Deadbeat Commissioner

[birdrock.livejournal.com]

(cross-posted to my personal journal)

Do not work with Cody Sutherland, AKA orange_dingo, Castro Cody, RW_Cody or Cody_RW.

This individual has repeatedly and very rudely refused to pay for commissioned work.



(click for larger)


(click for larger)


Last August, I agreed to enhance one of his photos for $2.00 (USD) and retouch another photo for $5.00/hour. The photo took well over two hours to retouch, but I decided to charge only $10. As you can see, it was a very complicated retouching job. There was no shipping cost as both full quality files were sent to him via e-mail. Both photos were finished within two days of the commission being agreed upon and the full quality versions were sent via AIM file transfer.

He has repeatedly refused to pay for the work I've done. Last night I happened to see him on AIM, so IMed him again and asked him to pay for the commission. He refused to pay, blocked my account, and deleted his LJ.

On August 23 I posted the before and after photos and he expressed satisfaction with it. The post has been made friends only so he cannot go back and delete his comments, but if I add you to my friends list you may view the post and the comments, which demonstrate when the commission was finished and that he was satisfied with it.

Prior to the timely deletion of his LiveJournal, he had the nerve to use the retouched photo as his default LJ icon, though it was never paid for.

I don't give a damn that it's 'only 12 dollars'. Nobody deserves to get ripped off. Moreover, because he was a 'friend', I offered him a 'friend' rate below my usual rates and far below the industry standard for photo retouching. For him to recieve a huge discount yet refuse to pay is unabashedly bratty and immature. If I can't get my $12 back, I figure I can at least have a rant and warn everybody else about this kid.

Comments

[gymnopedie.livejournal.com]

Hopefully from now on you get paid before you even start the work.. that's a beautiful job, btw :)

12 dollars is still 12 bucks. sounds like you're out of the money though since he's blocking you completely :/

[birdrock.livejournal.com]

I do require full downpayments for retouching/design services before I start. For art commissions I require at least a 50% downpayment and a signed copy of my commission Terms of Service before I start.

However, this person was a friend (ha!) and I didn't think he'd back out on his end of the deal like that. I mean, he was always telling me about what a 'nice guy' he is.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

The hazards of working for "friends." That really sucks. I'll certainly never do business with this guy.

[birdrock.livejournal.com]

Yeah, really. I'd love to be able to trust people I like and talk to often, but anyone who does that runs the risk of being burned :/ I won't be making that mistake again.

[taasla.livejournal.com]

That's, unfortunately, the sad truth about knowing people online. It's much easier for them to be able to take a sudden turn.

I think what you did was a lovely job, and although it doesn't make it right that he ripped you off, I'd like to cover the cost of what he did. C: Paypal please?

[birdrock.livejournal.com]

Noooo :( you should not have to pay for other peoples' assholery.

If you want, maybe I can do you a photo retouch commission of your very own, at the discounted rate :D I'm going to be booked, art-wise, until July...but I can do photo retouches because they don't take long to do.

Thank you for the compliments :3

[taasla.livejournal.com]

No, no, you shouldn't have to do *more* work. :p That defeats the purpose.

I don't own a digital camera (oh love for disposables! ahaha...), so I've got no pictures to touch up. But I know who to come to when I finally get one and take about a bazillion pictures of my kitten, Ziltoid.

;) Paypal, please?

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

you continue to rule XD *sends random lurf at for her awesomeness*

[taasla.livejournal.com]

<3 I luff you Balaarness.

I keep meaning to send you an email to see if you still live, but I am forgetful as always. ;-;

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

I still live, been awol for a good while though..I suspect I need to do an eljay updates. And no worries, Im just as forgetful...if not..way moreso...in anycase hope you are well and think it was really kind of you to offer to cover the cost of someone else's impoliteness. (sorry Northwolf for the spammage in your entry)

[birdrock.livejournal.com]

S'all good, you two have fun :D

[taasla.livejournal.com]

|: I suppose it bothers me that people can forget that behind the text there's an actual, living, breathing person with feelings. People are dumb sometimes.

And yes, I highly encourage an update, if not a full spammage of the friend's page. :p

[birdrock.livejournal.com]

You're nuts, I won't let you pay for this, but I will add you back, deal? :D

[taasla.livejournal.com]

"Nuts" is often what my roommates call me, so I suppose there's no questioning that.

Hehe, sure, that's a deal.

[fenrisfox.livejournal.com]

Cute avatar. =:o)

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Thanks! (I drew it myself, yay.)

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately the people who brag about how nice they are, usually aren't :/

[thornwolf.livejournal.com]

I think you and I both know what kind of "nice guy" he isn't. I'm just surprised this is only just now coming to light (ie: to artists_beware)

[birdrock.livejournal.com]

True, but up until this event I didn't have a concrete reason to post a warning about him here. The other commission I did for him was paid for in full (though that was years ago).

I don't know how often he commissions others (it seems infrequent) but just in case I thought I would issue a warning.

[gymnopedie.livejournal.com]

yea.. I require payment from friends as well, even family. because you never know 2days down the road if they'll have something happen and be completely bankrupt.

even if it's just the case that he's being a jerk, next time, don't be nice to even your friends about money :)

you definitely need to charge more, at least 10-15 dollars an hour

[knifesmile.livejournal.com]

I know you've probably already thought of it, but I've always found that my instincts react very strongly, in a negative way, to people who make a point of describing any positive trait of theirs. Especially ones so vague and desireable-sounding as 'nice'. It screams Nice Guy Syndrome. Sounds like that's precisely what happened to you.

Total suckage. x.x

[theblackdragon.livejournal.com]

a 'friend' or 'nice guy' would have no problems paying you in the same manner everyone else does, especially such a price for such beautiful work. that prick has proven himself to be neither.

[the-brad.livejournal.com]

Oops, nevermind on my half down comment.

[foxhack.livejournal.com]

Slightly related, I think you can actually freeze replies from being, uh, replied to or deleted by the original poster. Not sure though. :)

[fenrisfox.livejournal.com]

[Edit Note: Comments condensed together, so I don't seem like I'm climbing all over your post. =;o) ]

Only $12.00 is even more the reason to pay the fee.

After all, if $12.00 is a hardship, this guy needs some help with his budget... =:o\

Oh and BTW, nice Photoshop work... it's like you used a magic wand!

Defintely worth $12 - and likely more. =:o)

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

Firstly have to say the touchup work is pristine! You ought to charge more as clean and professional as the final product is. Secondly I am sorry for the situation, 12$ is still money, especially for us artsy folks for whom money seems perpetually tight.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

An agreement is an agreement, he agreed to pay you for your work and he should whether the fee is 12 bucks or 1200.

[digitalis.livejournal.com]

Your cleanup looks NICE! That $12 is missing a 0. :P
Also this guy is a super douche for bailing out of paying twelve dollars, WTF.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is pathetic. I mean who is so ridiculous as to rip someone off for $12?

[xianjaguar.livejournal.com]

You aren't kidding that you charged "well below industry standard".
You did a gorgeous professional job. Most graphic designers/image retouchers would charge at least $35 for an image retouching job such as this one...and many would charge more.

$12 is *already* a STEAL and it's really low of this person not to pay you at least the $12 and to continue to weasel around you. :(

[grimmhooke.livejournal.com]

I agree- that job is gorgeous and worth well over a measley $12. :O

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

I think most charge more. :)

Like $35-$100 an HOUR depending on the person.

[haricotvert.livejournal.com]

this is why you recieve your payment before work's done, darling. or at least half up front.

[wolf-nymph.livejournal.com]

Read above comment (http://community.livejournal.com/artists_beware/137007.html?thread=3063599#t3063599) =3

[haricotvert.livejournal.com]

oh i know. i've done that too. people can be shit tho. i was lucky enough to not get screwed over. just had to put my two cents in, cuz i'm a brat like that. <3

[skippyfox.livejournal.com]

Wow...that is REALLY impressive work. That left paw was completely obscured. I'd have paid $50.