Attention Chris Howes

[rajagiri]

hi

his is getting tough. Seeing his heads on ebay is disappointing.

 

[Mooncat]

The Lynch mob that is this thread, seems like all they need is one post from Chris 'holding his hands up' admitting he over stretched

Those that have been around a while knew that what he was promising was hard to do ie ' amount of commisions ' within a reasonble timeframe

He's made alot of promises . . and taken alot of money . . he doesnt necassarily have to follow through on those promises (headsculpts within a reasonbale timeframe) . . he can ask for more time . . or he can give those not prepared to give more time their money back

If he doesnt then he is a Thief

and deserves all the angered retribution that comes with stealing money from people

in this case 'Silence is not golden'

 

[creecher]

Re: hi

Skewed toward a negative outcome? I agree to hold off posting any more for a few days to let this thread digest a little, but don't you dare suggest we who have voiced our opinion and vented a little are to blame for this mess.

You have made your opinion very clear as well. I don't see any more need for either of us to keep going. I hold off, you hold off. Agreed?

I've only just started posting in this thread. You seem to have had a good run. No, I'm not in agreement. I have nothing against you except you daring me to suggest anything. Much of what you or anyone is saying is just repetition, from both sides. I don't really think I have made my opinion clear, even to myself. Blame??? Not sure what you're getting at here, but yeah, a little taking of responsibility wouldn't go astray.

I hope you are right, and Chris was just waiting to get all the painted heads finished so he could send out all the unpainted and painted heads at the same time. That would be fair enough. Some communication of such a plan would have been nice, but I am willing to accept the above scenario.

Point is, we can make up all the fancy scenarios we want. It doesn't change the fact that I paid over $200 to someone who is now ignoring me, and I am not alone. That is the root of this thread.

All I'm doing is adding an opposing view. Not trying to say my view is the correct one. There's enough people spreading fear and I don't want to buy into that. I have enough crap going on in my life, so I'm trying to add a bit of positivity and hope. No, it doesn't make up for the dollars, but without a response from Chris, for whatever reason, it's all hypothetical.

Wouldn't it be better to try to ascertain what action needs to be taken from here to arrive at a satisfiable outcome, rather than throw around he said this, and he promised this and he didn't, replies to posts?

his is getting tough. Seeing his heads on ebay is disappointing.

Didn't someone say that even though they're for sale on ebay, that none have been sold as yet, or at least no one has posted feedback, so I dare say none have been sent, and there'll be a few ebay disputes and claims being made in due course, should they not turn up.

 

[King Darkness]

I am still giving Chris the benefit of the doubt. I only dealt with Chris in the House thread and everything seemed to go smoothly.

I know how commission work can and does take time and I dont like putting pressure on artists.

I hope Chris can clear everything up and make good on any deals where money traded hands.

 

[creecher]

You can't just jump in here an be so diplomatic King. Although it's nice to have someone sitting on the fence with me.

Chase=not a caca

 

[KBA]

One fact remains which needs to be repeated it seems - Communication. He has so much money from people here. And to ignore those who are asking politely, for weeks and months on end for ANY update what so ever is a slap in the face. Then comes the spitting in the face when he answers to those who want to order a head. Its not fear spreading, it's just the truth.

 

[costumeball]

And while we're using people's posts against them, shouldn't someone quote collector49 making "one more post" for the night, several pages ago?

 

[KBA]

collector49 has over 200 bucks invested in this sticky mess. I'm sure it'd be much easier to 'sit on the fence' if you had 20 bucks plus paint fees riding on it. Apples to Oranges.

 

[creecher]

Okay then what do you suggest KBA? It's like saying this sucks. It adds nothing to the thread. If you want to hang the guy without a trial so be it. What can we do? It's probably too long to be getting a claim from paypal or your credit provider. Don't rightly know about laws in your country, but small claims tribunals will rule he should pay but are toothless tigers when it comes time to enforce the ruling. So what then? Individual claims through law enforcement agencies, or a mass civil law suit perhaps? Who wants to step up to the plate with suggestions or how we ought to go about this? Action speaks louder than words. What action is anyone willing to take?

 

[Studio49]

If Chris was answering emails, and we had some idea when to expect progress updates, this thread could be deleted. If you want to show him support, there are 15 plus commission threads out there regarding his talents as a sculptor. This thread is for people who are tired of the lack of communication from Chris.

Be aware though that many of those commission threads are full of people who are tired of the lack of communication from Chris. This is not a new phenomenon. I am surprised I am being accused of fear mongering. I guess trying to be more out-in-the-open about the problems Chris is creating makes everyone scared, myself included. But don't blame me for that, blame the guy who is creating the f ing problem.

 

[Deckard]

I do feel bad for him a little just because, at this forum, everyone sees a thread like this as an oppurtunity to jump in and wale on Pyle with your soap in a sock.

But at the same time, I am in the majority who are sick of artists treating online commissions as if they were a less priority.

The simple fact is if something happened or not, if these were like 50 people or w/e who already payed him and he had to see everyday in real life, lets face it, this would never happen. The fact is he still took money for projects and has that same responsiblity to those very real people here. I think everyone is realistic enough to realise in life, sometimes ^^^^ happens. But this is just a case of taking on too much work, plain and simple and a plan of attack should be laid out, by Chris, that accounts how he plans to do all this, and if he cannot, that is something that needs to be made clear as well, so that some sort of retribution can begin to be made.

 

[Studio49]

What am I prepared to do about it? I am prepared to sue his ass in small claims. I have the form already printed out, along with a copy of my paypal transaction. I know that it takes 9 hours to drive to Cincinnati from my house. I called my friend in Cinci to make sure I could come for a visit if things got that bad.

What good does that do? It's just an empty vow until I actually do it. And it doesn't make Chris post, or answer my emails.

I was going to let it rest for tonight until all the apologists showed up AFTER I said I was done for the night. Then I realized, this is my thread! Go start a "Chris Howes can ignore me all he wants, I love him" thread if that's what you want.

Maybe you guys want to see this thread locked for infighting so we can all go back to burying our heads in the sand and pretending there isn't a problem?

Where do we go from here? How about this... Chris posts, updating each thread with progress photos and actually ships the damn UNPAINTED House heads he said were shipping back on the 15th of May. That would be a nice start. I would delete this thread if that happened.

 

[creecher]

I'm certainly not blaming you for fear mongering 49. Not as an individual anyway. There's more than you spreading fear in here. I want to reiterate It's like a herd of cattle. Spook one and the fear spreads, as it has. Soon comes the stampede, or has it already started?
Are we just waiting for Chris to respond? Then everyone has to wait, and people don't like waiting, but that's what everyone involved in any commission has to do, and be able to bear the pressure that involves. Some have the patience to wait, however long it takes, but I do agree, we need Chris to be proactive. Doing so, over several commissions isn't really viable. At least that's one of the positives of this thread. He can do it under the one umbrella. Come on Chris. We're all waiting on you here.

 

[KBA]

Okay then what do you suggest KBA? It's like saying this sucks. It adds nothing to the thread. If you want to hang the guy without a trial so be it. What can we do? It's probably too long to be getting a claim from paypal or your credit provider. Don't rightly know about laws in your country, but small claims tribunals will rule he should pay but are toothless tigers when it comes time to enforce the ruling. So what then? Individual claims through law enforcement agencies, or a mass civil law suit perhaps? Who wants to step up to the plate with suggestions or how we ought to go about this? Action speaks louder than words. What action is anyone willing to take?

My actions will be simple whether he delivers the goods or not - I won't be purchasing from him again. And being vocal about it is important. The lead times are what they are - I get that, but pulling this selected communication stunt has left a sour taste in my mouth. And if someone with a magic looking glass told me how Chris was going to handle this all like it has played out so far, I would have not bothered with it all. Like people have been saying for pages: situations like this leave a bad mark on customizers in general. It's not fair either. Les was/is in one hell of a situation, same with DA josh. The difference? Communication.

 

[Studio49]

I'm certainly not blaming you for fear mongering 49. Not as an individual anyway. There's more than you spreading fear in here. I want to reiterate It's like a herd of cattle. Spook one and the fear spreads, as it has. Soon comes the stampede, or has it already started?
Are we just waiting for Chris to respond? Then everyone has to wait, and people don't like waiting, but that's what everyone involved in any commission has to do, and be able to bear the pressure that involves. Some have the patience to wait, however long it takes, but I do agree, we need Chris to be proactive. Doing so, over several commissions isn't really viable. At least that's one of the positives of this thread. He can do it under the one umbrella. Come on Chris. We're all waiting on you here.

What you call spreading fear, I call telling the truth. Honestly, I have selfish intentions for starting this thread. I want my House head and I want the Maximus armor set I paid for. I can't fight for everyone else's projects to be delivered too. I wish I could, but that is up to them to post and make it known they are being dumped on.

But I don't see how ignoring the fact that Chris is ignoring us does any good. We can be as pleasant as we can be about it, and I am trying to be pleasant, but crap man, this crap MUST be out in the open and transparent. Otherwise it keeps growing and even more people pay into a commission system that is obviously broken.

I will stop trying to be a cute little smart alec and stick to the facts from here on out. Chris CAN fix this, and we are waiting for that to happen.

 

[UTtoyfan]

I can only say this when it comes to customs. I am not doubting any of the others. But there are only two people on THIS board that I would let work on stuff for a year and have faith in them that it would be completed. That is Les and Josh. Anyone else I apologize but I just couldn't do it.

Totally agree with you 100%!!

 

[KingGrayskull]

You guys need to remember that Chris has always come through in the past. And all of his posts leading up to his disapearance had nothing in them leading me to believe he was just going to leave us all high and dry.

My personal feeling is that something has happened to Chris. Anything from just his computer crashing to him being injured. In any case, I doubt most people make it a priority to let the online community know if they've been hurt or that their computer died. I know I wouldn't at least. I'm sure I'm not the only one with a life outside of the board.

So lets continue to give Chris the benefit of the doubt. There are a million reasons why he isn't responding right now, but I think he will when he gets a chance.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Where is the evidence that he isn't going to deliver the work that has been paid for?

Where was there any time/deadline guarantee posted anywhere?

I'd be all for a lot of these posts (and worse!) once non-delivery is a proven thing, but until then, again . . . I just don't see the purpose of a lot of this.

Besides venting I suppose.

Ok. The evidence that he isn't delivering goods is the fact nobodies got their product. How long are we supposed to go before that becomes evidence? 1 year, 2 years? LOL. I've waited almost a year for something. Thats plenty long for me to wait.

 

[galactiboy]

I am still giving Chris the benefit of the doubt. I only dealt with Chris in the House thread and everything seemed to go smoothly.

I know how commission work can and does take time and I dont like putting pressure on artists.

I hope Chris can clear everything up and make good on any deals where money traded hands.

I'm in the same boat... I understand the frustration from members with more $$$ invested (I've only paid for the Lost Boys David head). I don't get a sense that Chris is in anyway a con-artist, but definitely could be doing a better job of keeping customers informed.

 

[YoNoSe]

It's astounding to me that some people take the attitude that being busy or having a life outside of the internet is an acceptable excuse. Especially considering the way some people cry about a Hot Toys release date being pushed back or SSC not getting items shipped out fast enough.
When you are taking hundreds of dollars from people you are obligated to them. It's not a matter of courtesy. He is not doing anyone any favors.
Threads like this are important even if they get a little out of hand. What's to motivate a customizer who already has your money? Well I know a thread like this would motivate me.