http://a1reproductions.com

I sent in an order and paid for it on 1/24, they were very responsive in regards to taking my money.... but now I have not been able to get an update since I started trying them via emai, phone, or chat in the middle of February. The phone number just rings to no answer, their paypal phone # is disconnected....

Googling for info seems to only show affiliates and ads. Can any TWW sleuths track down more info?


I am at a point where I am planning on trying another order under a different name to get someone to eagerly talk to me, then yell at them. I did file a case with Paypal today

3/1/2011 4:18:26 PM

Might call this guy tonight:

http://alex-duncan.co.uk/work-and-projects

3/1/2011 4:30:56 PM

Registrant:
Wayne Fan
1073 N Batavia
Orange, CA 92867
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: A1REPRODUCTIONS.COM
Created on: 26-Aug-08
Expires on: 26-Aug-11
Last Updated on: 29-Sep-10

Administrative Contact:
Fan, Wayne Jonathan.shih.1@gmail.com
1073 N Batavia
Orange, CA 92867
United States
+1.7145326100

Technical Contact:
Fan, Wayne Jonathan.shih.1@gmail.com
1073 N Batavia
Orange, CA 92867
United States
+1.7145326100

3/1/2011 4:54:23 PM

discount oil painting, China oil painting, oil painting replica, oil painting from photo, oil painting reproduction, canvas oil painting, oil paintings for sale, hand painted oil painting, oil painting from photo, china oil painting, buy oil paintings, cheap oil painting.

3/1/2011 4:55:44 PM

lol what did you buy from this site?

3/1/2011 5:19:38 PM

Called 714.532.6100 and got these guys:

Sota Precision Optic - Optical Goods Manufacturers Tel: 7145326100
1073 N Batavia St, , Orange, California, 92867-5572.
We specialise in Optical Goods Manufacturers
Contact: Brian Kim Title: Owner


After a few puzzled transfers while I was asking for Wayne Fan, they eventually found out that A1Reproductions used to be located in their building at one point... no clue where they are now

3/1/2011 5:20:42 PM

^^ Some bar art crap

3/1/2011 5:21:32 PM

Lol, their merchant reviews look....less than authentic

Quote :

"This is a 5 star review. Read full review By MattE - Jan 31, 2011 - Google Checkout Reviews"

http://www.google.com/products/seller?hl=en&q=a1reproductions&bav=on.2,or.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=shop:1&source=og&cmi=35844815739355136&sa=X&ei=B49vTe7mJJK6tgfKi730Dg&ved=0CCoQqQwwAQ

3/3/2011 7:54:27 AM

Just posting anything I am finding at this point

Quote :

"A1 Digital Seeking Magento Commerce Expert in Shanghai Category: Jobs > Jobs Available About this job: Employment type: Regular Industry: IT/Internet Contributed by: a1reproductions Contributor Description: Compensation is between 6000-8000 depending on experience Location: Jing An District Position: Full Time Contact: service@a1reproductions.com A1 Digital is a diversified e-commerce company based in Shanghai, China with representation in both the United States and Canada. The company is independently operated and focuses on planning, developing, implementing and financing a broad range of e-commerce projects. A1 Digital services a broad range of e-commerce industries, including fine-arts, filmed entertainment, fashion, food & beverage and general commodities. A1 Digital is currently seeking qualified Magento Experts to join their team. The company has an exciting opportunity for experienced and polished Magento developers with a firm grasp of their system. Responsbilities will include developing themes and modules within the Magento system. The ideal candidate will be a well-rounded individual with a stellar work ethic, common sense and a meticulous attention to detail. Impeccable track record of trust with confidential information is a must. This position requires the ability to shift priorities quickly in response to changing circumstances, remaining flexible, calm and focused while multi-tasking in a very fast-paced environment."

3/3/2011 11:47:57 AM

The "Co-Founder" Jonathan Shih finally emailed me apologizing and saying my work was still queued up for being assigned to an artist... after a month and a half. He offered another painting for free and I took him up on it, but I asked for photo proof that my piece was being worked on within a week... Still have a claim pending with paypal.

Updated registration:

Quote :

"Registrant: Jonathan Shih 19145 Caretta Drive Rowland Heights, California 91764 United States Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com) Domain Name: A1REPRODUCTIONS.COM Created on: 26-Aug-08 Expires on: 26-Aug-11 Last Updated on: 29-Sep-10 Administrative Contact: Shih, Jonathan Jonathan.shih.1@gmail.com 19145 Caretta Drive Rowland Heights, California 91764 United States +1.3109827881 Technical Contact: Shih, Jonathan Jonathan.shih.1@gmail.com 19145 Caretta Drive Rowland Heights, California 91764 United States +1.3109827881"

His house (built 1962) is worth ~$350k and he bought it in 1997

[Edited on March 3, 2011 at 12:08 PM. Reason : moar]

3/3/2011 12:04:13 PM

Update: Basically they have finally gotten things moving on their end and have sent photo updates showing the work done on the paintings so far. Very impressed with what I see - even though it has been a month and a half now.

3/11/2011 2:03:44 PM

They offered to do a bonus painting to make up for the delay... so I sent them a pic of a Viper. I am happy with their work:

Original photo I grabbed online:


Their dude painting it:

3/11/2011 4:10:12 PM

i think your picture and painting are tilted

3/11/2011 4:33:46 PM

i think they pulled a banksy on you in the painting. they added some dude's head.

3/11/2011 4:40:06 PM

I showed a chick that I work with and she said:

"I can't believe all the detail, like, on the the guy's hair and stuff"


wow.


[Edited on March 11, 2011 at 4:41 PM. Reason : funnay]

3/11/2011 4:40:08 PM

glad it worked out

3/11/2011 6:08:25 PM

^ Not quite yet. Still have not received anything. I have photos of all of my completed artwork, but nothing has shipped. The owner emailed me 5 days ago and said that they are going through a change in ownership... but he is ready to ship everything out and asked if he could send me another invoice.

I told him I am not paying any more money and to ship my shit out... No response yet.

Emailed them again today asking for tracking numbers.

4/6/2011 12:38:08 PM

Just got the tracking numbers, it is on the way... if I get an empty mailer or something ....



Extra note: The FROM address links to SUNSHINEPROMISING.com . Sunshine Promising Gallery as an artwork reproduction shop in the Hua Min building.

SUNSHINE PROMISING GALLERY
565 XUEYUAN
MID.ROAD CHENGXIANG DISTRICT
PUTIAN, FUFUJIAN 351100
CN

Domain lookup:

Quote :

"Domain Name.......... sunshinepromising.com Creation Date........ 2006-02-18 Registration Date.... 2006-02-18 Expiry Date.......... 2012-02-18 Organisation Name.... Zuwen He Organisation Address. PO Box 61359 Organisation Address. Organisation Address. Sunnyvale Organisation Address. 94088 Organisation Address. CA Organisation Address. US Admin Name........... Admin PrivateRegContact Admin Address........ PO Box 61359 Admin Address........ registered post accepted only Admin Address........ Sunnyvale Admin Address........ 94088 Admin Address........ CA Admin Address........ US Admin Email.......... contact@myprivateregistration.com Admin Phone.......... +1.5105952002 Admin Fax............ "

When I lookup that phone number it is apparently linked to a ton of scam sites from the same province of China:
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/5105952002


This is insane.

4/13/2011 12:30:18 PM

so where do you put the odds that your painting is actually on the way?

4/13/2011 1:12:40 PM

are you sure that is a painting of the viper? it looks like the exact same photo just brightened up with some photoshop enhancements....

4/13/2011 1:19:48 PM

Doesn't look like that to me...all kinds of differences. If it's photoshop, then someone spent a bunch of time making it look like a painting.

4/13/2011 2:13:07 PM

They could just be painting OVER the photo, that'd probably be easiest.

4/13/2011 2:21:05 PM

Date and time    	Status 	                                    Location Service Area
4/13/2011              6:12 pm 	Depart Facility   	            Hong Kong, Hong Kong
                      6:06 pm 	Processed at DHL Location.   	    Hong Kong, Hong Kong
                      1:47 pm 	Clearance processing complete       Hong Kong, Hong Kong
                      1:06 pm 	Transit through DHL facility   	    Hong Kong, Hong Kong
                    11:23 am 	Depart Facility   	                    Shenzhen, China, Peoples Republic
                    11:21 am 	Processed at DHL Location.   	    Shenzhen, China, Peoples Republic
                      9:33 am 	Transit through DHL facility   	    Shenzhen, China, Peoples Republic
4/12/2011             11:45 pm 	Depart Facility   	            Fujian Province, China, Peoples Republic
                      8:20 pm 	Processed at DHL Location.   	    Fujian Province, China, Peoples Republic
                      6:40 pm 	Shipment picked up   	                    Fujian Province, China, Peoples Republic

4/13/2011 3:06:02 PM

did the painter polish and wax the front of the hood for you, or leave it looking like flat plastic?

4/13/2011 3:11:22 PM

Good eyes. I didn't even notice... the original pic has that effect on it also. Oh well.

4/13/2011 3:15:46 PM

The most obvious shit to me is the essentially identical reflection pattern on the window

4/13/2011 5:05:10 PM

Quote :

"Wonder if it will get here by Friday"

[lol]Surely you don't mean this friday[/lol]

4/13/2011 5:36:02 PM

According to DHL estimates....

4/13/2011 5:37:59 PM

impressive...maybe they paid for faster shipping since they're so late on this.

here's hoping it isn't empty

4/13/2011 5:58:15 PM

I did an estimate from their building to my door, with the expedited international. They are paying $200+ in shipping apparently... wowsa

And yup, it may even get to my door today - if not tomorrow:

4/14/2011             8:29 am 	With delivery courier.   	    Morrisville, Nc
                      8:15 am 	Arrived at DHL facility.   	    Morrisville, Nc
                      5:18 am 	Depart Facility   	    Cincinnati Hub, Oh
                      4:27 am 	Processed at DHL Location.   	    Cincinnati Hub, Oh
                      3:02 am 	Clearance processing complete   	    Cincinnati Hub, Oh
                      3:02 am 	Transit through DHL facility   	    Cincinnati Hub, Oh

4/14/2011 10:36:36 AM

so how much did you pay for this painting job in the first place?

4/14/2011 10:45:43 AM

damn you love that fucking viper

4/14/2011 10:55:56 AM

I paid $600 for paintings for my wife, going into our home bar

The Viper one was just a bonus, I figured I needed something to hang in my garage

4/14/2011 10:59:20 AM

Got everything today. Just got done dropping it off at the framing shop. Spending around $200 for the stretching

I will need to have a local artist do some touchups. The paintings really are amazing, but specific details which I asked to be included were omitted and it is just annoying. I have 6 emails (3 sent by me, 3 responses from them confirming) - asking for a particular piece of detail on the piece and they left it off. The communication is just terrible.

They also charged me an add-on for "lifetime varnish" to protect the paintings. The people at the framing shop laughed and told me that they do not have varnish on them and that you only put varnish on an oil painting after it has dried for a year. I should have researched that I guess... but still. Just a shady business

They say they are moving under new ownership and apologized.

I am happy to finally have what I paid for, but god damn will I never do this again.

4/15/2011 2:43:42 PM

pics plz

4/16/2011 4:39:31 PM

http://www.myunclevinny.com/raleigh

Quote :

"$95 for a Professional Hand-Painted Oil Painting of Your Photo on Ultra-Quality Canvas from A1 Reproductions"

Quote :

"Do you have a photo that would look amazing on canvas? This perfect package includes a genuine 11x14" (size upgradable) hand-painted oil portrait of any photo of up to any 2 people (additional subjects for $40). Paintings are hand-painted by professional artists using premium imported oils - finished with a protective varnish coating on primed cotton canvas. Lastly, this package includes a $25 gift card with a personalized message that can be applied towards thousands of beautiful hand-painted oil paintings. Painting comes rolled but professional framing and canvas stretching options available at affordable prices."

Quote :

"A1Reproductions was founded in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. Our distribution hub is located in Houston, Texas with representation in Europe and Asia. We are regarded as one of the most respected art reproduction companies in the world. We employ world-class talent at all levels — a fine creative family, a savvy and knowledgeable management team, a full customer support staff and over 60 full time artists. Philosophy We care deeply about the human experience. Over the years, we have worked tirelessly to make art an uplifting, yet affordable part of people's lives. We understand that the value of our paintings extends beyond color and design. Our paintings capture the spirit of their surroundings and helps bring out a room’s unique attributes. It unlocks the potential of a place, organization, or company to tell a powerful story—one that displays its intrinsic characteristics and values. Beyond that, our paintings have a uniquely profound influence on people because it inspires and drives an experience that connects with them on an emotional level. We create and recreate art to enrich peoples’ lives. Our work reflects our enduring commitment to excellence. The everyday passion and enthusiasm of our staff matched with the quality of our paintings enable us to build a rewarding relationship with our customers. This principal is deeply ingrained in the spirit of A1. "

7/25/2011 10:48:37 AM

Catfish

7/25/2011 10:53:55 AM