Need some advice on handling a situation with an artist...

[craydrygu.livejournal.com]

I'm going to avoid using the artist's name for now, as I don't intend this to be a public call-out.  But I'm getting less and less patient, and I need some advice from people who've been here.

At FurFright (last October) I commissioned (and paid for) a pair of badges from an artist -- one for myself, and one for my mate.  She unfortunately took on a little more work than she could complete during the con (it happens, and I totally understand), but she did at least have the sketchwork done.  The mate and I approved of what had been done so far, so we traded contact info with the artist and traveled back home.

The timeline inbetween then and now, in a nutshell, looks like this:

• December 4th -- Artist finally gives me an update.  Says they have been "extremely busy" and apologizes for the delay, adding the badges shoud be "done soon, within the next week or so."  I thank them, and confirm the address to ship the badges to.
  
• January 2nd -- I write to the artist saying my mate would like his money back, but I still hope to get my badge.  After a short discussion, my mate agrees that he's willing to wait another two weeks.  The artist says "Two weeks will not be a problem" and asks me to send her our character descriptions again, as she cannot find them.
• January 18th -- The artist scans in the completed badges and posts the picture.  They look great.  I confirm our address again.
• January 30th -- No word from the artist, and no badges yet.  I send another email, and get a reply saying "I will likely be sending them out tomorrow via priority mail, so you should have them by the end of the week, if not sooner."
• February 11th -- Still no badges.  I send another email asking for an update.
• February 20th -- Still no badges, and no reply to my last email.  I send another.  If you're wondering, yes, I was polite about it. "I haven't seen them yet, so I wanted to check in with you and make sure everything's OK.  I hope they didn't get lost in the mail."
• February 26th -- Still no badges.  Still no reply.  I send one more email, and CC two other addresses the artist gave me.

So here we are, March 1st -- about four and a half months later.  Still no badges.  Still no reply.  I believe the artist to be ignoring my emails.  I know they're around -- their Livejournal has been updated four times since February 11th.

What do I do now?

Comments

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest at this point that something is wrong. Whether it's they've managed to lose the art, or are just forgetful and absent minded in the extreme, I'd say they need to know that you find the continued delay, after you have been polite and patient, to be unacceptable. I'd suggest writing a polite but very firm email, letting this artist know that you cannot wait any longer. Give them a deadline by which the badges must be in your hands, or you will post the situation with names publicly. It's very sad, but sometimes the threat of tarnished reputation is what it takes. And if they are the kind of artist that's not going to come through and fulfill their obligations, after repeated chances to do so, then letting the rest of us know who they are is a service to us as well.

[neongryphon.livejournal.com]

I agree. It could be down to a number of factors, web based and other RL problems. But if you send them a warning mail, then still find that you have to post their name publicly here, at least someone who knows the artist might be able to enquire after the badges on your behalf. Better yet if the artist could explain themselves to you. Mix ups happen, but it certainly sounds as though something has gone wrong in this instance.

[craydrygu.livejournal.com]

"I'd suggest at this point that something is wrong."

Oh, I know something's wrong. Something's been wrong for at least two months. My patience is running out, and that's how I know. I tend not to run out of that very often.

"Give them a deadline by which the badges must be in your hands, or you will post the situation with names publicly."

That's what I was hoping to hear, as it's what I had planned to do anyway. I'm just reluctant to do so unless I'm sure the situation warrants it. If members of this community agree, then I know I'm within my rights to do so.

Also, I know the artist in question reads this group, and I'm certain they'll recognize the situation if they see this post. My LJ icon is cropped from the scan they sent me in January.

[wyngaed.livejournal.com]

Heh, you let a little bit too much slip there. I checked your user pic and you list the artists name in the tag. You might want to fix that if you don't want the name release yet.

However, from what I have heard, only mere snippets from people who know the artist better, that person has been very busy as of late. I'm not sure with what, I just know there's problems. Problems like possible no internet access. I don't know for certain, but that's what it sounds like from what I've caught. This behavior isn't like that artist. Though I don't know them personally, they've generally been friendly and responsible. So give it some time, or maybe release the name- perhaps some friends of the artist could give you some answer's on their wherabouts.

[craydrygu.livejournal.com]

Oops...I didn't realize that. I've taken the name out of there for the moment, though I'm glad a couple of people familiar with what's going on had a chance to see it.

I certainly respect that a new job is always stressful and time-consuming, especially for an artist. And I'm glad to hear this isn't typical, at least. But the artwork was completed a month and a half ago, and was supposed to have been sent priority mail at that time.

It doesn't take a month and a half to drop off a box at the post office. Oh, and I'm relatively certain that "no internet access" isn't the problem -- as I mentioned, she's updated her LJ four times in the last month. The latest was Sunday.

Honestly? I still have nothing against her, personally. Sh*t happens. I just want a reply to my emails. I don't care if it's "Oops, I forget to send it", or "I sent it, I don't know why it hasn't arrived yet." I just want to know what's going on.

[thornwolf.livejournal.com]

eek I just checked the name. this is highly highly unusual. Maybe something /is/ wrong? *worries*

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Her portfolio got picked up by a professional firm, so its just that she is busy

[thornwolf.livejournal.com]

oh!!! Then thats excellent news! Thanks for speaking up :>

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

The artist you happened to commisions is really busy in her life right now so, I'd advice being a little more patient. As it turns out she just got a big job from some a very professional outlet, and it is tying her up on things.
I think pushing her is just going to stress her out and not get you very good art. She has become really popular and her art is taking off so if you are just a little more patient with her, it will do you a lot of good and she will do better work for you. I definitely think she needs to respond to you, but I think if you want a good badge, you should be willing to wait a little longer for it.

I paid Nevar for a button almost 4 months ago now and I'm still waiting for it. I don't mind waiting because I know when she does it it will be awesome. And this artist happens to be about on that calibar, so if you give her a little patience I promise it will pay off

[craydrygu.livejournal.com]

"I think pushing her is just going to stress her out and not get you very good art."

I'm sorry, I can't come up with a polite way to ask this... did you read my post, or just skim it?

Not only is the artwork done, but she sent me a scan of it a month and a half ago. As I pointed out, I'm using it as my LJ icon. I'm totally not concerned about her rushing on the artwork -- it's already done, and it already looks good. That was a month and a half ago.

The only thing left to do is drop it in a mailbox.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Well I did miss that part. I suppose she is just too busy to make it out to the mail office, or maybe it isn't all the way completed.

Eitherway I just wanted to let you know she was very busy right now, so don't fly off on a triad and start smearing her name yet.

[craydrygu.livejournal.com]

"...so don't fly off on a triad and start smearing her name..."

Neither of those was ever my intent. It's just not in me to start a smear campaign, even if I wanted to. Honestly, she's been very apologetic about the whole thing, and was quite amenable to the idea of a refund when I brought it up. But I wanted the badge more =P

It's just frustrating knowing that it's been complete for a month, and I want to find out what's going on. If I do post with her name, it won't be in a mean or accusatory way.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

For some reason none of that other dates were in the post that I read. It was just one thing alot of space and some dots. So I did miss it because it wasn't there for the original post that I read

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

as others have said, she's just been very busy recently. I'm sure that just a little more patience is all you'll need; if she still hasn't gotten back to you by the end of March, then maybe some of her friends here can kick her butt for you ;)

[thornwolf.livejournal.com]

im absent minded, like really absent minded, but if someone sends me multiple emails like this chances are I'd respond to one of them. If something is seriously wrong I'm sure a proper explanation is in order. Currently I have a couple people who are on alert to notify my commissioners and public if something is wrong with me and i can't access the computer for whatever reason. its usually a good idea to keep such folks on hand in the case of a real emergency.

[synchra.livejournal.com]

sounds like they still haven't had time to send them out and they are afraid to tell you in fear of you getting upset with them or something.. that is the only reason I can imagine they haven't even responded. My guess is that they will respond to your e-mail as soon as they send them out.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Busy and/or popular or not, this is pretty unprofessional :/
It doesn't take a month to pop the badges in an envelope and drop by the post office :/

[craydrygu.livejournal.com]

It doesn't, no...but if they haven't been mailed yet? Fine. I'm probably not going to another convention until August anyway. My concern is that I just don't know.

Were they mailed out five weeks ago? Two? One? Not at all? I don't care what the answer is, I just want the answer. If she mailed them back in January and the USPS just hasn't gotten them here, then I know to stop bugging her. If she hasn't mailed them yet, then... um... mail them already =P

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

Gotta agree with Thaily on this one; you've been exceptionally patient with her, and if they're laminated and in an envelope, she could just drop some stamps on them, and drop them in a box on her way to work(Thats like, what, waking up 4 minutes early to swing thru a post office drop box?). Its not like she has to mail a man-sized package anywhere :)

Hope you get your badges soon, g'luck