Larry Stroman: Reputable? 2 2

[DeadpoolJr.]

1 hour ago, Madman1138 said:

Now Stroman is doing these 11x17 sketches that he puts up for sale on various FB groups and such. They are pretty nice and I know better than to commission him, but I thought surely he won't have an issue with an already finished piece. So I replied, he told me where to Paypal the money and I sent it immediately. With shipping it was only $90, so I figured it was worth the risk even knowing his reputation on commissions because I liked the art. But sure enough, I never heard from him again. I messaged through the FB group sale listing, direct to him, and through his Paypal email address. He never responded to any of them and never mailed the art. Someone in the FB mentioned to me that they had to initiate a Paypal refund to get him to mail out their art, so right around 45 days since payment was sent and no word ever received, I initiated a Paypal dispute. Literally the next morning I got a FB Messenger photo of the shipping receipt with the tracking info and he mailed it. So I did get it and close the dispute, but without the ability to threaten to take the money back I doubt I ever would have seen my piece. I even watched him mock a guy he never delivered to on his FB page as the guy was trying everything. So unless you simply "have to have" something by him and see him in person at a con and buy something in a portfolio that is already done and right in front of you, just avoid any deals with him. He straight out doesn't care.

Those facebook groups should kick him so he can't screw people over like that.

[Will_K]

On 6/7/2016 at 3:01 PM, Koa said:

Fans tend to be reverential and forgiving of their favorite artists and artists who are prone to taking advantage of that, really push it to the limits.

This might be the worst part of being a comic fan.  Not to excuse bad behavior among some artists but I'm sure some of them have some fan encounter (and commission) horror stories as well.

But in general, this is one of the few hobbies or interests where you can get REALLY close to someone whose work you appreciate.  I mean, these people would go to comic conventions and don't have an entourage.  We're kind of used to it now but do you remember the first time you saw an artist and you knew their work ?

Do you think you'll ever get a chance to say... Hey Sir Paul, can you write a little poem for me in iambic pentameter about 3 colors and the 212 area code ?

[Subby1938]

This guy is terrible . Unless you see him in person DO NOT send him money . He will never ship you art. His whole game is to talk to you and sell his art cheap . Once he has your payment he ghosts you and hopes you didn’t cover your tracks using PayPal business payment . I paid him March 19/2020 for finished art he never sent . He made me file a PayPal claim to get my money back . Just a scum bag . He went  so far to take picture with art I supposedly bought only to never ship it . He actually removed all my comments and blocked me from Instagram , messenger , Facebook and refused to respond to emails I sent via PayPal.
 

BTW PayPal sided with me. For 180.00 bucks I have to ask was it worth smearing your rep as an artist and hurting a fan? In these crazy times of Covid where money is tight  I chose to send you some of mine in good faith  for art you advertised and you rip me off? 
 

STAY AWAY!!!

Edited May 6, 2020 by Subby1938

[exitmusicblue]

So many good artists out there.  Why gravitate towards this dude...

[Will_K]

@Subby1938

You mean this one ??

Larry Stroman's CAF

https://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=1630413&GSub=205190

Just walk away.

 

Edited May 6, 2020 by Will_K

[Subby1938]

No that’s a picture I never got . Money taken no art sent . 
 

March19/2020 paid in full no art sent . Larry Stroman has been ripping people off for better part of decad . This guy reposted the art I bought the same day I had to file a PayPal claim to get a refund . He’s garbage 

 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Subby1938

[Subby1938]

[Subby1938]

Can’t even get a refund for art he clearly wasn’t sending I had to file with PayPal . Class act here folks . 

[Subby1938]

Here is art on my page and the story to go with it .... funny how these posts initiated a reaction from Mr Stroman but I’m still waiting for PayPal refund  because even that’s pending  . I only got one response from this guy after I paid him that was after he realized PayPal was involved. Loser
 

https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1630381

Edited May 7, 2020 by Subby1938

[MagnusX]

Sorry this happen to you.

Glad that you post your experience.

Sadly Larry Stroman have a Reputation with money and commissions.
A BAD REPUTATION.

Buyer beware..!

 

[Subby1938]

To show you what kind of crook this guy is , this morning on CAF he posted the very art he sold me in March again!!!!! WTF you shameless piece of garbage . One day after I had to fight to get my money refunded through PayPal you post it again . 
 

Im embarrassed for you . Really 

[Blastaar]

He sold like 10 completed commissions to my local CB store at once. I am sure they were meant for someone else and he just sold them in bulk to the owner because he was in front of him with cash. That being said I bought 4 of the 10. 

[cloud cloddie]

25 minutes ago, Blastaar said:

He sold like 10 completed commissions to my local CB store at once. I am sure they were meant for someone else and he just sold them in bulk to the owner because he was in front of him with cash. That being said I bought 4 of the 10. 

Yeah, I got a commission and picked up a pre done piece at a con a bit ago. The pre done one had somebody’s info on the back, so I always assumed it was a request that wasn’t picked up from another con. No telling tho with all these stories. 

[Subby1938]

I hear that’s only way to get art from him is directly . Does he have drug problem? His behaviour is that of crack addict . He needs quick cash for his fix screws people over then pawns the art off later in bulk like a pawn shop . He’s terrible . 
 

I could never hang this guy on my wall with other awesome artists I have knowing what he does to people . I refuse to support that! 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Subby1938

[Catwoman_Fan]

Glad it was resolved and sorry to hear about your experience.

Buyers beware! There are tons of artists that have similar reputations, where they have trouble (to say the least) with shipping out finished artwork.  My friend successfully ordered predone pieces from Larry through facebook (against my recommendation).  But they arrived promptly (ish) without heartache.  Now my friend just has a few artists left that he's been waiting 4-7 years on. 

I had only 1 issue with a commission/shipping , and that involved Bill Sienkiewicz.  After 3-4 months I started (internally) freaking out.  This was over a decade ago, and in hindsight I wish I had been more patient because all I did was cause myself aggravation.  3-4 months is nothing, artists are flighty and unless they completely disappear off social media (this was pre-facebook) there is always a chance to get your art (...eventually).

When i make purchases through ebay, I much have higher standards.

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Catwoman_Fan

[Subby1938]

I wasn’t given slightest hint in almost two months that my commission had even started or no tracking info . I started to worry when customers contacted me saying they had nothing sent to them they purchased finished art months before me . 
 

I can’t wrap my head around not shipping a finished piece of artwork ? Show me the customer you’re a legit artist . Maybe I can wait longer for a commission but when you don’t send me the art , don’t answer my questions and even more bizarre force me to file with PayPal to get a refund ? Why ? Are you hoping I gifted you cash Instead of doing business transaction via PayPal, so you can disappear like you intended to begin with ? Sounds logical to me . 
 

im not that dumb to do that . I did a lot of reading about your behaviour and was willing to give you a chance  . Why not ? Well you failed colossally pal! 
 

 

[Unstoppablejayd]

These guys get reputations for a reason.. we as collectors give them the benefit of the doubt more often then not, so when they have a bad reputation it was usually  earned...

[Rick2you2]

10 hours ago, Subby1938 said:

I wasn’t given slightest hint in almost two months that my commission had even started or no tracking info . I started to worry when customers contacted me saying they had nothing sent to them they purchased finished art months before me . 
 

I can’t wrap my head around not shipping a finished piece of artwork ? Show me the customer you’re a legit artist . Maybe I can wait longer for a commission but when you don’t send me the art , don’t answer my questions and even more bizarre force me to file with PayPal to get a refund ? Why ? Are you hoping I gifted you cash Instead of doing business transaction via PayPal, so you can disappear like you intended to begin with ? Sounds logical to me . 
 

im not that dumb to do that . I did a lot of reading about your behaviour and was willing to give you a chance  . Why not ? Well you failed colossally pal! 
 

 

With some exceptions, I rarely see major complaints about more senior artists (although, I have seen them about Sienk).

[Subby1938]

I’ve gotten some art form big names and there has been no issue at all. A few took longer than expected but the communication was excellent and kept me confident that all is moving forward . 
 

This guy seems to be a broken record and reading posts that go back to 2012 people complained about this exact same scam. It’s too bad . His art is awesome he’s not . 

[AndyFish]

Larry is a major talent and I'm a big fan of his work.  A few years ago I bought two pieces of art from him that he had at a show we were doing together.   Last December he posted that he was in the hospital but able to do work-- he would post a sketch with a price and was doing this about everyday.   He posted a killer Tomb of Dracula which lead me to commission him to do a Werewolf by Night 11x17-- he asked for $150 I paid him $175 friends and family to cover shipping.   That was December.   Emails were answered quickly within hours until I paid, then ghost city.   It's a shame.   I'm a fan, I like his work very much, and I completely understand the trouble with doing commissions.   Veronica and I only do commissions at show season and if it's a mail order we do our damndest to get it to you within a month at the longest, but stuff comes up.   We treat commissions like paid work, no different than if we were working with a publisher.   I think too many guys think they can bang out a lot of sketches quickly, then become overwhelmed, then feel like what they have to send has to be killer so that makes it even more of a struggle.   I have six pieces I have to do this weekend so I feel his pain, but I have NEVER ever ghosted anyone, I treat commissioners like actual clients.

It's a shame because it hurts all of us when someone doesn't act professionally.  A simple email reply is enough.   I have a 'friend' who is a big name comic artist that owed me a favor and I said just whip me up a sketch as a thank you, he said it would be in the mail that weekend, that was five years ago.   I've long since given up on it showing up, but the guy never ghosted me.

Edited May 8, 2020 by AndyFish