Refunds And Charades: How Long Is Too Long?

I’d like to preface this post by saying that this was a reader-submitted topic.

Last year brought a very interesting debacle surrounding the issue of masterclasses and paywalls (the article can be found here for more information).

What happened when you paid for the masterclass but it never went through? You’d ask for a refund for your money spent like any reasonable person.

Here comes, yet again, another issue.

You never get your refund back, even if it’s been promised.

What if the same can be said for product orders? What if you spent 180 bucks on an order and still had no refunds?

This has been an issue for a large group of hobbyists looking for both products and information that they had purchased.

When I wrote about the controversy surrounding StudioG’s masterclass, I was hoping that it would be the end of that. Things would move on and everything would be hunky-dory. What I wasn’t expecting was a reach out several months later asking if I knew anything about the state of the refunds from StudioG.

I did not. I stepped away slightly from the hobby due to personal life matters and career switching. So I put on my snazzy Investigator hat and got to work. What I found was interesting.

From what I can gather from his blog post, importation laws were violated, and customs seized two cargo containers. It could be connected with undervalued cargo and declared as personal use. He never specified which law it was, only that it had to do with the cargo company involved and thin promises.

Granted, in my personal opinion, I believe in the connection stated above.

His post is here if you want to read his take.

Many people have and are still currently waiting for refunds. Some are as high as the $450 masterclass cost.

An individual reached out and told me that there had been really only two masterclasses (from what I can tell and been told, so take this with a grain of salt) actively held despite the long list of class events.

There have been several apology videos made, but people weren’t satisfied. Customer service has been little help or just never responded in the first place. Excuses have been made often or between long periods of radio silence.

Here are a few more out of many screenshots I have so far:

Some have just given up at this point. There’s often a limited period for requesting refunds through PayPal. Certain cases date back to more than a year and a half.

There always seemed to be reasons or promises made when the question of “when am I getting my refund made?”. Issues with the home, sleeping through the scheduled class time, and so on.

The same goes for back-paying his mods, which at one point was four months behind.

Now, he’s been active on his social media accounts. He’s been active in the hobby. It’s just interesting that it’s been this long without solid responses from people who are dealing with this. Only time this seems to happen is when people start bringing it up.

There’s something odd about announcing a giveaway and an apology about refunds in the same post. That should be the first and foremost thing mentioned. A post specifically updating people about it or story updates.

This is all I can think of at this point

Just feels very apathetic to the scenario, you know?

Yes, it’s hard to run a business. I grew up watching both my mother and aunt run a home health care company, so I understand the woes that come with it. It’s not easy. However, there is a difference in keeping people constantly updated about the situation compared to going silent after posting a video or something on Instagram.

It feels disingenuous to the community. People love this hobby and the stores that supply them. I’m not sure what will come of this situation, but I’m hoping people get the answers and funds they deserve.

Most of my sources have asked me to be unnamed for the pure fact that they’re uncomfortable with speaking against a large, well-known builder. No one should be afraid to voice when something isn’t right. It’s been done with issues regarding GBWC or IPMS. Big builders, small builders, people who put weird things on their haros, it shouldn’t matter. Community accountability is important.

Crucial even, both to our hobby communities and outside communities (check out the concept if you like sociology topics!).

I’d take the time to look at who we idolize when it comes to our hobbies and make sure we can trust that they’re authentic individuals rather than becoming starstruck by talent.

Maybe this scenario can be a teachable lesson that we can take knowledge from. Maybe it won’t. We can only hold out to see what the future has to offer.

If anymore information comes to me, then I’ll keep everyone updated with a part two.

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