Commissioner Beware

[asininehazel.livejournal.com]

I finally got the time to post the dialogue between myself and an artist (www.trialsze.deviantart.com) I tried to commission once. Even though it has been about a year since this happened, it hasn't damped my feelings on the issue.




What happened is that I didn't get the picture I commissioned him for after a year and two months waiting for it. Check under the cut for the large picture of our correspondence, and further explanation.





I took screen-shots of the emails between me and him when I realized that he was going to fight me about the money. Click the link then click the thumbnail and zoom on the picture for a bigger version that contains the story of the debacle. Beware, it is a lot of text, so I don't blame anyone who doesn't want to read it all. I have small summaries posted the right the right side of the actual emails.






Now I am *always* prepared to take my share of the blame, and if you see where I screwed up, please tell me! I asked for a lot, I know I did, but that's why I told him to tell me I did if he couldn't meet my requests. But I don't think I requested so much as to deserve that kind of response from him.

My main reason for posting, other than venting, is to warn people about commissioning this gentleman. He may complete 99% of his commissions without a hitch, but I was the 1% that he didn't, and his response has left me baffled.
 *Fixed name in the link.

Comments

[mazz.livejournal.com]

Ok so... He told you it was done and colored but the computer was broken. Then he sends you a sketch and pretty much calls it done without coloring it.

I don't see where you left any mis-communication; sorry this happened to you thanks for the warning.
--

*edit*
The link to their DA name is misspelled in your post(not the screencap stuff).

[asininehazel.livejournal.com]

Thanks :). Fixed the name in the link.

[eski.livejournal.com]

Read through it, and it feels like he was dicking you around. I don't know if that was his intention, perhaps he lost track of your info and lost interest in the piece? Regardless, I think the lack of proper communication from his end, constant excuses, and sub-par "final" commission is a show of his business practices. Lame, I'm sorry you had to deal with it. =/

[thaily.livejournal.com]

He does seem rather disorganized and defensive when confronted with this and the matter of his less-than-speedy pace of work. I'm guessing he also has other stuff going on his his life that makes him act this way, but that's still not much of an excuse :/

[asininehazel.livejournal.com]

He did have stuff going on, I'll give him that, and I honestly didn't expect the picture to be done for awhile, but not delayed for more then a year. I'm just hoping I can help someone else avoid a mess like this.

Thanks for commenting hon :)

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

It's a nice sketch...but that's what it is: a sketch.

He did sound defensive. I don't think this was a miscommunication issue, it sounds like he is avoiding the project, you, whatever. Even worse, because it was anthro he can probably pass it off to his fans as "It's just a crazy furry trying to ruin me. Oh furry drama." Maybe he didn't feel inspired, maybe he was just disorganized but regardless, the behavior was really unprofessional.


Maybe this will help if you wanted to take it further:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec07.shtm#help

[asininehazel.livejournal.com]

First, thanks for replying. All these comments make me feel as long I wasn't totally at fault here. I do think that he passed me off, in the end, as a crazy person in the artist's description.

Looking at the FTC.gov link, I wish I had come across it earlier. I wish I had split the payment to him. If I had done either of those, I may have gotten some money back. I don't think the government agency will look into a two year old case with $45 on the line, but I will keep this close to me in case I ever run into this situation again.

Again, thank you for commenting in the first place. I really appreciate it :).

[minimalismo.livejournal.com]

Yikes!