Report: Gideon.

[jd blaze]

WHO: Gideon, AKA Gideon Hoss.

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/gideon/

WHAT: I had messaged and paid for a simple digital piece of a character of mine, sitting back to viewer, looking behind all cute like.
The art had been paid for via paypal already.

WHEN: The order was sent and paid for on august 8th of 2010. I messaged him on July 9th about the comissions, and he assured me it was due to con scheduling and the various online projects he was working on. After multiple contacts and it being almost two years later without a sketch or a word, I'm beyond fed up.

PROOF: Paypal transaction, with personal info and transaction ID blacked: http://i794.photobucket.com/albums/yy228/bentokitty/gideon/Screenshotat2011-12-11171548.png

message-by-message account of the request: http://s794.photobucket.com/albums/yy228/bentokitty/gideon/ORIGIONAL_REQUEST/

Conversatons with since, including re-submitting request via email and paypal transaction: http://s794.photobucket.com/albums/yy228/bentokitty/gideon/

EXPLAIN: I have attempted to contact Gideon multiple times via Furaffinity, and via the various IM clients he has given me (which he has not been on since giving said screennames to me). I have not had any contact with him since, no sketch, no progress, nothing. I just want the art I paid for, please. I'm dissapointed that it came to this, and took two dang years.


UPDATE: As of 12.27.11, I have attempted to contact Gideon on FA, as per his request here. This report was the last contact between him and I. Come on, really? Mood updated from annoyed to PO'd.

Comments

[hamburger.livejournal.com]

Okay, approved this. But before anyone else mentions it: If you first paid in August 10 it's still pretty far from two years. But a year and four months is still not cool, so the beware stands.

[gideon-hoss.livejournal.com]

Yep, I just contacted through my comment here and am gonna get my ass in gear on it. *vrooom noises*

[purpule.livejournal.com]

eek, the screenshots are a little small, it quite hurts the eyes to read what's been said.

From the looks of it, it's another case of an artist taking on far more than they're capable for - which he seemed to accept and be apologetic for, but I don't know why they would apologise and then go so silent like that. It's been a long time without so much as a WIP.

[gideon-hoss.livejournal.com]

Yeah, trust me I dun wanna look like a jerk. Paysite work and monthly cons will get in the way and if I forget even for a bit, it gets shoved back of my cobweb filled head and erf boom, more delays. I gotta get better at taking care of these, period!

[duster.livejournal.com]

Another report on Gideon? For being so popular and being active on paysites, he seems to have quite a few disgruntled customers.

[gideon-hoss.livejournal.com]

*nods sadly* Yeah, it is the paysite work that generally gets in the way, having a tighter deadline, then I slowly forget a piece and it slides and slides and soon, boom, 2 years...my fault entirely. Am trying best I can to get to the back log and get people art and happy, I really dun wanna make people upset, erf.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately he has quite the bad record on A_B :/

[everainsley]

This. :/

[gideon-hoss.livejournal.com]

This I know and am very ashamed of, I really do try to get to work ASAP but when some fall in the cracks and take way too long I feel worse, then let things lag even more, never good. Tryin to get back on track best I can though.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

It might honestly be in your best interests to no longer take commission work and merely focus on your paid site work. It doesn't sound like this is going to get any better and you just don't seem to be able to handle it. At the very least, you should NOT be taking any new work while you still have a backlog.

[gideon-hoss.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I am still doing AT CON sketchwork that I hand back the next day at the con itself, but yes, commissions, nope, not takin em and makin sure I get these taken care of, trying!

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

Have the other commissions for bewares posted here been resolved? They don't seem to be but I know sometimes people forget to update.

If not, this is all polite wind; I know you came into the other posts saying just about the same stuff.

[lupine-fox.livejournal.com]

Gideon is one of my favorite artists and I had commissioned him for some work but it took years to get. I tried again once after that but again, it took a long time and many reminders. I know Gideon is not doing this on purpose and he has always delivered excellent work in the end.

[lupine-fox.livejournal.com]

I thought I'd add something in general on the problem of commissions. I have gotten a number of excellent commissions but have also had a high percent of non-deliveries. The effect of this was that eventually I stopped commissioning anything, even badges due to the high degree of non-delivery. I was going to spend $2000 on fursuit but I stopped when I though how I'd feel chasing it for years and maybe never getting it. This means that many dollars never left my pocket to go to an artist and this is probably fairly common in the community.
Artists require you pay them first but then they are in a profession where a large percent never deliver. I understand that the problem would be just as bad if the artists did the work first then hoped the customer would pay. I don't know the answer but I know it hurts all artists.
I do have some thoughts:
1. Perhaps an escrow service to hold payments?
2. Perhaps responsible artists could influence those who don't deliver to get their act together.
3. Perhaps dealer and artist alley table availability should take non-delivery complaints into account.

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

[i]2. Perhaps responsible artists could influence those who don't deliver to get their act together.[/i]

...I was under the impression that that was half of what A_B is...

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

Whoops, forgot LJ is html. D:

[gideon-hoss.livejournal.com]

Nah, yer right, and I have been trying to get better at it and make sure my older work gets done for those that need it. It's good this is here to keep us on the up and up, or least try to be better at it!

[sigilgoat.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you've had this experience, and I have to say I'm very wary myself of purchasing art from someone unless I have a few friends that have done so, or the price is enough where I feel I can let it go.

Personally, I will accept half payment up front for most of what I do, as long as the customer can show they do purchase art to completion, and I only send low rez/watermarked WIP's in return. Maybe you could ask the same, if you're comfortable.

About fursuits, see if you can't look into a reputable buyer. I can recommend some privately if you'd like.

But to respond to your points individually:

1. An escrow service would be nice and I have had a few friends that have talked about making one, but the trust factor is kind of huge in that undertaking.

2. I'm not sure what you mean by this?

3. I believe they do, if enough complaints are brought. I believe Zeriaria/Seux has been banned from dealing at many conventions, though she still manages to get Artist Alley tables occasionally and we end up getting a few posts about her.

[mikaufoxy.livejournal.com]

I guess it's why I stick to buying those derpy badges from Gideon, since they only cost a dollar.

Sucks he's shafting his customers like this, I dig his art... then again, I haven't seen much of his activity on FA lately...

[gideon-hoss.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am really not trying to shaft people, but yes, I have been getting to my back log and erf, getting some before others and not keeping track is NOT helping me or people owed art. I am tryin! ^_^

[mikaufoxy.livejournal.com]

Glad you are. I had been wanting to get a full badge from you (and one TO you, respectively) at some point if you draw them for some time, since I really do like your art and find it pretty nifty.

A good way to organise time management would be to keep a recorded journal about when the transaction happened so you can keep your commissions in line. Having a helper like Finters does can also be an option.

I do apologise for stepping out of line like I did, though.

[gideon-hoss.livejournal.com]

I am terrible at time management. I would take commissions and then let them lag and lag and lag. Not trying to make people angry or upset but it happens when I take so damn long on my end to get things done...this is my fault. I now take work AT cons and return the sketchbooks at the cons. I am trying to get through the back log and yeah, taking forever...I apologize again, send me a note on FA ASAP and I will get to you ASAP as well finally...again...many apologies.

[tremorwolf.livejournal.com]

Dude. i watch Artest beware mostly for the lolz.. i have to say this is the first time ive seen an artest come on and Own up to having trouble and take responsibility instead fo blaming the fandom or other things. Hell Ive lost about 400 dollars in 5 years from (professional) artists who haven't delivered.

SO for having the horse balls to come on here and Own up.. I applaud u good sir!

Pro tip + THIS! (owning up to responsibility) Which other "artiste's" would learn this

[yujoben.livejournal.com]

I was expecting more from him. He seems like a nice guy, but I'm a bit peeved at his favoritism for sketches. My friends (a couple) met him at FWA early this year, and one of them is a huge fan and pretty much melted over him, then bought a sketch. It was finished by that night. The other friend, who bought his sketch at the same time, has yet to receive it to this day...

I understand being popular, but when you charge THAT MUCH for a simple sketch, you shouldn't play favorites or let things slide so easily =/

[featheredragon.livejournal.com]

I to have been waiting to hear from Gideon. After being patient and talking with this artist for over two years, as of 2012 JAN 02, have sent him a request for a refund. Have not heard back from him yet. I will try again next week and if following a week from then I have not received the refund or had a satisfactory explanation with a clear and reasonable deadline for when the refund will be paid I'm going to open my own thread here.

Artist is friendly and seems like a nice person but is clearly unreliable for take home commissions. Doesn't meet his own deadlines and not the most reliable for replying to messages. Not sure if this is intentional although currently my impression is he's just bad a following though when it's a take home.

So yeah, haven't heard from him in over a month. >_> Every time I talk to him is delays upon delays, I just want a refund from him now before my mood turns really sower.

Good luck!