Notice for Tumblr Users interested in adopts + other adopt info stuff
If you use deviantart, please send me a note through there.
The reason I don’t use deviantart’s message system- is because..
1. Deviantart is my main platform, and the DM option there has been abused with spam, I constantly get very inappropriate messages from time to time, spam bots, scams, and people copypasta requests. Mostly the latter, I have it muted because of this. Deviantart’s system does not let you opt out of direct messages, and the only way to stop people from using it is to block them.
2. Deviantart’s messenger design is extremely broken. Notifications are broken compared to notes, I did not get notified of chat messages even before I muted it on the app and browser. it also makes me very anxious because DMs make you feel like you have to respond right away at times- and since its my main platform- I’d rather be able to handle adopt queries in a way that doesn’t overload my memory.
3. It’s design has triggered migraine in the past. It might be the colors or the way the font is formatted that way- But unlike fb messenger and tumblr messenger, its just too bright for me. Notes has a very neat darkmode.
4. Chronic memory problems. I redirect people to contact me through notes, and respond in a certain format to adopt purchases to make sure my memory doesn’t flop, as well that it’ll be difficult to impersonate me and prevent my customers from being scammed. When people refuse to follow my directions, they are making it extremely difficult for me and themselves.
My memory only ever flopped whenever people interrupt this pattern. When people send me DMs on DeviantArt instead of notes when asked, it can confuse me and sometimes I confuse two customers with each other. This caused me to send the wrong files out one time. I don’t need that kind of stress- It’s not something I can train without patterns. It’s also caused me to send the incorrect invoice to someone before. I had to refund and resend that invoice. It might not sound like much, but these tiny things stress me out a lot, as I try to keep stuff professional- I am disabled. But I still want to make sure its professional and doesn’t make customers feel at unease.
5. I sell adopts through discord / facebook / twitter sometimes for users who do not use deviantart. Because the amount of people offsite is very low, this prevents confusion, as its easier to maintain that information in my short term memory. This might later change, should my customer base grow. I’ll likely change to ‘’email me your info’’ probably to prevent my brain from being bamboozled by my memory problems. But We’ll see. I only use facebook and discord to sell to friends, as well as a few small servers. So it is UNLIKELY you’ll find me on there. I do not advertise my fb profile / discord tag because I don’t want to get random friend requests. Always make sure its me. https://actualevil.carrd.co my carrd lists social medias were its easier to contact me officially.
6. Having to stress and constantly explain to people why I ask them to follow directions is just.. I wrote it down in description for a reason. For everyone’s convenience. I shouldn’t have to explain my memory disability just to justify why someone should follow instructions.
Here is an example of the typical dialogue on my adoptable batches, and how I handle orders through deviantart, this allows my memory to be able to function without disorientation. Repetition is the key.
‘‘Hi! I would like to grab nr 3 and 14.’‘
Thank you for claiming! Please send me a note: [insert redirect link to notes on browser, because deviantart’s website redesign has made it difficult to spot for people at times.] with your paypal email for invoicing! Thanks. Do not use chat messenger to contact me, do not leave your email in the comments!
The user send me a note with their email. Once I’ve written their invoice on my template and send it out, I’ll reply to their note with; ‘’invoice send! please reply here once paid.’’
The user pays, then sends me a new note to alert me.
When I’ve been alerted through notes, deviantart send a notification on the app, or I’ll see it on browser. So I go to check the invoices, make sure I select the one I send to this person, confirm order send, then go to my files, grab them and put them on stash, and then I link the other user a copypasta with their download link.
thank you so much!! pls download your files asap: [insert link]
for toyhouse uploads make sure to give me onsite creator credit: Toyhou.se/riel @ riel
For uploads outside of toyhouse, make sure to watermark your images to prevent 3rd party art theft.
Only credit my deviantart for uploads outside of toyhouse.
for other adopt related questions, write a reply!
The reason I ask people to approach me the way I do is also.. Its easier for me to spot an impersonator this way. People by now know that I ask them to send me notes, and that I do not use the chat messenger to handle these orders.
If an impersonator scammer private messages them, or sents them a note first, they should know that it is not me.
I also will be able to see if someone responds to them on my batches, pretending to be me.
I change my profile picture and background on deviantart occasionally, so people as well notice that I do not stick to one. This makes it more difficult to pull of a quick scam for an impersonator, whose accounts will likely only last less than 24 hours.
How I respond to returnee customers.
I have a private spreadsheet of my customers their username, social media, currency preference, and invoice email.
I’ll ask the customer or notify them that I will send invoices to the email address they’ve previously provided. Keeping track of your customer info not only makes sending out invoices easier, it slowly helps my long term memory remember frequent customers and regulars, this will prevent confusion too. It also makes sure that I charge in the correct currency. However, sometimes customers change usernames and emails, and I ask them to notify me in notes in case their email has changed. Usually when a customer changes their username, they notify me (which is appreciated!) so I don’t get confused.
‘‘I would like to grab nr 2!’‘
Hey I’ve noticed you’ve purchased from me before! An invoice will be sent to the email address you’ve previously provided. Should this email have changed, please inform me through notes and I’ll edit and resend the invoice to the correct address. Please send me a new note [insert that note browser direct link again] to alert me once you paid! Do not use chat messenger to contact me. Do not leave any private info in public comments.
And then it goes as you’d expect. Customer sends me a note, I manage to send them their files, yada yada yada.
At times some regulars become easier to remember, so I don’t add the ‘’correct the email if its wrong’’ part all the time. I only do that if I notice haven’t send an invoice to their email out in a while. (Because that might mean they’ve changed it.) Regulars come and go.
What happens when people don’t follow instructions?
1.If an user comments their email, I ask them to delete the comment immediately. Otherwise an impersonator might invoice it. I do not send out an invoice until the user has followed instructions correctly. (send a note with the email) this again, is to assure that I do things a certain way- and that way the customer base should feel secure. I will not invoice someone without them following instructions- because it can make me disoriented- and it might make customers easier to get scammed by an impersonator who will break instructions patterns.
2. If an user does not send me a note after I ask them too, this not only delays me sending an invoice, I have to waste time explaining to them that I can’t view the chat messenger without getting migraine, confused, or seeing a lot of inappropriate message requests from bot accounts on deviantart. It is stated in the adopt batch description, to explicitly not use chat messenger, as well in my comment reply routine. People just don’t read sometimes and that makes me sad. :( but they’re only making it more difficult for themselves by trying to break the instruction rule.
3. Sometimes when users do in fact follow it correctly and send me a note, they send me a paypal pay me link instead of an email. I assume this is due the confusion that other adopt community people have caused- most users tend to use the paypal dot me link to accept payments from their customers, so they maybe assume that sending this link allows me to invoice them.. But to properly send an invoice out, having their email address is more convenient on my side, as I can put the correct currency in the invoice, the proper amount, I can turn ‘’allow tips’’ on, I can insert my TOS. As well as make sure its listed as ‘’digital item’’ its comfortable for me and convenient in the event that someone tries to chargeback.
And I don’t want to change my method just because a few people might not be familiar with it. I’m eager to explain invoicing to people unfamiliar with it- there’s also this useful guide: https://www.deviantart.com/onisuu/art/Invoice-Guide-for-PayPal-657095358 But yes, thats the only main reason for me to know someone’s email. Purelly to keep track of who has purchased from me, and where to send the invoice to. Its an email address. It needs to be addressed to you! I have no other use for someone’s email address. I keep the spreadsheet private because I don’t want someone to put my customer’s emails in a spambot list. (Another reason why you should not post emails publicly.) Bots can see comments.
4. Sometimes users forget a few things. Like, not listing all the things they want in one comment, or forgetting to reply ‘’paid’’ these are minor things.. The double comment can confuse other customers who are looking at comments to see whats been claimed. But when people forget to reply to ‘’please alert me’’ it will cause a delay in me sending files, because I need to check payments after I’ve been alerted, to make sure I’m sending out the correct files. At times this delays me sending out files- i also send to reach out on my own to multiple people to make sure I’m not confusing them. This might sound- so very simple. But I cannot stress this enough. I was diagnosed with dissociative amnesia. I double check EVERYTHING more than 3 times to make sure I do everything correctly and don’t mess up. When people break the pattern, it can cause confusion- and its inconvenient for everyone.
I am never angry at people who break instruction rules, or forget to reply.
While I can be rightfully annoyed, or a little stressed about it. I understand that people have their own busy lives and may forget- or are in a rush. So when people do respond in kind, and apologize for making mistakes- ti all the more reminds me that they too are human, and not doing these things intentionally.
If anything, I always appreciate it when people follow the things I’ve written so I can get stuff out on them on time. And not make mistakes. It helps, so, so, much.
Why am I paranoid about this impersonator scammer?
This person is very active, and may have turned it in their job because they keep getting away with it. They mainly target people who do adoptable auctions. They’ve been on deviantart, and aparently discord now too.
I list all my social medias on my official Carrd. If you message me through there, you’re likely to get a response from the real me. But sometimes I respond slower through other medias. So Twitter, Tumblr, toyhouse and Deviantart, are the most likely you’ll get a hold of me. https://actualevil.carrd.co My toyhouse is not listed on here, but it’ll always be toyhou.se/riel !
If you’re wanting to get info on the scammer, here’s a forum: https://toyhou.se/~forums/5867.service-reviews/248371.-psa-impersonator-now-on-discord-6-18-
Make sure to inform yourself. I do only accept payments in a specific way. My invoices look and are a specific way. I try my best to be distinguishable.
They mainly target past auctions, but it wouldn’t be unlikely if they eventually target set price sales too.
If this post has helped you, informed you, in any way, I’m glad! If the info on how I handle orders with adopts helps you as a seller, that also makes me very happy!
