Isn’t it a rule on this board that “- You cannot sell something you do not have in your immediate possession (an exception would be pre-selling a mask based on a sculpt)” so why is it constantly over looked then everyone gets ripped and the hoopla starts all over again, MODS should delete and threads asking for money for masks that aren’t finished, I’m not trying to start o crap machine going but if a mask maker really had the intentions of finishing a run of masks, then he would and their would be less lip service about how great he is gonna make this sculpt. Its a vicious cycle and needs to be addressed, to many people are ripping off people on this board, and no measures are taken to prevent it. the section for checking someones credibility is as useless as tits on a boar. I’m not bashing maker intentions god only know their are some good mask maker on this board, but their are bad ones to, and its time to thin out the batch. stick to the rules. 
I AGREE MAN, GOOD COLLECTORS ON HERE GET RIPPED OFF BADLY FROM ALOT OF PEOPLE AND IT’S RIDICULOUS, IM STILL WAITING ON MY MR. MURDER MAKS FROM BRYAN @ MCS, WHICH WAS NOT MADE WHEN I SENT HIM THE MONEY… I HOPE HE COMES THROUGH I ORDERED IT @ THE END OF NOV. I KNOW HE WENT THROUGH TOUGH TIMES DRING THE HOLIDAYS CUS OF HIS MA, BUT HE POSTED THAT HE’D FILL ALL ORDERS, YET NEVER GET ANY COMMUNICATION OR UPDATES ON THE MASK FROM HIM. BRYAN HAS A GREAT REP ON HERE AND IS A GREAT MASK MAKER, I JUST HOPE I DON’T GO THROUGH WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT, ANY INSIGHTS ON THE SITCH? MUCH APPRECIATED
TAKE CARE,
JIM
That last deal with the H1 clown mask was a fiasco for poor Benny who wound up caught in the middle. I don’t think anyone ever got there money back from that crappy deal. Yeah there should be a rule concerning this type of thing. Unless you are a well established mask maker with a LONG track record of coming through with your product, then you should never ask anyone for money before you have the goods to deliver. JMO
Yep same old BS like with the mask :The Awakening" it need to be a wake-up call for the board. You can have all the good intentions in the world but if you can;t deliver then what good are you, and I don’t want to hear any more sob story about hardships, god I’m sick of them suck it up and get over it. When people ask me to make them coveralls I just don’t take their money and run, Hey I have had 2 strokes months of rehab to regain my right side, job loss lack of **Money.**My dad has cancer and is not doing well so save the sob shit we all have are own hardships, but the coveralls still get made and I still keep my promises.
this is my company policy on mask orders straight from my site!!
Now taking deposits! READ ABOUT OUR NEW DEPOSIT POLICY! – Morgan Films Entertainment, LLC is now accepting deposits for all of our masks. Here’s how it works… You place your order today and only pay a $25 deposit. We begin making the mask… to your specifications, of course! We send you photos and a final invoice once it’s all painted up. You review the photos, send us the final amount due, and give us the official “OK!” to begin hairing your mask. We will take and send you one last round of photos before carefully packaging, boxing, and shipping your mask to you via UPS priority mail. Typical waiting time on these masks is 5-7 days before it ships. Shipping in the US is 2-3 days via priority mail. International orders take a bit longer.
The final invoices are sent after the mask is painted but before it is haired. We do this because once the hair is put on, we can not make any changes to the paint. We require the final payment be made within 48 hours. If we haven’t heard from you after 48 hours, we will assume you no longer want the mask and we will cancel your order. The $25 deposit is non-refundable. We will sell your mask to a different buyer.
The rules have always pertained to members listing their masks/items for sale in the classifieds. Established maskmakers tend to get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to ‘trust’ - but you’re right, there has been a lot of shady practice going on (always has actually). While I believe that all members selling in the classifieds should absolutely have the mask in their possession before listing it for sale, that just isn’t possible for the makers out there that want to get ahead on projects. They have to take the money up front to pay for supplies and such. The problem is that many of these maskmakers spend the money on other nonessentials and then by the time they get around to making your mask they don’t have the supplies and cannot finish it in a timely manner. It’s all about motivation, along with honesty and trust and unfortunately not everyone seems to be motivated to get things done. I love the idea of 50 down up front/50 down when the mask is received. If it would become the standard in our community, things would run much smoother. 50% down is plenty to get the materials to get started and it puts the buyers mind at ease a bit. Just another WarLocKiaN opinion.
So here’s my sales pitch ~ If anyone needs work from me I’ll gladly honor the 50 now/50 when completed deal. I have no problem with it whatsoever. Done within 2 weeks to boot!
Nice and easy.
Good idea!!!
and not only that we’re in constant communication with the buyer! ask anyone who has dealt with us. if there is an issue, we’re transparent about it! It takes yrs to buld a rep and 10 secs to destroy it!
Hmm… this is a tricky situation guys. As far as I can remember, this hobby has nearly always involved paying up front for a piece, then waiting till it’s ready. It is slightly different if the mask is still ‘in the works’, and my personal view is that mask makers should not take orders until sculpt is completed and the masks are ready to go.
BUT…
I know many people who like to pay early for masks, and get in on a nice early spot. Lots of mask makers to offer spots before the masks are completed. Take Justin’s Maniac for example. I heard about it before the mask saw finally completed, so paid for it, putting my trust in Justin. I got my mask and was very happy with it. My point is that this has happened for years, and the majority of mask makers are 100% honest great guys.
Basically, it’s a risk. Like with enything of this nature, you are handing out money to someone, and trusting them to provide you with a mask. Heck, Starjerk was a good friend of mine. He traded here for ages, making many lovely masks. He sold on ebay too, never with any problems. I trusted him many times, and sent masks to him to get reworked etc, and never had an issue. There was simply no way that anyone could tell he was going to vanish. It’s sickening, and it’s not fair.
What I’m trying to say, is we will never be able to stop makers asking for cash upfront. All anyone can do is research the maker, ask around, get opinions, and above all be aware that there will always be a risk that things could go wrong.
It’s the few bad guys that are ruining this hobby for all the good mask makers out there. It’s such a shame, but as far as Myers.net, I don’t really see how we could ever make this situation 100% safe. The rules are made by Derek, and he chooses who can trade here. Maybe he’ll be able to chime into this topic with his thoughts too.
Very nicely said, Chad. 100% on the nose.
Thx Steve!
Agreed, the sculpt should be finished and I even think it should be molded before orders are taken. I have seen and been involved in projects where artists get the sculpt down perfectly then take orders… only to fail at the molding process and end up in a big hole.
I know many people who like to pay early for masks, and get in on a nice early spot. Lots of mask makers to offer spots before the masks are completed. Take Justin’s Maniac for example. I heard about it before the mask saw finally completed, so paid for it, putting my trust in Justin. I got my mask and was very happy with it. My point is that this has happened for years, and the majority of mask makers are 100% honest great guys.
I am long done with paying for masks before the project is completed. I just don’t have the $ to throw around nowadays and have been burnt too many times in the past. I highly advise against paying for a mask before you see it - because it’s very possible you’ll regret it somewhere down the line or never see it at all.
Basically, it’s a risk. Like with enything of this nature, you are handing out money to someone, and trusting them to provide you with a mask. Heck, Starjerk was a good friend of mine. He traded here for ages, making many lovely masks. He sold on ebay too, never with any problems. I trusted him many times, and sent masks to him to get reworked etc, and never had an issue. There was simply no way that anyone could tell he was going to vanish. It’s sickening, and it’s not fair.
Josh was a friend of mine as well and I NEVER saw his disappearing act coming. It’s really putting a hurting on this community to see these trusted guys turn sour. Who can you trust now, seriously? My list is short and sweet.
What I’m trying to say, is we will never be able to stop makers asking for cash upfront. All anyone can do is research the maker, ask around, get opinions, and above all be aware that there will always be a risk that things could go wrong.
It’s the few bad guys that are ruining this hobby for all the good mask makers out there. It’s such a shame, but as far as Myers.net, I don’t really see how we could ever make this situation 100% safe. The rules are made by Derek, and he chooses who can trade here. Maybe he’ll be able to chime into this topic with his thoughts too.
I actually spent 3 days writing the rules for MM.net when I was mod. Derek did add/edit to them a bit though. I think for the most part they’ve worked quite well though… no major complaints there.
I respect the rules but we could do an electronic contract that is a binding agreement and will stand up in court.
Yeah I agree with Chad and morgan’s policy 100%…The days of paying for mask before seeing the product are over for me also…I mean alot of people gave me crap for spending so much with Terry…Said I should have known better to shell out that much to the man when all his work was recasted off something else…That was bogus…Before that mess I literally bought from Terry countless times with absolutely no problem what so ever…I had been buying from Terry for years, not months, years…Way before I was even a member here on the board and I never once saw him turning to the darkside stealing a Kirk and never getting mask…That to me was totally unpredictable when I had bought from the man so many times over the course of several years…
Like steve said…Its a gamble almost everytime…There are very few mask makers that I trust these days…Guys like Justin, Nik, Sam and even Morgan are some fine examples of how things should be done everytime…Hell I think every mask maker should follow Morgan’s policy…You just never know these days who will turn south…Hell IMO I think MMP really started the run away train…Its like people just hoped aboard to follow in their foot steps…I know it was around before them but not as much and its only growned since the MMP situation…Its like once some people see guys like that getting away with it the care for customers goes right out the window…Or when big money is involved…People get paid, get lazy, communication haults, and they arent working as hard to get the project done because they have already been paid for said project…It truly does suck and I would just follow Chad’s advice and not pay before you see the product…Later guys
Human nature dictates that if you have something to work towards, money in this case, then you will get the work done in order to get paid. Getting paid up front for work that still has to be done takes that urgency of finishing a project away. It is easy to procrastinate when you’ve already been paid.
Exactly…well said
Well put. And a very good point.
Its the same as if I buy a mask and con the maker into giving me the mask and I’m gonna make payments and don’t make them.
I’m still waiting on a blank from Bry at MCS which was paid for on october 27…I cannot get any email responses at all…I understand he is back to work but still won’t respond to emails…I have asked for a refund and no response.
Sorry but that is so sad, and you will probably get a flawed blank when you get it, hell people think flawed blanks are made of gold and ask ridiculous prices for them, $50-$60 for a flawed blank, HELLO its flawed!!!