Raffle - Custom Full Dragonskin Silicone Tail - $1,500

[MerEmma]

Oh, I thought they were easy to understand! I understood all of them so far I believe. Everything seemed really clear and you provided reasons as to why things are as they are (latex caulking as an example). I enjoyed them immensely. :P

[Kanti]

Awesome! That makes me feel good. I know I ramble a lot, wasn;t sure if that was annoying or not

[Kanti]

SYD EMPTY YOUR INBOX!! xD

[Usagi]

It never said I needed to! Blar blar blar

[Kanti]

xD well it was full wasnt it? either way

[MerEmma]

Just finished watching the newly updated videos~ I really enjoyed watching them and I think I understood it all. May I ask whose fluke you're making? :P

[Kanti]

Yep!
The monstermaker (dark brown) fluke belongs to Mermaid Melaina and the Permoplast (light off-white) fluke belongs to Mermaidmechanic.

Here are the concept arts for each tail, respectively.
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[MerEmma]

Wow. Gorgeous.

[Mermaid Kelda]

I really love how different all our tails are going to be. Lots of variety for you to show your aptitude :)

[Kanti]

Yea! I think it'll be a nice well-rounded experiment~
So far so good, I haven't had any major difficulties

[Patches]

Yep!
The monstermaker (dark brown) fluke belongs to Mermaid Melaina and the Permoplast (light off-white) fluke belongs to Mermaidmechanic.

Here are the concept arts for each tail, respectively.
1047510474
Ohhhhh my god. The first one. I want to head in more of that direction for my tail. I love the pectoral fins. And the fluke I love too but obviously
mine looks a bit different.

[Kanti]

Hehe well if you want any of those fins, I'm already making them for Melaina so I can easily add them. If not you can make your own designs! But it's good to know, that'd help me out in the future xD

[Morticia Mermaid]

Hey Kanti, I was just checking out your videos- did you ever finish the tutorial for how to make hooves?

[Kanti]

No! It's been something I've changed methods on like 14 times so I have to REALLY sit down and write the entire thing out again.
I WILL get around to it but probably later on!

[Morticia Mermaid]

Ok! I can wait :D Tail tutorial comes first!!!

[Kanti]

Yea me neither~
I think progress is slow but steady

[Mermaid Octavia]

Hey Kanti? Question - if someone won one of the 1st - 3rd place prizes and didn't want gills or armfins, could something else be substituted? Like your horns or something?

[Kanti]

Umm at the moment I don't have any horns I'm trying to upgrade them, I guess if you're willing to wait then sure!

[Mermaid Octavia]

Okay! Thank you. n_n

[Kanti]

Alright peeps we're at 35%!!

[MerEmma]

WOO! So psyched.

[Kanti]

42% of all tickets sold!!!
We're getting there!

[MerEmma]

Almost halfway there!

[Mermaidmechanic]

Wow! Sudden boom in ticket sales! :D Its a bull market!

[Kanti]

Hehe hopefully it'll be downhill from here xD
Who knows!

[jvry8c]

Nice. Glad things are moving. Also the horns and hooves look awesome. Getting horns with a tail would be cool to go for the Capricorn look.

[Kanti]

Yea!
I think once I start posting more progress on my facebook I might just post it on there to get it over with.
What do you guys think? If anyone??

Also SPEAKING OF CAPRICON check this thing out!!
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[MerEmma]

What the heck? xD

[Kanti]

xD it's a taxidermy show!
They usually do fictional things and this guy did some sort of a capricorn looking thing.
I seriously think its the coolest!
Also VERY WELL DONE by taxidermy standards. The guy did an awesome job grooming the fur and I have NO idea how the tail was even done o_O its so freaking awesome looking!

[MerEmma]

...Wow. That's crazy. Very cool, but so...different. And weird. xD

[Kanti]

Alright some progress on the flukes.

10570
10571

Urg these take so long. But I think it's mainly due to be being a perfectionist and trying to get the flukes uber smooth before actually detailing them. The second fluke is taking quite a while to smooth but so far it's coming out great on the right side, still working on the left a lot. Dunno if you can see.



I FINALLY got around to working on the scales but I don't think it's enough to show any progress yet xD
I'm currently working on em now too : /

[MerEmma]

I can see a tiny bit. I think it's fantastic how much of a perfectionist you are, then! Much preferred than doing a sloppy job. They look great so far!<3

[Mizuko]

these are looking beautiful already! :D I cant wait to see the end mold! :D

[Kanti]

Yea that's how I thought of it, Emma. Haha

Thanks Mizuko!
Glad people think they're looking good. Sometimes I don't catch my own mistakes

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I have one quick question for you Kanti. I see that you're molding the shape of the clay around the monofin itself. However, when you go to pour silicone into your finished mold, the pour will cure flat, thus leaving you without the ridges for the monofin to hide in. Are you planning on laying the monofin in the silicone and the mold as it is curing? Or do you have another method you're going to be using?

[Kanti]

Just lie it in there as it's curing so it's a perfect fit.
If not I was just going to cut some out and put some DS and thivex in there to help seal the areas, but I wouldn't want to do that or else I'd be essentially wasting silicone, so probably the first thing.
I already did some tests to make sure the DS cures properly on the rubber.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Coolio. I'd suggest pouring in layers, though (if you hadn't already thought of that) so you don't end up with the monofin drooping all the way through the silicone. :P

[Kanti]

Hehe yea forsure!
I'm pretty much doing everything in layers to help prevent bubbles anyhow so I was planning on it xD
I appreciate the advice though! That was generally something I hadn't thought about until I actually had to sculpt the monofin.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Haha, yeah, bubbles suck!
I don't want to sound like a know-it-all with advice, but I know I sure would have liked a bit while I was getting my tail going. XD

[Kanti]

No you're not at all!
I'm glad you told me incase~ Two heads are better than one

[Kanti]

Bleh livestreaming on the second fluke right now.
Not sure for how long but if you guys wanna check it out it's just some smoothing out

http://www.livestream.com/kantikane

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Eh, haha, alright. :P

[Kanti]

Alright a small update.
I just almost learned something the hard way xD
You can heat up monstermakers clay in the microwave BUT be careful when you do it. It says to only put it in there for about 2 minutes at a time, but ONLY for a significant amount of clay.
I had a bit of clay in there and put it in for a minute or so and the clay started BOILING xD
It won't EXPLODE or anything if you put it in too long, but if it boils it gets burned and will ruin itself so just something to be careful with.

[MerEmma]

Just be glad it didn't explode, lol! I sure am. ;P a good tip though...even though I don't have a microwave.

[Kanti]

Really? You should get one theyre pretty useful!
If you use it in the oven it's fine too, less likely to boil since it melts so slowly hehe

[MerEmma]

No microwaves for us...too many bad experiences with them! lol. Plus it makes a good conversation starter when I'm at camp as a volunteer and a younger kid asks for help using one and I have to tell someone else to help them. xD Any progress?

[Taniira]

I don't have a microwave, either. I don't have anywhere to put one. Been without for a little over a year now and I've really only missed it once or twice.

[Kanti]

Alright check it out I just got a smartphone and i took some pictures of progress on it but like, I cant for the life of my figure out how to get them from the phone to the computer.
Ill have to take a picture with the regular camera.
Sorry progress is slow, I'm smoothing the "outline" of the fluke the raised area I guess? I dunno what it's called, but it takes forever.

[dreadfairy]

Question - do u tape the live-streams and put em on youtube or anything for ppl who miss em? Or perhaps want to watch em again or at a later date? Sux for me cuz I am sleeping from 2-10 on weekdays(work nights) :( So I will always miss ur live-streams sadly

[Kanti]

47% !! Awesome people let's try to keep it up xD

@dread - bleh I dont use my livestream too much yet so the schedule is probably going to be redone soon xD
Sorry D: But Im glad youre interested that makes me happy!

[MerEmma]

Woo! We're getting there.

[MerEmma]

"TICKET SALES WILL STILL BE UPDATED" :P

[Aziara]

How is this raffle going? There don't seem to have been any updates lately.

[MerEmma]

Kanti said she won't be updating here, the link to the updates are in the first post. Not as convenient but I suppose it will have to do.

[jvry8c]

just sent payment for 3 more tickets.

[MerEmma]

Yay!

[MerEmma]

It's been nearly a year since all of this and nobody still can seem to get a hold of Kanti. =\

[Morticia Mermaid]

I've been sending her links to everyone asking where she is. I've been trying to get my own funds back. But every time I ask, she completely ignores me :/ Starting to get really irritated as I could use that money for when I move in May (roughly $400)

[AniaR]

:/ sorry folks.

[Winged Mermaid]

Wow, bummer :( Well, for those of you looking to get your money back I know you can't go through PayPal as it's been too long. But if you payed through PayPal with a credit card, or with debit or bank transfer- go through your credit card company or through your bank. People in this community and the cosplay community I know have had luck with that. There's some paperwork and waiting involved, but it can work. Good luck!

[Winged Mermaid]

Someone in my mermaid profile news feed tagged Kanti's Fan Page in a status yesterday (forgot she had one) and she's been posting new sculptures and photos of customer sales in this month. So I guess she really is just ignoring everyone for this raffle? That's just :mad:

[Morticia Mermaid]

I just sent her a message, cause I'm getting seriously frustrated. Asked her 2-3 times since the beginning of December. And every time seems like I'm just being ignored, and it's not like I'm not making it clear what I am asking.

[Mermaid Kelda]

I had contact with her late last year, at which point she was helping me finish my design for my tail. Nothing since then, so I might try posting on her facebook page if I can't get a hold of her otherwise.

[MerEmma]

Yeah, I'm looking to get money back too. Need my last supplies for my raptor costume by March and $25 doesn't seem like a lot but I sure could use it. Really frustrating--I never thought we'd have these issues with her. =\

[AniaR]

So, I'm not trying to throw mud or anything and I know it wont be seen that way since it's ME and Kanti and I had that big blowup last year but...

two of my friends work in cosplay which I don't. They're on forums etc and they sent me some screen shots about Kanti, the comment is highlighted in pink though be aware it's 4chan which I guess is pretty much the ass end of the internet lol :p I find it hard to follow: http://imgur.com/2nMtiZi

Also, one friend pointed out " looking through her shop she has quite a few reviews of non delivered items, items delivered way past their due date, and horrible quality issues." even some of the 5 star reviews point those things out: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KantiKane

I think in our community we are too eager to want more tail makers and free tails. We believe anything. I was curious if anyone remembers if Kanti has actually worn a tail or owned one? Not that that always applied, but if you want to a win a tail from someone I think it's best if they have used one before and maybe made a few.

[Aino Revontuletar]

I had completely forgotten about my $25. I could use it too. I notice she recently updated her tail tutorial on YouTube (a few days ago I think) but that's all the activity I have seen from her in a while - though I know she posts on the Atlantis forum and I have not been on there in so long and I was never really active on there in the first place and only popped in every now and again to check how her tutorial was going. I don't know if she has ever worn or owned a tail before, the only thing she mentioned is that she has never actually made one before.

[Bellasea]

I had completely forgot about this until now. I had really wanted to enter, but now I'm glad I didn't. I'm so sorry all of you are in this situation. :(

[Morticia Mermaid]

I had around $200 in tickets that I had gotten for my mom, on top of having started making payments to pay for a tail outright. So yeah :/ I'm not happy at all. Specially since I can't even get her to respond to me.

[Aino Revontuletar]

I had around $200 in tickets that I had gotten for my mom, on top of having started making payments to pay for a tail outright. So yeah :/ I'm not happy at all. Specially since I can't even get her to respond to me.

That is really awful Morticia, I hope for your sake that this gets sorted soon :(

[MerEmma]

So, I'm not trying to throw mud or anything and I know it wont be seen that way since it's ME and Kanti and I had that big blowup last year but...

two of my friends work in cosplay which I don't. They're on forums etc and they sent me some screen shots about Kanti, the comment is highlighted in pink though be aware it's 4chan which I guess is pretty much the ass end of the internet lol :p I find it hard to follow: http://imgur.com/2nMtiZi

Also, one friend pointed out " looking through her shop she has quite a few reviews of non delivered items, items delivered way past their due date, and horrible quality issues." even some of the 5 star reviews point those things out: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KantiKane

I think in our community we are too eager to want more tail makers and free tails. We believe anything. I was curious if anyone remembers if Kanti has actually worn a tail or owned one? Not that that always applied, but if you want to a win a tail from someone I think it's best if they have used one before and maybe made a few.

I completely understand where you're coming from. I don't feel like I'm much the kind of person to do something like this but with Kanti she was really active on the forum, had gone to a lot of trouble for the tutorial, helped Jazz and others out a lot...she seemed really trustworthy and I was for sure she would pull through. She still may with refunds, but it's disappointing that she hasn't already.

[Morticia Mermaid]

Starting to get rather pissed off right now. Kanti just posted on her page, and I got no response to my message. So I sent one to her page, no response. I finally just commented on the post she made as it seems to be the only way to get her attention. We'll see how long it takes for a response.

Checked my paypal history, I've sent her exactly $325. I know that she cannot use an excuse of her computer with all that info on it broke down because you can just check paypal history. I'd be more than happy to give the exact dates and how much was sent on that date to make it easier for her to find it.

[Morticia Mermaid]

And my comment is gone. Sent her another message and if she does not respond, I will be contacting a lawyer.

[AniaR]

Morticia I just noticed your "I claim pat 1001" lol in your signature.

I'm sorry you lost this money, there's pointers in the fishbutts thread about filing complaints to get your money back even if the paypal limit is up, good luck.

[Morticia Mermaid]

I would go through my bank, but for some reason my bank history is showing absolutely nothing prior to August 2013. I know how much the bank transfers were and when, just not sure if I can take the information to the bank and have them look it up.

[AniaR]

your bank has to keep records for a long time by law, so even if you can't see them, they can :)

[Morticia Mermaid]

Well, she has blocked me from the page and is still refusing to respond to me. I just finished filing a complaint with IC3, I'll be picking up a small claims packet from the courthouse on Monday and stopping by my bank tomorrow to see what they can do.

[MerEmma]

I'm really glad you're going to do all that, Morticia. You've got more money in it than me obviously as well but I really don't want to remind my mum of all this (I think she forgot about it) because I don't want her to be even more weary of the mer-community.

Good luck, and I'll be hoping for good news. I can't believe what this has turned into. Gahhh. You just don't expect some people to just do that. Disappointing. :s

Just hope the fact that raffles without a permit are illegal won't taint anything.

[Morticia Mermaid]

Finally heard from her. Guess she got a message from IC3 about having a complaint filed against her. Got my funds returned. It's going into savings for when my unemployment runs out next month. Been looking for part time work since I was laid off and still can't find anything.

[MerEmma]

Did she say anything about everyone else's money?

[Morticia Mermaid]

:( No. This was her message to me


What email can I refund you via paypal through?

And asked me how much. Have you tried emailing her Emma?

[MerEmma]

I've emailed her before but I'll try again now.

[Aino Revontuletar]

I'm glad you got your money back Morticia. If she doesn't respond to you Emma I will try emailing her

[AniaR]

:/ the last thing we need is more people taking community money like before. glad to see she refunded, hope she refunds the others

[MerEmma]

The email IS Kanti-Kane@hotmail.com right? ​This is the one from all her websites.

[WavyMermaidy]

Emma, let us know how it goes...I'm in the same boat as you as I bought one raffle entry as well. I realize 25$ isn't a huge deal in the grand scheme but the principal of it sure is.

[MerEmma]

I will definitely post updates if I get any...I've emailed that same address several times before and never heard back. I'm really anxious to get this money back--I think I've been trying since November. =\

[Mermaid Kelda]

I got a message from Kanti today saying she would like to refund my money until she finishes my tail. I believe I have paid the most out of anyone ($1500) so I think that is incredibly professional of her, especially since I didn't actually ask for my money back.

It's such a pity about the raffle, though. So disappointing for everyone involved :(

[MerEmma]

I got the refund! Just told her which paypal email it was and how much. :)

[Aino Revontuletar]

Awesome, I will have to ask her for a refund too then

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I'll need to ask for my refund as well then. Glad to see she's repaying them.

[AniaR]

Professional? I mean you all waited a year in silence and someone had to threaten legal action.... Then everyone had to email. :/

Glad to see people refunded.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[Aino Revontuletar]

Agh I can't remember whether I bought one or two tickets >.< hopefully she has the number of tickets I bought in her records. I know at first I bought just one ticket and then I think I bought another one later on but I am not 100% sure on that.

[Mermaid Kelda]

Professional? I mean you all waited a year in silence and someone had to threaten legal action.... Then everyone had to email. :/
I think she's been the only person to actually successfully give out refunds. Fish butts didn't, Merberry didn't, mermaids r us didn't. $1500 is a lot of money, plus all the rest on top of that. I didn't ask for my money back but she offered anyway. Yes, I'm sad this has happened, and I'm disappointed that she didn't deal with it sooner. But I respect that she owned up and left herself so far out of pocket.

[Morticia Mermaid]

Thought I'd share one of the final emails I got from her-


You're welcome. I'm a little confused as to why you didn't take the money back earlier when I first suggested that you might need it for your bills, as I had a feeling this would eventually be the case. I also feel a bit irked as you made it seem quite urgent for bills, yet your wall clearly states that you've purchased silicone, boots and a tattoo. If money is tight, I suggest not spending so much on luxuries until things are sorted out and your life is a bit more on track.

Don't get me wrong, though, I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, it was clearly unfair to handle such a large sum of money.
But understand that you don't have to justify you wanting your own money back to me, so please don't demean me by lying about such emergencies or threatening me with a lawyer. It is very uncalled for and makes me rethink our relationship.


Good luck with everything




Kanti Kane

This is the response I sent her


Regarding the Silicone, tattoo and boots- I borrowed money from family to pay for the silicone. The boots were bought by my fiance as an early wedding gift. And the tattoo was a gift from Miyu and her guy for the help I have been giving them in fixing up their house. So I haven't bought any luxuries.

I didn't take the money back when you suggested before because I had several interviews for jobs, non of which I got. My unemployment DOES run out next month. I was hoping to get the money back LAST month to put it into savings so it would earn interests and I would have a bit extra for when my unemployment did run out. So please do not call me a liar.


I had asked you the last time we talked, twice actually, and you completely ignored me.


If you feel the need to end the relationship, then that is your choice. I just don't appreciate being called a liar and having been ignored.



Hope you get everything figured out soon. I've heard from several people who paid for tails in full who haven't heard anything back from you in several months, but you're posting on your page about masks.


She called me a liar when in fact I did not lie. I got a loan from family for the silicone, which I will be paying back over the next 2 months. The boots were an early wedding gift from my husband. And the tattoo was essentially a gift for helping Miyu in various ways. The only amount I paid was $40 for the tattoo supplies, which came out of the tattoo change jar I keep by my bed. Most people put change into vacation jars and such. Mine is a tattoo jar, and I have been putting change in it for the last 2 years to be able to afford another tattoo -.-

I REALLY don't appreciate being called a liar. So I'm trying hard to not go off the deep end.

[Mermaid Kelda]

To be fair, if I saw that stuff on your Facebook page, I'd probably jump to those conclusions too :P how could she have known about your tattoo fund jar?

[Morticia Mermaid]

She was on my friends list. I mentioned the jar often, and specifically said that I had took a loan from a family member for the silicone

But oh well.

[AniaR]

I think she's been the only person to actually successfully give out refunds. Fish butts didn't, Merberry didn't, mermaids r us didn't.

Actually, all 3 used to give out refunds or exchanges. Fishbutts did it when they were still in good standing for almost a year before then just started going off the radar (which is exactly why myself and so many others didn't jump at first when she was quiet- because she'd been doing exchanges and refunds all along so no one had any reason to believe she'd suddenly stop- but she obviously did). Merberrys gave out a few, and then went off, and I've heard of mermaids r us giving out one. The thing is, all 3 of them are registered businesses so it makes a bit easier to go after them, than a person you've met on a forum and signed up for a contest for.


Agh I can't remember whether I bought one or two tickets >.< hopefully she has the number of tickets I bought in her records. I know at first I bought just one ticket and then I think I bought another one later on but I am not 100% sure on that.

If you paid through paypal check your payment history :)

And Morti, it's no one's business but your own what you spend your money on :/ you don't need to justify it. How can she say you don't need to justify it, but then get all accusational about it? :/

I hadn't realized people had paid in full for tails, ugggh. I get so nervous for people when they jump on a tail maker who hasn't even made a tail yet, Im not even sure she's swam in one or owns one either. (I've never seen a post about it in all the years on here, I could be wrong) people have HUGE expectations with silicone tails. even free one. and it's very easy to underestimate how much time and money just 1 will cost.

[Aziara]

Well, I got my $25 back. She emailed me back really quickly. I guess she's checking it often with all this going on.

[Mermaid Kelda]

She was on my friends list. I mentioned the jar often, and specifically said that I had took a loan from a family member for the silicone

But oh well.
Fair enough, I don't know the whole story so I guess I'm not really in the position to comment on it!


Actually, all 3 used to give out refunds or exchanges. Fishbutts did it when they were still in good standing for almost a year before then just started going off the radar (which is exactly why myself and so many others didn't jump at first when she was quiet- because she'd been doing exchanges and refunds all along so no one had any reason to believe she'd suddenly stop- but she obviously did).
Ah, I didn't realise Fishbutts had given out refunds at all. That makes more sense now.

All in all, it sucks that this has happened. Kanti's a talented artist and I was looking forward to seeing this project take off. I'm glad people have gotten their money back, though; the last thing we need is another Fishbutts debacle.

[Aino Revontuletar]

I checked my paypal records and it says I did only pay for the one ticket, so I sent her another email confirming that. Hopefully I get my refund soon too

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I have sent a message. Now for the waiting.

[WavyMermaidy]

I just emailed her as well.

[Mermaid Lilium]

I had an email from her the other day that I used to let the guys on wavemotion know to email her, I'd funded her horn indiegogo too and she's giving everyone from that refunds while still mailing out the horns. She didn't have to decide to send the horns out if she was going to refund so I think that's great of her.

I have to give her kudos for offering refunds for everyone for the raffle and horns and she's been curtious and apologetic in my emails with her over the last few days.

I would also like to point out that life gets in the way sometimes so I understand all too well, but I'm still glad you guys who paid in lots are getting refunds as it's only fair with the raffle being cancelled etc

It also probably took a big chunk of bravery to admit her faults and not to continue hiding as we saw others do, hiding behind strings of excuses etc

I'm not mad at Kanti, just a little sad that the project didn't work out.
Hopefully now she will be able to focus on getting tails finished and the rest of the video tutorials done. =)

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Hmm. It's been a few days and I still haven't heard from her. I'm wondering if she got my e-mail.

[Aino Revontuletar]

Hmm. It's been a few days and I still haven't heard from her. I'm wondering if she got my e-mail.

I haven't heard from her either. Maybe she hasn't been checking her emails?

[Mermaid Kelda]

Try contacting her on Facebook? That's where I heard from her.

[Mermaid Lilium]

I haven't heard back from her in a few days either, she's probably trying to sort everything out x

[WavyMermaidy]

I too have not gotten a response via email...will try the Facebook route perhaps.

[WavyMermaidy]

Still no response via email or Facebook :( Anyone else have luck?

[AniaR]

it's entirely possible she just isn't able to refund everyone all the funds right at once too. If she used the funds for tail materials, than some people may have to wait until she earns them back? Just a thought

[WavyMermaidy]

Yeah, and I'm ok with that for sure but I would at least appreciate a response to indicate that in any case. I'm always one to give people the benefit of the doubt so perhaps she is busy, but if it's for something like not having the funds I just would like to know.

[AniaR]

yes agreed

[Patches]

I paid for my tail in full in cash. I would love to hear back from you about the tail I paid for. My phone broke so I can't text from that number anymore but please get back to me Kanti :/

[Patches]

I have paid 1500 dollars cash for my tail which I put straight into her bank account IN PERSON. I have the receipts from that with the date and everything on them. I really really want my money back. It took me a while to save that up and I'm beginning to get livid. I got so busy with the holidays so I cut her some slack but it is now February....I have tried contacting her 3 times since Christmas. Nothing. :/

[Morticia Mermaid]

My advice is to keep trying. Send her an email every day until she responds

[Winged Mermaid]

I have paid 1500 dollars cash for my tail which I put straight into her bank account IN PERSON. I have the receipts from that with the date and everything on them. I really really want my money back. It took me a while to save that up and I'm beginning to get livid. I got so busy with the holidays so I cut her some slack but it is now February....I have tried contacting her 3 times since Christmas. Nothing. :/

Wow, that really sucks :( You could take her to small claims court. The limit for FL is $5,000 for small claims. I heard someone say recently that if you win you can have her pay for your legal and court fees on top of the money she owes you as well. You'd have to check on that, I'm not certain. Hope it doesn't come to that though. Really hope you can get your money back!

[Aino Revontuletar]

Still haven't heard from her via email, and I'm not friends with her on facebook so I can't really contact her on there unless I send her like page a message. Should I do that?

[WavyMermaidy]

Still haven't heard from her via email, and I'm not friends with her on facebook so I can't really contact her on there unless I send her like page a message. Should I do that?

I'm not FB friends with her either, so that's what I did (messaged her page) but obviously it hasn't been successful.

[Mermaid Lilium]

I just sent her another email (trying not to swamp her with them) seeing if there's anything I can do to help, and said that I don't mind playing messenger as I know how overwhelming it might be to have to contact everyone. Will let you know asap if I hear anything back from her.

[Patches]

Wow, that really sucks :( You could take her to small claims court. The limit for FL is $5,000 for small claims. I heard someone say recently that if you win you can have her pay for your legal and court fees on top of the money she owes you as well. You'd have to check on that, I'm not certain. Hope it doesn't come to that though. Really hope you can get your money back!

Honestly at this point I think that is what I am going to have to do. I've spoken to several of my close friends about this, (not many cause this kind of shit always happens to me and its ridiculously embarrassing because I am known for getting robbed or scammed since its happened so many times >.<), and they all keep telling me to do the exact same thing you just said lol

[AniaR]

ugh RayeBlonde I wanna ask you, and I keep mulling it over how to ask it without sounding rude and I can't think of a way. So please, don't take this as a jab but just an honest looking for more context... why would you give someone who's not a tail maker 1500$? Like, when I gave Raven money I'd known her for years, she swam in tails, made other tails, and repaired mine for me. So I was okay with giving her that kind of money (though I got nervous when it took a while too) and it worked out well for me. But with Kanti, I had no clue (I guess cuz I didn't use the other forum?) that people were actually paying for tails in full when she was still collecting raffle money and hadn't even made a tail before.

I think it was asked before, and I'm not trying to be a jerk, but did anyone confirm if she ever owned/used a tail? I'm not saying a person totally couldn't do it... but she'd just come back after a big hiatus and is suddenly a tail maker? I think our community in general has to give people a chance to prove themselves a bit... so I guess yeah, like did you spend a lot of time talking to her or did she do something that made you feel safe about giving her that kind of money?

I really feel like she's doing exactly what she spent months accusing Stevi of. And while people here are trying to look on the bright side of things, tip toe, and make excuses for her, that's exactly what Iona and I were given so much shit for doing when fishbutts FIRST started having issues. I'm talking when she had late tails and still took orders. Not when she disappeared off the face of the earth for over a year now with people's money... which isn't that what Kanti has done? She disappeared for a year with peoples money. A few people got it back after posting about it all over here and threatening legal action. But now she's awol again.

I agree with everyone else, it would be great if she just told people "yup, I don't have the money anymore, I need to pay back in instalments." and since she reads this, I'm sure she will eventually.

It's great people are being nice about it. but maybe we need to establish ground rules for things like this on the forum in general. As more people start to become tailmakers and selling tails before they've tested them etc. Sort of a guide to buyer beware kinda deal? Like a if you wanna sell tails on the forum you must adhere to _______ or something I derno

[Winged Mermaid]

I think the forum could use a blacklist. Basically if you take someone's money and don't deliver a product or refund you're blacklisted. Tailmaker or not (could apply to swaps too). What do you guys think?

I was hoping we'd never have to have one of those, but mermaiding is gaining enough popularity, it's becoming an issue slowly but surely :/

[Aino Revontuletar]

I think the forum could use a blacklist. Basically if you take someone's money and don't deliver a product or refund you're blacklisted. Tailmaker or not (could apply to swaps too). What do you guys think?

I was hoping we'd never have to have one of those, but mermaiding is gaining enough popularity, it's becoming an issue slowly but surely :/

That sounds like it would be a good idea, so long as you are not too quick to blacklist someone. Like if for instance a tail is taking longer to make than the tailmaker previously anticipated, but they are still communicating with their buyer, apologising for the wait and giving them updates etc and not vanishing off the face of the earth. Sometimes stuff just happens and you can't finish something as quickly as you would like to. I know that happens to me all the time. But if someone is promising something and just running away with the money, with no updates and no accountability then it is probably best if you do blacklist them.

[AniaR]

I think it's about time, we could black list the FAKE tail makers too, you know the ones that make fake websites using photomanips? Like obv Adam MArtyn, Fusbutts at least. But we should obviously have clear guidlines of how people get on the list, and how people can earn their way OFF the list.

I agree with everything Aino says too.

[Aino Revontuletar]

There are fake tailmakers using fake websites with photo manips? O.o Wow, I did not know that

[OceanRose]

yup great idea

[Mermaid Dottie]

I vote yes!

[AniaR]

There are fake tailmakers using fake websites with photo manips? O.o Wow, I did not know that

yup, there was one using different colours of my tail lol

[Aino Revontuletar]

Well I sent Kanti's facebook page a message, so fingers crossed she will see it and give me my refund

[Mermaid Momo]

Well I sent Kanti's facebook page a message, so fingers crossed she will see it and give me my refund

What is her Facebook anyway?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Winged Mermaid]

Profile: https://www.facebook.com/kanti.kane.9?fref=ts
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/KantiKane

You can try messaging her on her etsy too: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KantiKane?ref=si_shop

[Mermaid Lilium]

Profile: https://www.facebook.com/kanti.kane.9?fref=ts
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/KantiKane

You can try messaging her on her etsy too: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KantiKane?ref=si_shop

there's also the ask box on her tumblr: http://kantikane.tumblr.com/ she posted/answered something a week ago

[Patches]

ugh RayeBlonde I wanna ask you, and I keep mulling it over how to ask it without sounding rude and I can't think of a way. So please, don't take this as a jab but just an honest looking for more context... why would you give someone who's not a tail maker 1500$? Like, when I gave Raven money I'd known her for years, she swam in tails, made other tails, and repaired mine for me. So I was okay with giving her that kind of money (though I got nervous when it took a while too) and it worked out well for me. But with Kanti, I had no clue (I guess cuz I didn't use the other forum?) that people were actually paying for tails in full when she was still collecting raffle money and hadn't even made a tail before.


You wanna know why?
Cause I'm absolutely flipping DESPERATE ))):
I cant afford an expensive ass tail
and I want a new one because mine literally
tears my feet up and they start bleeding.
I have scars on my feet from the damn monofin inside of
this tail. There's holes everywhere that they tried to repair
but I think the damage done by previous models is just a little too much.
It also doesn't fit. Its more than way too tight on me. The holes
probably wouldn't show if I put a girl who is a size 0-2 in my tail.


When I heard someone was going to make a tail for only
1,500 I got so very excited and wanted to JUMP at the opportunity
to get my dream tail for cheaper.


Another reason, I looked at her other work and thought it
was awesome so I figured she'd definitely be able to do it.
She knows exactly how to make a tail (I watched her youtube videos)
and she pointed out all these things about other tails that piss me off and
was going to make sure my tail didn't have any of those issues.


Another: She's local to me. I have been dying to work with someone
locally on my dream tail. When I saw the design she drew my jaw dropped
and I got swooned and instantly was thinking oh my god this is my dream I need
to invest in this tail.


Additionally: I figured since the whole raffle thing was going on
that I could trust it more since all these people were investing money
as well. I figured, welp, there's no way she's going to run out of money
for supplies. Wrong, I was again I guess):


Sounds like an awesome plan!
If people want to sell tails they need to make one or two
PREMADES (not customs) and auction those off before they proceed with becoming a tail maker.

When you really want something, it can make you do stupid shit.
I pulled a Fry I guess. ):
18402

[AniaR]

Aww yeah I see your perspective.I'm sorry to hear all that. :(

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[Aino Revontuletar]

I don't blame you at all for trusting her, if I was in your situation I would have jumped at the chance too. $1500 is an awfully good deal for a completely custom tail made to your designs. Even though she hasn't made a tail before she still seemed very knowledgeable and seeing her other work I had no doubt whatsoever that she would be able to make a great tail.

[AniaR]

I feel like everyone is knowledgeable though. iona and I and several others know all the details too simply from being around long enough.

Anyway thanks for answering me Raye. Did you try checking in with your bank?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Lilium]

hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I still think that if kanti were to manage to sort this whole mess out and fix whatever issues that have caused all this, that she could produce great tails. She is skilled and knowledgable. I just think that perhaps she took this on at a time when she really wasn't actually ready for the pressure of it all.

I also think she should have been focusing on one thing, which is why I was originally suprised that she was doing the indiegogo for her horns at the same time when she was supposed to be doing the tail stuff.

and perhaps her selling the masks and stuff is a good sign for those of us wanting our money back - she might be using that to raise the money to pay us all back -trying this whole positive thinking thing-

I also want to chime in on the whole discussion about if there should be rules for new tail makers. Realistically, as someone looking at starting making and selling them, I don't think it's fair or reasonable to demand that someone has to shell out their own cash to make more than one tail before they are 'allowed' to sell tails. I for one would NOT ever be able to do so, at least not for a very long time. I am intending on making my own tail yeah to get the processes down but I couldn't afford to keep paying out for materials for 'premades' or extra personal tails without some kind of financial backing. To enforce those kind of rules means that it's making it near impossible for people to start a tailmaking business and kinda makes the market restricted to existing tailmakers only. And as amazing as raven is, 1) I would love to see a certain other tailmaker driven out of business and 2) you never know what that poor kid with amazing talent and a great imagination could do to further advance the art of tailmaking. *rant over*

Not trying to start any drama I swear, just saying my honest opinion and showing things from another perspective xx

[Mermaid Lilium]

Just to update those on this thread, Kanti still has not replied to any of my attempts to contact her, I am trying one last attempt to email her now and make it clear that she has managed to loose even me as her last remaining ally or last understanding ear unless she were to reply now and start sorting out the refunds.

I don't even have the option of taking legal action to get my money back as I'm not in the same country =(

[AniaR]

Really sorry you all went through this.

[Mermaidmechanic]

File a complaint with IC3 as well. I made a whole topic on this; im a generous and patient person but this has crossed a line for me.