Advice Post

[thornbeast.livejournal.com]

WHO:

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/thornbeast/ In notes

WHAT: Digital Reference Commission

WHEN: 4months ago the Commission was accepted, issues only started to appear near the end. Commission has been restarted and is ongoing currently.

PROOF:  Screenshots of all of the progress shots in order from first to latest
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/Sketch.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/Sketch2.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/Dragonfox.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/Dragonfox_zps8a3443ec.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/DragonfoxReferenceCommission.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/DragonfoxReferenceCommission-1.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/DragonfoxReferenceCommission-2.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/DragonfoxReferenceCommission-3.png
http://i.imgur.com/Xetis.jpg?1 (The reference complete)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/ReinekeRestartSketch.png (Beginning of the restart)
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/ReinekeRestartSketch-1_zpsab36f85b.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/ReinekeRestartSketch-1_zpse5f3daba.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/ReinekeRestartSketchwithRedone_zpsc6fa4563.png
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/ScreenshotNotes_zps3b8bac17.png (Quotes from myself and the commissioner)

EXPLAIN: This person has been a return-customer and has always been great to work with. Since I had great experiences with them, I decided to give them a discount to let them know I appreciate doing business with them. Because of  having such good experiences, the rude comments came as a huge shock to me.
For the reference that was completed there were not any issues near the beginning. Everything was accepted and and things seemed to go smoothly, it was only until the end that the main problem started happening. Once the reference was complete, I get a note that they are not happy with it. This is how the conversation goes http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/Ayriea/FANote_zpsc33a4b8b.png . Thing is, I loved how that reference turned out, so it really disappointed and hurt when they were not happy. I offer to keep working on it so they will be satisfied, in the end we agreed that I will be re-drawing it completely(This has not yet been paid for).
I think they are asking for too much now, as they liked and accepted the first sketch, then asked for me to make a completely new one again so that they could compare it and choose which of the two they liked more.
What should I do? Continue on with this then never accept another commission from this person again, or is there a way I can continue on with this more calmly?

Comments

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

It isn't your fault if they scattered all the descriptions around, but the whole "you skipped steps/didn't go step by step" bit doesn't seem true from the images you posted. Seems like you did more than enough on your part for this commission and the only thing I can see different with the revisions is it not looking as chibi as it did in the first completed reference, and his head is more cartoonish so I don't personally see a need of doing it ALL over again, lol.

I really don't know what to say in regards to never allowing them to commission you again, just don't offer anyone discounts to them unless you have some sort of "customer appreciation commissions" that can be claimed by any commissioner of yours.

[skulldog.livejournal.com]

Agreeing with this, also it seems like maybe English isn't their native language, and maybe they didn't understand you quite as well as they needed to for something as complex as a reference sheet.

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

That could be possible too, but the tone and how it came off as I read rubbed me wrong. Either their personality through, or the excessive use of riddle lines and explanation marks but it all felt like they were up to something.

[ryunwoofie.livejournal.com]

You handled it gracefully but I think the chemistry isn't working between you two. They keep flip flopping and changing their mind AFTER things have been done. Personally after each stage I'd only allow so many edits and going back and starting over I would personally charge extra for doing so.

Personally I would not continue with them on this piece, but I'm not sure about black listing completely. Maybe something more complex like a ref-sheet (something that needs to be somewhat perfect) should be something you avoid with them.

If anything in the future be more firm with how many edits you allow. Charge extra edits accordingly. WAIT for the payment before working and wasting your time, and if you feel you've lost your mojo then it might be wise to be up front and stop and refund accordingly. It's ok to turn down work if you feel they are demanding too much and makes you uncomfortable.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

I, personally, wouldn't work with them. I have trouble understanding descriptions sometimes and with such bad English, things wouldn't go so well, especially since a ref is a big piece with a lot of info compared to a regular image. I'd also be a little wary with how he asks for changes, pretty much insulting the sketch all together, it'd make it very hard to work on the image, but this is mostly likely due to the bad English.

As others said, it'd be better to cancel this project, but blacklisting him is up to you. If you feel you'd work fine together on something that isn't a reference sheet, great! If you have trouble understanding him and feel it'll result in more miscomunication, then maybe it'd be best not to work with him.

[taasla.livejournal.com]

I think you're handling yourself well, but he's being too demanding. I would have not done any extra work without charging him, because once the sketch is approved, then it is approved. I suggest stopping at the first sketch and doing no more unpaid work, and just leaving the project as is.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Agreed with the above comments stating that once a stage is approved, that's it. Giving multiple free do-overs so he can "pick his favourite" then suddenly not being happy with it gives me the impression that this client is just trying to see how much he can get gratis.

Don't do anything that you haven't been paid for upfront.
I don't think that I personally would blacklist the customer, but between the poor english and how they constantly change their minds I'd be wary of doing business with anything so complicated in future.

[exo-formicidae.livejournal.com]

gratis?

could be a language typo, but makes your comment abit confusing :) You mean for free? (Is Norwegian so know what it means :D )

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

Yes. Gratis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis) is essentially the art of giving stuff away for free. Common with customer service usually as an apology, as well as as an advertisement. But some abuse the system, working it and others in order to try and get these courtesies for free.

[exo-formicidae.livejournal.com]

ah, I never knew :D
In my language "Gratis" is the one and only word for "free", so I thought it was a spelling error and didn't know that it also meant the same in English :D