>Does working for someone mean that you have to tell them any personal delay?< Yes, it's common courtesy. You don't have to go into minute details, but if you know that you are going to miss a deadline, you need to at least give the buyer a heads up. Art is a service based job, if you have poor customer service you aren't going to last very long as a business.
For example, say I order something on Amazon.com but oops, they ran out of the item. I get an email about it letting me know that the item isn't in stock and I get a choice to wait, or get a refund/credit. I don't get left hanging for months until it's restocked. Amazon may seem kind of out there compared to art commissions, but think about how the buyers are thinking. "Do I want to buy from BigBox company that consistently delivers things on time...or do I want to buy from flakey artist who I don't even hear from for months."
>But, it's also possible that it's something very personal< So you keep it simple. "I have a family emergency and I am unable to complete the work that you bought." The same thing you would have to do if you worked at any other job.
I don't think the OP was pestering at all, considering the amount of time that has passed (well beyond a paypal dispute).
no subject
Yes, it's common courtesy. You don't have to go into minute details, but if you know that you are going to miss a deadline, you need to at least give the buyer a heads up. Art is a service based job, if you have poor customer service you aren't going to last very long as a business.
For example, say I order something on Amazon.com but oops, they ran out of the item. I get an email about it letting me know that the item isn't in stock and I get a choice to wait, or get a refund/credit. I don't get left hanging for months until it's restocked. Amazon may seem kind of out there compared to art commissions, but think about how the buyers are thinking.
"Do I want to buy from BigBox company that consistently delivers things on time...or do I want to buy from flakey artist who I don't even hear from for months."
>But, it's also possible that it's something very personal<
So you keep it simple. "I have a family emergency and I am unable to complete the work that you bought." The same thing you would have to do if you worked at any other job.
I don't think the OP was pestering at all, considering the amount of time that has passed (well beyond a paypal dispute).