I need some advice.

[fangwoof.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to say any names or name what site these people are on just yet but I will if it all comes down to that. Currently I paid for 2 commissions from 2 different people. I paid for 2 pixel icons from Person 1 and 2 avatars from Person 2. I commissioned the first person on May 4th of 2012 and the second on May 9th of 2012.

Person 1, I have noticed, has been taking multiple commissions at once lately, requires payment upfront, only does one or 2 of the artworks and doesn't do any more before taking other commissions. I have messaged her 2 or 3 times asking about the progress of my commission and every time she says something like "I didn't start on them but I promise I'll do them tomorrow. Sorry." So far I haven't seen any progress on my works or even other people's works.

I have only received half of my commission from Person 2, but only after I sent a note asking about it since I saw her work on newer commissions. That was somewhere around the end of June. I sent her another note asking about my other half today but she ignored my note. I saw that she posted that she was opening for another commission spot and said something along the lines of "I'd really love to do an avatar for someone this time around." (exactly what mine was).

At this point I don't know what to do. Should I ask for refunds? Should I wait a little longer? Should I report?

Comments

[radcatastrophe.livejournal.com]

I'm having a bit of trouble myself poking at a few artists who've owed me around similar times, if it means a lot getting your work from them then try setting up a deadline like many will suggest. Possibly widen the times between asking for updates, and whenever a new commission post is made poke them again asking if they were going to tend to commissions before the newer ones.

People are going to make excuses when they don't wanna do something, it's a fact and though it's unprofessional for someone with a business to do so they're still human. Just don't try and be a bother in the sense of sending a note daily asking the same thing and stalking their profile ya know? But you need to stay persistent with them if you want the art (or refund) though if they've done most I'd wait it out, but if they haven't even started ask for an update (sketch possibly) or they refund you simple as that.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

For the second one, she's taking quite a bit of time, but I wouldn't go so far as to say she's ignoring your note since you only noted her today. While much more proffesional to reply to you, she may mean to reply later and had other things planned. Or, still not the most proffesional thing but human, she may have put it aside for a minute, got distracted and forgot. I find I forget about notes much more easily then I do my email, but that's also why I only work through email.

I'd give her a bit more time to reply before doing what others would suggest.

[alisea.livejournal.com]

I would request proof of progress or request a refund if they can't produce anything within a reasonable deadline.
Sorry to hear about your wait, hopefully it ends well.

[koohiimonsutaa.livejournal.com]

I hate when people start working on other commissions that came after yours, or even opening commissions before they're done with thier previous ones. :c How do they expect to keep up with everything? Especially when they're proven that they can't. I've run into that so many times.

If you've already been waiting for a couple months, and they're not too busy to do other commissions before yours, I think its time to start complaining.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

I don't really agree there. I often open up for more commissions while still having some to do, I work in order so the commissions from before always get done first and the new journal always has a link to my Current Queue.

So it's not always a bad thing unless they're doing new commissions first or are taking long like the OP says.

[leahtaur.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree -- especially when you have customers that are in a different timezone or check their messages once a day or less. It takes time, sometimes two or three days, just to set up the payment and info for commissions for that type of customer, so it's never a bad idea to open up a round of commissions and get that back and forth going while still working on previous ones.

Of course, this can be abused if the old work is not being finished.

I also don't think it's a bad thing to work on commissions out of order if that is communicated to the customer ahead of time, but again, that can be abused as well.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

That's usually why I take on more. I have time limites as to when I need info plus payment, so there's not -as- much going back and forth, but I show progress updates and those can take a little while to get replied to, so I'll take on some more.

[intj-reflection.livejournal.com]

I think it also depends on how many commissions are outstanding when a new round is open, as well as how quickly the artist is completing those commissions.

If someone is constantly taking (random example) 10 new commission slots while they have 15-20 outstanding and only finish five before opening up commissions for yet another 10 on top of that repeatedly over a period of time it sets up a potential issue. That's how back-logs that get up to the ridiculous numbers grow.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

Of course, it's just that my reply was to someone who didn't have that in their comment, only saying that all new commissions while still having old ones are bad.

Different people handle things differently though. I personally wouldn't judge someone who takes large lists because I used to as well and could handle it just fine. It's just up to the commissioner is they're ok with being at the bottom of a long list, and artists should always make sure people know ahead of time that there's a list.

[houndofloki.livejournal.com]

I tend to think if someone has a long list, they should publish it in their commission journal (if not names, at least the number). It sucks to get one of five commission slots in a journal, and not find out until after you've paid that you're like 31 or something on the overall list.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

I know exacly what you mean. I traded with someone once, no warning or public list and later found out it was in the hundreds. Took about or more then two years to get my image.

But in the end, that taught me to make certain everything is available and have warnings. My profile has my Current Queue and whenever I take on new commissions, I make sure to mention I have others ahead of me and link to the Queue again.

[intj-reflection.livejournal.com]

I definitely understand that, I prefer to consider artists on their own merits. ^-^

My intent was only to do what you did, add extra thought and information to an existing comment since my own thoughts are a combination of yours and koohiimonsutaa's with that one clarification.

[copper-season.livejournal.com]

Was there an agreement on when the art would be finished? If there was and the artists are past the due date then I would tell them you want a refund if the art is not finished as per your agreement. If there was no agreement on a due date, then you have to ask yourself how much longer are you willing to wait for the art before resorting to asking for a refund.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Agreed deadline or no, a month+ seems like a long time for an icon. Even if pixel icons are laborious things? And she hasn't started yet?
I'd say, if the other customers just paid her, get a refund while the getting is good.

[ansitru.livejournal.com]

A very detailed one with unique frames still only takes me a week at most, provided that I work on it for at least 3h a day.
So a month for a pixel, even if it's a detailed one on a 50x50 or 100x100 canvas is a bit outrageous. :I

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

I'd personally check if they have a history of not doing the work (you know who they are, so you can just see if they're listed) and if they are, then I'd go for a refund. If they're not listed, then depending on whether I wanted the art still, I'd either send a note asking for it or the refund by X date.