#ineloquentformalities

I'll start by saying that this is kind of difficult for me, since I've known April for almost three years and she's been really nice to me a lot. I know she's a nice woman, but what she's done to me is totally unacceptable. I've bought a lot of my cosplays and commissioned them from other people, but NEVER have I had anything like this happen.

Alright, so here goes the story. It starts when I posted on my blog, asking if anyone wanted to help me design a female!Dio cosplay, from the anime Jojo's Bizarre Adventures. I didn't expect to get any response, but April messaged me, telling me she'd love to help.  She sent me the design on Facebook. I was so excited, and I asked her if she would be open with taking a commission from me.

So, it was all fine. Let's recall this was "2/20", which was back in February. Of LAST YEAR.

So, I waited to get a quote from her. And I waited. And waited.

I didn't get a response for another month. ANOTHER MONTH. That should have been a red flag, but I tried  to be understanding. She's busy and works, and there was plenty of time until Otakon, after all. 

Here is a confirmation from here that my paypal payment went through to her. If that isn't enough proof, I can show the exact transaction. Keep in mind I paid $190 up front.

She messaged me back soon with pictures of the fabric, so things seemed to be going pretty well.

Alright, so that's all fine and dandy. This happened around April 7th. Notice how she has not asked for my address/measurements.

Otakon is in August, so I expected it not to take too long. I wait, and wait and wait for my costume. It doesn't come.s

I shoot her an email (not shown in this screenshot) asking if she had sent my costume, and she said she had! 

Then I asked a question that had been lingering on my mind.

She never responded after that. She didn't forward me the emails where she had gotten my measurements. There's a good chance I gave  them to her and forgot....but I don't see any emails in my history saying I ever sent those (not that important, but to keep in mind).

Anyway, I still hadn't recieved my costume, so I sent her another few messages, but none of them are responded to. 

It's another week before I get a message from her. This is literally the night before Otakon is. She gives me a tracking number! Phew.

However, the number didn't work. I tried it several times. giornomistas and mikitakaa were there when I was doing it, so they can confirm.

She's tired! That's fine. I didn't have to wear Dio on Friday. I came back Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Otakon praying that my costume had come. I had to improvise a costume on Friday (Daiya from JJBA) since I didn't have my costume and it messed up my schedule. 

The costume didn't come.

I waited that entire day, and no message from her. She said she'd update me when she got back.

Total radio silence on her end, despite the fact she said she'd "update me when she got back"

I admit I was a little rude here, but under my circumstances I think it was understandable. I had been trying to be as nice as possible, and it was really difficult at this point. 

Alright, so for the next little bit there was another silence. Then, a month later...

Huzzah! It looked like all of our troubles were over....little did we know....

The costume didn't arrive, of course. Here is a little bit of intermediate "me trying to contact her and her not responding"

Keep in mind I hadn't even seen PICTURES of this costume yet. 

I never got the photos she promised. Also keep in mind that she has been posting on facebook/tumblr throughout these periods, but not responding to my messages.

Now, my dad had caught wind of this whole thing (how couldn't he have? after all, I spent $200). He told me "this is unacceptable, regina. Tell her that if she  doesn't have your costume here by next week, I'll bring in legal action."

I really didn't want that to happen, because man I LIKE april and that wouldn't be good for either of us. So I sent her a message.

Needless to say, I never got photos. Or the costume. Or a response.

I texted her a few times saying the same  things, and she only ever responded when I brought up the fact that there would be legal ramifications.

And now we're here, at the present. It is February 3rd. 

I know this was long and tedious and I'm so sorry, but this has been a nightmare for me. Pretty much all my cosplay friends know about this and have been telling me that this is unacceptable, but I've been trying to be since since I like her. But this needs to be known and people need to be informed that she's not a reliable commissioner. 

For reference, it's February 3rd now. I haven't gotten a message from her since around January 20th. She's been posting in other places. No update on my costume, and no refund on my money at all.