Attention Chris Howes

[gdb]

I admit it's been a while since I took on new commissions, though I am strictly speaking, still open for business. Having said that, seeing the state of customizing on SSF, I think it's safe to say you won't be seeing much more from me in the realm of business. I'm not exactly closing up shop, but I am getting back to painting more for my own pleasure than for profit. I've found the more commissions I took on, the less I enjoyed the work. I much prefer painting for me.
I'm excited by the new work coming from the customizers on this board. I'm proud to have been a part of the genesis of the customizer community here. I'm kinda glad I got out when I did.

You were my inspiration to ever start painting.

 

[Mooncat]

I posted this reply to a post over at OSW I think its relevent for here

Call me simple if you'd like, but I do not understand the whole craze about custom headsculpts.

your simple

Well, IMHO, this way: you find some people who are willing to cough up their hard earned cash for something that you say you'd make, and then find some more, and more, until you are so much way above your head that you cannot, either by design (in which case you've committed fraud) or by simple physics (some can call it stupidity) fulfill all of their orders. Then comes the sudden realization that you cannot return their money (used to pay for like the old commercials said "shoes and socks and CD's"... and bills and food). So you disappear, and stop answering email or phone calls, and when you're finally overwhelmed (perhaps by guilt) by the sheer number of people complaining about you you come up with an outlandish excuse (the Reds are after me!) and then blame your customers, who to this point have been nothing but patient with your lack of communication, not to say your inability to deliver on the promised goods.

I totally agree with you here but I think it was primarily greed mixed with stupidity

The lesson to be learned: buy what's on the shelf, what you can see and touch, but not a promise of something to come. It just that simple.
Just my $0.02

There are for the most part customisers who can and will supply what they say they will, and will do so within a reasonable timeframe, keeping in touch with the customer through the process

So Chris Howes is imo opinion just a bad example, Chris should have been double to triple the price he was charging, he was too cheap in my opinion, this coming from someone who was going to buy from him. I know sounds strange.

One of the failing points of Chris, Les and Josh is they chose systems (must be noted that Les has changed his system now) that had cheap money upfront for work they said they would do. So everyone believes them, and decides they want this bargain and throw money at him. Wow thinks the customizer a few more of these and its a nice DTR 500.

They get Greedy, rather than saying no they say Ill do it . . . but I dont know when . . . You cant really do business that way and it is business if monies are changing hands.

If you want to line upwork fair enough, but make it worth doing if your gonna do it, it shouldnt be $35 for bespoke paint and a bespoke sculpt. They are bespoke cause Chris posts his updates asking for feedback . . and it gets given by everyone, even by those who havent bought anything from him !

Make it $80 and make it 25% deposit. the rest on completion and only have 3 individual commisions on at once. Specify in a post that these will be completed within XXXXX timeframe and if they run over, there are 2 options

a) a time extention of 4 months b) a refund less paypal fees

Those thats stay for the 4 months you finish the job or you go again

a) a time extention of another 4 months b) a refund less paypal fees

Either get off your arse and complete the job or see how many people have waited 18 + months for this bespoke head your promising

DONT spend the deposits money until the jobs done. So you can pay them back DONT get Greedy !

Keep the 3 threads your working on updated once a week, even if its just to say Ive not had chance to work on it this week.

Then once its done ask those that have deposits and want a cast to send the remaining monies !

If you want to do casts beyond the original commision and what these original guys paid . . . double the fee on ebay ! or throw on another $40 . . . and make it $120 - $160 on ebay or do an auction and start it at $80

With these guys advertising your work with their own photographs of your work on their bashed figures posted on every 1/6th forum from here to Timbuctoo, ask them to put a link in their posts to your Ebay page were these expensive casts are for sale !

If the works as good as you profess it to be then it will sell, and why sell 4 heads at $35 when you can sell 1 for $120

and if you cant do that stick to your day job



Edit I dont know what Josh's (DarkArtists) system for customs is now as Ive never used him

 

[captdan]

From what I have seen in the past it would be in his best interest if Chris immediatly refunds anyone and everyone who ask for one. This is usually the straw that breaks the camal's back and starts the downward spiral. Once refund request are ignored the damaged parties will do anthing they can to destroy the reputation of the seller. I was interested in some of the stuff he was doing, but didn't invest. Hope it works out for everyone.

From my own experience and what I have seen on this thread alone all requests for refunds will be and have been ignored.

Chris, it has been almost 14 months since I paid you for the 3 Star Trek statues, that was way before you took on all these commissions. You told me I could expect delivery in 4-6 weeks. Well here it is over a year later and I have only received 1 statue (and that one took 8 months). I am again asking for a refund of the 2 remaining statues that you have not sent.

 

[Cap'n Cook]

From my own experience and what I have seen on this thread alone all requests for refunds will be and have been ignored.

Chris, it has been almost 14 months since I paid you for the 3 Star Trek statues, that was way before you took on all these commissions. You told me I could expect delivery in 4-6 weeks. Well here it is over a year later and I have only received 1 statue (and that one took 8 months). I am again asking for a refund of the 2 remaining statues that you have not sent.

Refund this guy!

I wouldn't mind a refund too please Chris. Have no need now for the head I paid for seven months ago with no update.

 

[Devil_666]

Everybody wants a piece of Chris.

Yeah, and some of them are contacting law enforcement to get it...I'd be a bit concerned about that if I were you.

This is a joke, right? I would love to see someone contact any type of authority about something like this. That would be classic.

"Yeah.. this guy ripped off my money. What was I buying? An unlicensed, illegal product. Yeah.. wait why are you arresting ME!?"

 

[Mooncat]

This is a joke, right? I would love to see someone contact any type of authority about something like this. That would be classic.

"Yeah.. this guy ripped off my money. What was I buying? An unlicensed, illegal product. Yeah.. wait why are you arresting ME!?"

More likely . .

"Yeah.. this guy ripped off my money. What was I buying? a head for a dolly . . . . . chortle Bzzztt phone line goes dead !?"

 

[captdan]

This is a joke, right? I would love to see someone contact any type of authority about something like this. That would be classic.

"Yeah.. this guy ripped off my money. What was I buying? An unlicensed, illegal product. Yeah.. wait why are you arresting ME!?"

That is incorrect, the biggest ongoing crime second only to identity theft is internet fraud and costs consumers millions of dollars a year. Every complaint filed is taken seriously regardless of amount and most law enforcement agencies have their own cyber crimes section.

Think it's a laughing matter, rip someone off and have them file the correct reports, you will be getting a little visit from law enforcement.

 

[Spenser]

I wish people would stop with the “this thread isn’t productive “line. For one thing it got Chris here and posting so we know he’s alright, and there have been many posts from guys like Darklord Dave, myself and others that have made very good suggestions on how Chris can help himself out of this situation or at lease organize the chaos.

 

[Voorhees27]

I wish people would stop with the “this thread isn’t productive “line. For one thing it got Chris here and posting so we know he’s alright, and there have been many posts from guys like Darklord Dave, myself and others that have made very good suggestions on how Chris can help himself out of this situation or at lease organize the chaos.

Exactly and for the record there were VERY few here calling him a scammer. Although he finally "showed" up he just added fuel to this fire imo ............. I have literally 0 respect for this man.

Waiting 7+ months with no updates, no communication and not a single reply (to many e-mails and PM's) is more than enough to justify my reasons.

 

[ProgMatinee]

the saddest part is seeing other customizers take this thread as evidence of a witch hunt and fear it will come to them if they don't stop customizing. IMO you shouldn't have anything worry as long as you aren't overcommitting and taking literally 8-14 months to turn projects around. I don't see the problem in that.

Anyway, I think an interesting opportunity around here is for a business savy individual to act as an "agent" for various customizers that can't wrap their heads around the business side of things and would be the go between for customizers and collectors. They would help facilitate payments, coordinate commissions, etc for a fee of course.

 

[Devil_666]

That is incorrect, the biggest ongoing crime second only to identity theft is internet fraud and costs consumers millions of dollars a year. Every complaint filed is taken seriously regardless of amount and most law enforcement agencies have their own cyber crimes section.

Think it's a laughing matter, rip someone off and have them file the correct reports, you will be getting a little visit from law enforcement.

um.. NO. Do your research. What you're talking about is people purchasing items.. LEGAL items over the internet and then being ripped off. That's not the case here.

What do you think would happen if you called the police and told them that you attempted to purchase some drugs and the dealer ripped you off? Right.

Chris Howes and for that matter EVERY sculpter/customizer/etc. on here that sells this stuff is doing it illegally. That's a fact. None of them have the rights to properties. None of them have likeness rights. None of them have permission to be selling these things. It's all illegal. So by YOU or anyone else doing business with these people, that's on YOU if you get ripped off.

Please.. go try and contact the authorities and tell them you got ripped off buying some illegal property and see what they say. There's a difference between buying something without knowing it's illegal (knock offs and what not) and flat out KNOWING what you're buying is illegal.

 

[Morbach]

Exactly and for the record there were VERY few here calling him a scammer. Although he finally "showed" up he just added fuel to this fire imo ............. I have literally 0 respect for this man.

Waiting 7+ months with no updates, no communication and not a single reply (to many e-mails and PM's) is more than enough to justify my reasons.

See my problem is that I like his work and I want to be a fan. Hell I was a huge fan of his work but like you said,after all this and little to no updates is just crap. Tell us something...anything! I still think he has mad skills but I'm disapointed deeply by his business practices. Really sucks.

 

[ProgMatinee]

um.. NO. Do your research. What you're talking about is people purchasing items.. LEGAL items over the internet and then being ripped off. That's not the case here.

What do you think would happen if you called the police and told them that you attempted to purchase some drugs and the dealer ripped you off? Right.

Chris Howes and for that matter EVERY sculpter/customizer/etc. on here that sells this stuff is doing it illegally. That's a fact. None of them have the rights to properties. None of them have likeness rights. None of them have permission to be selling these things. It's all illegal. So by YOU or anyone else doing business with these people, that's on YOU if you get ripped off.

Please.. go try and contact the authorities and tell them you got ripped off buying some illegal property and see what they say. There's a difference between buying something without knowing it's illegal (knock offs and what not) and flat out KNOWING what you're buying is illegal.

thats one reason why as a community we have to be vigilant and don't feel guilty alerting everyone when you feel abused or taken advantage of.

 

[Devil_666]

thats one reason why as a community we have to be vigilant and don't feel guilty alerting everyone when you feel abused or taken advantage of.

No doubt. But it appears some people are under the impression that they can call the police or something over a matter like this and unfortunately that's just not the case. And if they honestly believe that, then they're grossly misinformed.

 

[captdan]

um.. NO. Do your research. What you're talking about is people purchasing items.. LEGAL items over the internet and then being ripped off. That's not the case here.

What do you think would happen if you called the police and told them that you attempted to purchase some drugs and the dealer ripped you off? Right.

Chris Howes and for that matter EVERY sculpter/customizer/etc. on here that sells this stuff is doing it illegally. That's a fact. None of them have the rights to properties. None of them have likeness rights. None of them have permission to be selling these things. It's all illegal. So by YOU or anyone else doing business with these people, that's on YOU if you get ripped off.

Please.. go try and contact the authorities and tell them you got ripped off buying some illegal property and see what they say. There's a difference between buying something without knowing it's illegal (knock offs and what not) and flat out KNOWING what you're buying is illegal.

Trust me I have contacted the authorities and they are taking the situation very seriously........
There is no comparison to attempting to buy drugs and getting ripped off to this situation.....

 

[Devil_666]

Yeah ok.. whatever. I'm sure you did.

 

[die]

Well noted yet i think its alittle naive to be honest.

Well then, you should elaborate on how it is naive to want somebody to be fair and do what's right. An example of being naive would be to continue to defend somebody even when they are doing people wrong. When I sell something, it's up to me to make sure the customer feels like they are treated fairly & get whats was agreed upon. Why are "figure artists" allowed different standards?

This is a joke, right? I would love to see someone contact any type of authority about something like this. That would be classic.

"Yeah.. this guy ripped off my money. What was I buying? An unlicensed, illegal product. Yeah.. wait why are you arresting ME!?"

So, by your logic I could make a giant painting of Joe Montana (or, in his likeness), sell it to somebody for $1200 and just rip the person off? I didn't have the expressed written consent of the NFL, so I just pocket the $1200?

What about one of the Dragon soldier heads that look like Wesley Snipes or Charles Bronson? They are in their likeness, so I can get away with that too?


Again, I feel like Chris will make things right eventually, but it's still lame that he takes no blame for ignoring people, selling the heads on ebay first & breaking promises. I can't believe that people here defend that type of business tactic.

 

[captdan]

Well then, you should elaborate on how it is naive to want somebody to be fair and do what's right. An example of being naive would be to continue to defend somebody even when they are doing people wrong. When I sell something, it's up to me to make sure the customer feels like they are treated fairly & get whats was agreed upon. Why are "figure artists" allowed different standards?






So, by your logic I could make a giant painting of Joe Montana (or, in his likeness), sell it to somebody for $1200 and just rip the person off? I didn't have the expressed written consent of the NFL, so I just pocket the $1200?

What about one of the Dragon soldier heads that look like Wesley Snipes or Charles Bronson? They are in their likeness, so I can get away with that too?


Again, I feel like Chris will make things right eventually, but it's still lame that he takes no blame for ignoring people, selling the heads on ebay first & breaking promises. I can't believe that people here defend that type of business tactic.

Exactly, with so much fraud on the internet attitudes from law enforcement has changed. You can not set up a website and sell stuff with the sole intent of ripping people off based on the logic "Well what I was selling was not an officially licensed product so they deserved to get ripped off", and there is nothing anyone can do to me.

 

[Les Walker]

I have refrained from commenting here, as this is a horrid affair to me. I only see my own failures reflected in it, and am ashamed by all this. I have been told my situation is not the same as this. I hope not. I do try to be an open book. I have told WAY more about my own life to let my customers know why I am personally behind. I have taken measures to catch up, and to remain as upbeat and encouraging as I can, because for me, I LOVE THIS WORK! I do think repaint heads and such, IS ART, and therefore is a specialty item purchased by those that truly want it, from those than can do it.
I cannot speak for the custom sculpt world as much, because I have only produced a few select heads and painted most of those, and most are delivered now. Thank God.
I am still catching up with sets I have promised, and those will be delivered just as soon as I possibly can. I am honest, not avoiding, and again, am an open book. I am NOT complicated, nor secretive, nor do I have any reason to be.
I sadly have no life outside of all this.

I am embarrassed though. Unbelievably. My ego is shot. I hate what my reputation has become, and this thread, makes me see the utter nightmare that I almost was myself. I can't but feel for Chris, as I can't believe he wanted this. But, I can't speak for him either. He made his own bed, and he must lie in it. I did, others have. End of that. No one to blame BUT OURSELVES! No way out. Take it. Do not shirk or make excuses.

I know, I feel I do have them. I do in a way, but they are not strong. I started this whole thing myself December 29th, 2004, a month after l had to quit a State job, paying me $24,000 a year, to help my Mom and Dad. That December I created my collection website, and the name Figuremaster Les was born. Before that, I was just as most of you are now, a collector that simply liked this stuff.

Who knew I would become popular here, as I did starting in 2006. What this site, and it's denizens did for my ego, and my fame, is still amazing to me. YOU guys MADE me. I was a nobody. And I was NOT a business man! No way! Still ain't! LOL! I think ProgMatinee's offer of a manager is one I might look into if I ever return to this world of work again.

But, I screwed up, in large part, due to fear, NOT GREED. I was terrified last year when my mom's situation went from bad to worse weekly. And, with no regular job to fall back on, and no means to refund folks, I just kept taking work, to pay bills, and to keep the idea of normalcy going. That is it. Seriously. I was so fried by what I was going through, that I did not think correctly, nor take good advice. It's that simple.

Now, I have changed what I plan to do, and Life has followed me with a big stick and a rough attitude. I have to adjust and correct. Chris must do the same. His situation is beyond anything I can relate to, in that I ALWAYS have informed you guys. TOO MUCH. But, if I hadn't, I would be this guy by now. Or worse. At least those that made me, have corrected me. I admit my deficits, and am trying to correct. Thanks to anyone who has noted this. I am NOT using it to say, SEE I AM GOOD, but to say, See I am trying to correct a wrong.

So...what does Chris do? Not sure. I can't imagine being in his shoes. I would not have gone so long without an update. I just don't know what to say here.
I am afraid. It does scare me. It should. But, guys, please, do what you need to do, and don't turn what was a great site, into a Golgotha. This is all scary times enough.

I know what it's like to have screwed up. I can see BOTH SIDES here. Although...I must admit Chris, you did screw up big time. No updates? Dude! You are better than this! We are SCAD classmates! C'mon man! We gotta make this right! We are making our alma mater look like a school for losers now.

I am just deeply saddened, and very embarrassed. What else can I say.
I for one, am willing, once I catch up for God's sake, to submit to whatever rules and regs you guys impose on the business section of customs. I just want my fun back!
This used to be fun! NOT JUST A BUSINESS! But, fun. It was about toys. Fun. Painting.
That is worth fighting for, and not giving up on. We can have that now. Again. Soon.

I'm doing my part. And I will get me a manager!
But, let's find the fun in this again. Please. Before we are all at each other's throats.


Oh, and one more thing. I am not giving up on this stuff. No way! I was doing this before most of you were even twinkles in your daddy's eyes. I have been a modeler and painter all my life. A businessman, NO! LOL! Couple of years of that. But I will ALWAYS do this! ALways. No one will run me off from it, and no bad choices I made will either.
I speak only for myself, but I love this stuff. I hope Chris does, or it may not be enough to bolster him.

Truth be told, if I could, I would give this stuff away. I hate even trying to make a buck from it. Bad Karma! But, necessity and need has governed my choices.
I think customs should be fun. I think I'll stick to that.

This stuff should never have gotten this bad.

 

[Voorhees27]

Awesome post Les That was all heart and the main reason so many here respect you man!

I think this is a good opportunity to make things right, I am partially to blame for some of the negativity and tension in this thread. So I would like to appologize (BY NO MEANS TO CHRIS) to any members here that I may have annoyed during this situation.

If we want to bring things back to the way they were guys like me need to take a chill pill, we need better organization with commissions and we also need guys like Josh Church to stick around. IMO guys like Les and Josh have been here since the start and have inspired both other customizers and collectors to enjoy this hobby more.