Russian doll artists

I apologize if this is the incorrect location for this thread, or if a similar thread has already been created!

I have a doll on pre-order from an artist in Russia, and have one payment left. They suggested using Boosty.to, but I can’t really find much info on the site. I asked another seller from Russia, and they said that they hadn’t personally used it, but knew others that did.
There is an option to pay with PayPal on the site.

My concerns are that, one, I’m not sure if the website is 100% secure. I’m a little paranoid online, so signing up for a site I can’t find info about makes me nervous.

Two, will PayPal protect the purchase? I haven’t signed up to see if it even allows payment through Goods and Services, or if it automatically selects Friends and Family.

Three, could my PayPal account be deactivated/banned because I used a Russian site? I have no idea how far the sanctions go, and I really can’t afford to lose access to my PayPal..

These could be completely dumb concerns, but I wanted to get other people’s opinions before doing anything. I really want to make sure the artists gets their money..

Thank you!

 

Wow, sorry for your situation! Try asking PayPal's Help Center before you do anything.
I wish I had more advice for you.
Best of Luck.

 

Thank you for the suggestion! I will do that

 

TashkasBears on Etsy from whom I've bought several wigs, is from Kyiv in Ukraine. I pray she is one of the ones who got out.

 

I've posted here before, about currently having a commission placed with an Russian artist via etsy. They said today that etsy will disable Russian sellers' communication with their buyers via etsy conversations on April 4th, which I find hard to understand. Etsy initially had said they would enable all transactions that were in progress at the time of their closing of the Russian shops to be finished on their site. Now I wonder if that will even be the case... I made screenshots of everything, anyway.

This artist also suggested using boosty, as I still have to pay for shipping, but apart from saying they think it is safe I have no further info on the service. They said a lot of Russian artists are keeping in touch with each other to spread incoming info on payment and shipping services etc, but the safety of using paypal with boosty for Western users might not be their first priority now.

 

I hope this warrants a double post, sorry.

re: using boosty to pay for ongoing transactions with Russian artists

I found a little more info on paying boosty. The site functions more like patreon and is not really set up for one time purchases in the first place. There is a payment tutorial here. (Please tag me if link doesn't work.)
The main danger I see is that these payments will appear as 'donations' in paypal, and I'm not sure if that counts as Goods and Services.
Here is a little more on using boosty and its background and problems, from the boosty page of an artist who has set up an account there because of the paypal ban. It is very interesting, but also a little worrying, I think.

Anyway, why are Westerners able to pay boosty (which is a Russian site) using paypal at all, when international transactions with Russia using paypal are stopped? I get more confused by the minute...

 

I found a great Minifee seamstress in IG right when the Paypal ban was announced, I still had a payment pending to a friend in Russia (non BJD stuff) and agreed with the seamstress on IG to wait if my friend can get the money out of her account… which took a week and by then new money transfers weren‘t possible anymore
She since agreed to just reserve the outfit to me until things get better but as it doesn‘t seem to be happening soon she contacted me again to offer boosty for payment… I regret not sending her the money when it was still possible

Reading the things about boosty on here now I‘m not too sure if this would be the best way though, I don‘t want to loose access to my Paypal but ofc I‘d like her to get her money quickly, it‘s not easy

 

I did get a response from a PayPal help center representative and they highly advised that I don’t send the payment through Boosty. They said that because PayPal in Russia is suspended, the payment wouldn’t be protected, and suggested I cancel my order.

Luckily, the artist just said we can wait it out.. hopefully by the time the doll is done, there will be some safe way to pay.

 

Using boosty to try to get around sanctions seems like it borders on illegal. "Other sites have blocked payments due to legality issues, so I'm going to use the site that doesn't care about legality" does not seem wise.

 

I have just heard from one of my favorite Russian doll artists. I will share her message with you. I was so glad to know she is safe so far.

Please patronize her if you can. Her items are beautifully made.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello!
It’s Tanya from Etsy shop LikeTheseDolls.

I’ve got an update from Etsy that due to ongoing crisis I won’t be able to access Etsy.com and my shop starting April 4.

Given this frustrating news, my focus is on providing continued service to my customers on the marketplaces where I’m able to run my small handmade businesses.

Your favorite items from my shop will be available here together with my best service and commitment to customer success:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/like_these_dolls/

My new shop: dailydoll.shop/authors/like-these-dolls/

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCLFyPSAbOPCDhfQdO5e56tA

email: [email protected]

Thank you for your patience while my shop is navigating through these incredibly difficult times. I hope I’ll be able to keep you as my valued customer.

Thank you for being such an awesome customer.
Sharing the values of peace and humanity, I hope to be of service for you again very soon.

Yours truly,
Tanya.

 

Oh that's good to hear! I'm hoping there are other Russian artists who can find a workaround so we can still support them.

 

Thank you for asking and letting us know the answer!
Do you think though, depending on how your inquiry was answered, we'd have to fear for our PayPal account or something if we do use boosty? I trust the seamstress and its not a high amount anyway so I'd take the risk of having a not-protected payment if that's all as far as risks go

 

I didn’t get the sense that a PayPal account would be immediately banned from the rep, but I wouldn’t want to risk it, personally.
I’m on mobile, so I’m having trouble posting the actual screenshots of the PayPal rep’s replies, but they are on my Flickr below:
Dearest Dolls

I won’t be cancelling my order, even though the rep suggested it. There’s no way I’m asking for 3 payments back, and I honestly don’t care how long it takes to get the doll. I just want to get the artist their payment safely..

 

Id love some recommendations for Ukrainian doll accounts to follow/makers to support on Instagram

 

Login • Instagram
Login • Instagram

Here are two that I know of with Instagram accounts (raysvetdolls and Whispering Grass)!

 

Thanks so much!!

 

Just because it's illegal (and it's not), doesn't make it morally wrong. Sanctions (at least those from the U.S.) had no impact on businesses like Etsy; it was purely a choice on their own behalf that made no economic impact, and instead hurt innocent people in the process.

 

There is also Lia_Nech from Captivated Dolls. I have & adore her (slightly overweight ) Sphynx, but she also made many human dolls. She sells on Etsy:
OOAK Bjd Resin Doll Sphynx Cat Blank. Ball Jointed Doll by | Etsy

 

Thank you! The sphinx is cute hehe

 

Whispering Grass is very good. She’s definitely worth following on Instagram. I agree that Etsy’s policy has been very short-sighted. But I suppose it was a business decision on their part.