get what they paid for and should feel lucky to get anything at all is unacceptable.

I appreciate the beware and hope you get your refund. As far as I'm aware, refusing outright to give refunds is illegal regardless of whatever ToS you have and it does not stop a buyer from having the right to file a dispute.

[cesarin.livejournal.com]

I second, its ridicoulous how she acts like she was the queen of the world and that everyone should feel grateful for being hable to pay her.

[justblieve.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for posting this! I will admit I've had troubles with her as well and she has yet to send me my refund either even though I told her I still haven't gotten it after it appears she asked someone else to send it to me. I was going to give her a little longer before I posted her here.

This has definately been the worst artist I've ever commissioned, and if I had realized she had a "don't ask about your commission. period." policy beforehand, I wouldn't have done it.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

Agreeing with this.

I've had my share of people not being the best artists, but nothing like this.

[ducttapeninja.livejournal.com]

Yikes, talk about unprofessional. :/ I hope you get your refund, I wouldn't want to go near that artist with a ten-foot pole.

They should just be fucking happy I finished their commission, no matter what style it's in. x__X

Yeah, someone seriously needs to tell this person that that's not how this works. Personally if myself and an artist agree on a certain style for a commission, then that's what I'd expect-- Same if an artist commissioned me. On the one hand, I can understand AstralMoon deciding not to do this apparent "painting" style anymore, but on the other, she didn't handle that well at all. From what I gather from the screencaps, it was only in that stream that you learned that she wasn't doing that style anymore? At the very least she should have contacted you and offered you something else instead, instead of waiting for you to find out on your own. That's just bloody ridiculous. :/ I'll definitely be avoiding this artist from now on.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

From her talking to people, she felt she didn't need to tell people at all, that it should be obvious because of her recent postings >>

[ciderfox.livejournal.com]

Ugh, how awful. Thanks for the warning! I can't imagine being so terrible to my customers :c

[ciderfox.livejournal.com]

Also, file that dispute!

[skittlewolf.livejournal.com]

She is so very rude. When she was doing the drawing I pointed some things out on my ref sheet that she had done incorrectly. She treated me in a very rough manner. Hell, when I even complimented her on something she jumped down my throat. I was complimenting you, geeze.

I will no longer commission this person, nor do I suggest her to anyone else. Especially after her corrections policy. If someone is commissioning you, and you fuck up, you correct it. You don't tell the commissioner to correct it or for them to wait for 'when you have time'. That is just horrible business practice.

I really hope your stuff gets settled! I am not surprised in the slightest to see her here.

OH MY GOODNESS!

[mrst4nkr.livejournal.com]

I commissioned FeverDog for artwork for an ex a few years ago. (Mayyyybe two? Three? ) I presented her with my idea, and she didn't really portray my description like I was thinking. This wasn't a big deal, but I decided that I would draw out what I had in mind last night- with a slight change in characters. I was reminded of how this artist was very snarky and unhelpful.

Then, there was this post on AB this evening!

I can't back this up, because I watched her color my art in the stream. She was on audio. She ignored very obvious markings from my reference sheet, and scoffed and dragged her feet when I asked her to add them. She even defended herself as to why they wouldn't be shown, when they clearly would have.

I would -NEVER- commission this artist, or recommend her to anyone.

Like I said, I can't really prove this, because it was over voice on a stream done a few years ago- so please take this with a grain of salt.

[fatkraken.livejournal.com]

good grief, "I don't feel like giving you what you paid for, you'll get what I want to give you". Not even remotely legal no matter what her TOS say, file a dispute right now

[origamigryphon.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I so want to post this journal all over her shoutbox. x.x But I'm sure one of her whiteknights will find this and do it for her. Who the heck grows up thinking that acting this way is acceptable?

Also, dispuuuute

[justblieve.livejournal.com]

It's sad that people will still be like OMG THEY ARE JUST JELIZ OF YOU and suck an artist's metaphorical dick, even when they are so BLATANTLY rude and in the wrong. I'm sure they did the same thing with the popular kids in school.

[semisonicstar.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's utterly an disgusting attitude to take. I'm very sorry youw ent through this, heh.

As for the HTML -- you'd want to do:

[lj-cut]
[img src=URL]
[img src=URL]
[/lj-cut]

But with carrots (<>) instead of brackets ([]). Just in case you're having trouble I thought I'd offer that :)

[spetznas.livejournal.com]

I fixed it, thanks so much <333

[sunhawk.livejournal.com]

Ugh her attitude is atrocious!
And I'm pretty sure offering one kind of service and then doing another kind (an inferior one) instead is a kind of fraud: "bait and switch"

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Has she ever advertised on Teeny_com before? Thanks for the warning. This will be one to avoid at all costs

[quailbrander.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the beware! I've briefly heard of and seen this artist before, but now I know better and will stay away. I've never seen such a horrid attitude from a person before, and there's no excuse for talking to a commissioner like that, whether it's through notes or a livestream.

[jamesalesto.livejournal.com]

Yes, I saw her flip out on someone wanting a refund from her. After she was done flipping out, she posted a rush sketch of the person's character with the title "How to Rush your Dragon" and something along the lines of "here's your damn commission".

I urged the person to post here, but Feverdog deleted all proof of the commission. I do have screenshots of her behavior, but it is pretty much on par with this. I don't think I should be posting screenshots of someone else's transaction with her.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

I talked to that person.

I hope she doesn't mind me saying, but when Fever refunded her, the message in it said "I hope you die". Or something along those lines.

[corvus-animus.livejournal.com]

I was an admin on a graphic chat site this artist frequented and the attitude presented here doesn't surprise me in the least. She was just as rude, nasty, and snarky to the admins (I'm still not sure how we didn't ban her a million times over).

Echoing everyone else, what terrible business practices.

They should just be fucking happy I finished their commission, no matter what style it's in. x__X

That is what we call an imaginary world where this is acceptable.

Please file a dispute and let us know how it goes. I can pretty much guarantee no matter how you rationalize or try to reason with this artist you will never get the same courtesy in return.

[spetznas.livejournal.com]

I'm actually taking further action against her via the site admins of FA because I'm no longer eligible for filing a dispute on paypal being she makes her commissioners wait 60 days, and paypal only accepts disputes within 45 days. :(

[raai.livejournal.com]

Woah. She's very rude.

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

Woooooooow. Totally agreeing that this person quite possibly gets the 'Worst Art Businessperson of Eternity' award, at least in the sense that she's so blatantly in-your-face with it and has zero remorse. I mean holy cow. Not that I'd ever even heard of this person before, but now I will definitely stay away from them forever and ever.

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

Also agreeing that you need to file the Paypal dispute ASAP, if you haven't already passed the time limit (Paypal's limit, not the artist's. Paypal, not the artist is the service being used to handle money, therefore in this situation it is Paypal's rules you follow, not hers. Just like you have to follow your bank's rules, not someone else's, when using their services).