Beware AskArt

Picassosattic · #1 08-28-2006, 09:14 AM

This morning I received the second of two invitations to open an artist's studio on AskArt.com.

Now I am very wary of AskArt to begin with since they killed me off in 2004 and no matter how many times I pleaded with them to restore me to the living they insisted they were correct that I was dead. They had combined by bio with that of another artist who died before I was born. It was not until my husband began to forward them condolence emails that they responded. When the finally restored me to the living by bio was a mess and did not even remotely resemble the original bio that was submitted by a gallery for me. I was then told that if I corrected it it would state that the bio was submitted by me the artist and NOT the gallery owner. Sheesh! So I did nothing, and to this day my bio is a mess.

Well, I decided to give the artist studio a whirl signing up for the one month free trial using the economy version. I submitted my name, so far so good. Uhhhhh..no vehicle presented itself for me to list under the studio format. The classified add was the only option. So I filled out the info and published the add thinking that was what they wanted. I was billed $67.00!!!!!! for my add!

Where was my free one month trial? Where was my artist studio that my account says I have?

I immediately canceled my add and emailed AskArt to come up with some clear directions for the use of the economy studio and to not charge my credit card for the $67.00 add.

So if you have been approached by AskArt beware! You could be paying more than you think!

hillrune · #2 08-28-2006, 09:21 AM

I would also call your credit card company and contest any charges that may be put on your account...

That really does sound messed up! Protect us from places like that! and to think they have all your private info.

Picassosattic · #3 08-28-2006, 10:05 AM

Good advice, Mary. I am still waiting for a response from them.

Fagan · #4 08-28-2006, 11:00 AM

Holy Cow!! thank you for the "heads up" with this company Ruth.

Picassosattic · #5 08-28-2006, 04:10 PM

Okay, Alison at AskArt has been working with me all afternoon. It would seem that they have had a computer glitch that caused my work to end up as a classified add and charged $67.00. They have credited my credit card and fixed the problem.

I have been able to go in and add some things to my studio and Alison is going to help resurrect my original bio from the gallery owner.

Here is the promo code if anyone wants to give it a try since they have corrected the problem.

promo code: Studio999

hillrune · #6 08-28-2006, 04:48 PM

OK can you start over and tell why this is a good place to list? What's the address?

Does it compare to the other websites we use already? Is it auction or fixed?

Thanks!

Picassosattic · #7 08-28-2006, 05:21 PM

Here is a copy of the mail they sent me.

Dear Artist,

Artist Studio is now LIVE! Your feedback a few months ago helped us design the perfect place to showcase and sell your art online. As a thank you, we'd like to give you (or please send this offer to an artist friend of yours) a free Artist Studio for one month, with no obligation.

"The number of daily visits to my old web site has tripled since my AskART Artist Studio presence." -- Jack Stuppin, landscape painter

In three easy steps, you can now:
● Place your art in front of our 40,000 daily visitors, including many buyers. No commissions taken.
● Secure your place on the internet's most recognized site about American artists.
● Link to your own web site from our successful online hub of collectors, agents and gallery owners.

Sign up before September 30th and your Artist Studio is free for the first month, with the option to continue on at a low monthly rate. Or pass it on to an artist friend of yours! It's ready to go in minutes - just follow the steps below.

Visit a sample Artist Studio on AskART:
http://www.askart.com/AskART/studio/...tudio=11008892

TO SET UP YOUR FREE TRIAL OF ARTIST STUDIO:

STEP 1: SIGN UP

If you don't already have an AskART user name and password:
● Click here: http://www.askart.com/AskART/help/ar...info_page.aspx
● Choose the Economy, Classic or Advanced plan
● In the box provided on the billing page, enter free promo code: Studio999

If you have an AskART user name and password:
● Click here: https://www.askart.com/AskART/member...info_page.aspx
● Choose the Economy, Classic or Advanced plan
● In the box provided on the billing page, enter free promo code: Studio999

STEP 2: CREATE IN MINUTES
● Register your name, contact information and just a few quick facts.

STEP 3: MANAGE NOW OR LATER
● Add portfolio images, artworks for sale, biography, exhibition records and other information, whenever you like. It's always quick and easy.

If you need help or have questions, please contact us at studio@askart.com.

Enjoy!

AskART

By trying it out for one month you do get to write your own listing and you will be listed in the Blue Book of North American Artists. So it is another resume builder. It is $16.95 per month for the economy studio, but you can only list nine works. I don't want to pay ahuge fee until I know whether or not this will sell art for me. Several gallery owners and art dealers have told me that they do wellthrough AskArt so I will give it a try.

antgeek · #8 08-29-2006, 05:59 AM

sounds interesting, thanks for sharing your experience!

Picassosattic · #9 08-29-2006, 06:56 AM

I woke up to another email from AskArt telling me that they are extending my free subscription for one extra day to make up for the problems yesterday.

hillrune · #10 08-29-2006, 09:04 AM

That sounds like good business...hope they get your biography right! and quickly!

Thanks for posting the email asking for artists.

madster · #11 08-29-2006, 12:01 PM

I'd take them up on the free offer just for the Blue Book of American Artists listing!

Hope everything works out well for you, Ruth! It sounds like they're at least trying, which is a lot more than can be said of other venues...

~M

Picassosattic · #12 08-29-2006, 01:46 PM

Thanks, Madster!

VictoriaChampion · #13 09-01-2006, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picassosattic

Okay, Alison at AskArt has been working with me all afternoon. It would seem that they have had a computer glitch that caused my work to end up as a classified add and charged $67.00. They have credited my credit card and fixed the problem.

I never believe anyone when they say "computer glitch" caused problems. That's just a cover-up for "human error" or something more nefarious. IMO, software doesn't reroute information and charge you. A person does that. I have been using computers daily for years and years, and "glitches" are few and far between. And "glitches" are usually weird disruptions of the program, causing it not to run properly, not shifting info around to new sections and certainly not "accidently" charging you.

For example: I recently called an online art store and asked where the second part of my shipment was, why had it not been shipped, according to their tracking number records. And they said, oh! computer glitch, sorry, we will ship out today. I knew immediately I was being lied to, with a standard response. I could tell because for one thing she said her response immediately without even looking into the issue. But at least they were gonna ship my items. Will I order from them again? Yes, because they have the best prices, and they replace items that arrive damaged without any questions.

Just be careful of being taken advantage of, with that "computer glitch" excuse. It is used so often in online business and government offices, it's cliche.

madster · #14 09-02-2006, 02:32 AM

Victoria, glitches occur on a continuous basis each and every business day. A "Computer glitch" does not have to mean that it originated from the computer. A glitch is "a minor problem that causes a temporary setback" (Mirriam-Webster.com), or regarding Computers, ANY "error, malfunction, or problem" (Dictionary.com). Sounds like an appropos description for human error involving any type of data entry, wouldn't you agree?

That most computer errors ARE human generated, doesn't make the term cliché, nor is it a "cover-up." It's the honest truth. No business is EVER going to say, "Gee, we're sorry, one of our employees jacked up your account beyond recognition, and it'll take our IT guy a couple hours to try to get everything sorted out..." Computer glitch covers situations from the shipping clerk forgot to send half your order to being charged double for a back-ordered item that never arrived, and everything in-between.

The excuse of a computer glitch is perfectly valid, and if the business making it then fixes the problem, there should be no major problems. Especially if the business then puts forth a "good faith" effort, to make amends which, in this case, happened.

~M

VictoriaChampion · #15 09-02-2006, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madster

Victoria, glitches occur on a continuous basis each and every business day. A "Computer glitch" does not have to mean that it originated from the computer. A glitch is "a minor problem that causes a temporary setback" (Mirriam-Webster.com), or regarding Computers, ANY "error, malfunction, or problem" (Dictionary.com). Sounds like an appropos description for human error involving any type of data entry, wouldn't you agree?

That most computer errors ARE human generated, doesn't make the term cliché, nor is it a "cover-up." It's the honest truth. No business is EVER going to say, "Gee, we're sorry, one of our employees jacked up your account beyond recognition, and it'll take our IT guy a couple hours to try to get everything sorted out..." Computer glitch covers situations from the shipping clerk forgot to send half your order to being charged double for a back-ordered item that never arrived, and everything in-between.

The excuse of a computer glitch is perfectly valid, and if the business making it then fixes the problem, there should be no major problems. Especially if the business then puts forth a "good faith" effort, to make amends which, in this case, happened.

~M

Sorry Madster, but that is deception. It is an excuse specifically used to mislead the layman. If it was human error, say it was. People have a right to know when a business is mishandling their account willfully or through incompetence. Businesses blame the computer to make it seem like they are innocent of any wrongdoing. You agree to as much in your post. So I stand by my post.

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