Advice needed

[hanabikun.livejournal.com]

Let it be known, that I am debating on writing an artist beware journal on this person, but I could really use the advice.

I commissioned a friend back in 2011 (I believe) fr a 6 page full color comic totally $100. She was kind enough to give me time to pay all of it, since I did not have the funds to pay it off all at once. I believe it took me about 4 months or so to pay it off. She said she would start right away.

A little while later she had some life issues, but I didnt mind, since she was kind enough to give me all that time to pay, I figured I could give her more time than I normally would to finish my comic.

A year goes by, and nothing. Not even a WIP. I message her asking about it repeatedly, maybe a few weeks apart. She says her tablet is broken so she can't draw at the moment.

Just recently, she went on vacation to 2 different places, both very far from where she lives. She came home and has a brand new tablet. I messaged her again, and asked for just a WIP of just the first page of my comic. I did not think this was unreasonable. That was five days ago and she still hasn't replied.

Should I start pestering her about it? Ask for a refund if shes not going to do it? Should I post about her on here?

I worry this will affect our friendship, but at the same time I really REALLY wanted this comic. I wrote the script myself and everything.

Comments

[thecreativepen.livejournal.com]

I would send one final message to her. Explain that it has been two years since payment has been sent, and that you would like a WIP by a deadline (Let's say 2 weeks from now, for example), and to work out a schedule with her as to when to expect the work to be completed. If no WIP can be shown in 2 weeks (once again, just for example), then you would like to request your money back.

Also give her a certain date to respond to you by. I would say if she hasn't fulfilled your requests by then, to consider writing a beware and to document this person. Two years for a six page comic is too long.

Don't feel guilty or worry about it affecting your friendship. Friends should not take advantage of other friends like that, and to have held on to that money for so long without providing you any proof that work has started is not good business practice. This is a business transaction, plain and simple. It can be difficult to separate the lines of friendship and business, and I personally am very up front about my terms when friends commission me for that reason. Don't be afraid to be up front and assertive for yourself too!

(Edit: forgot to finish a sentence)

[waffelle.livejournal.com]

Wow 6 pages of full color for $100 is really insane. I'd charge at least half that for a single page. It's still wrong for her to not do your work, or even refund you, but she might be realizing she's bitten off more than she can chew here. You being friends could be part of that as well.

Like I said, she needs to either just do the work or refund you, but I think if I was you I'd just ask for a refund right now.
If you're worried about your friendship, maybe you should approach it by saying something that appeals more to her benefit?
Like, "I feel like it might just be too much work for too little money, so maybe we'd better call it off."
Something like that. I'm not an expert, though!

Whatever you end up doing, good luck!

ETA: a piece of sentence I was missing

[funkicarus.livejournal.com]

i'm gonna echo waffelle here. 100$ for six pages is rediculously cheap. i have a feeling she might have realized how in over her head she was and bailed, afraid to tell you and (even more) afraid to refund the money she probably no longer has.

neither are an excuse, though. she should have told you as soon as she realized she was in over her head.

[houndofloki.livejournal.com]

$100 for a six page comic is really cheap. It's likely what happened here is she quoted you that price because she'd never done a commission like this before, got started, realized the huge amount of work she'd committed to for a hundred bucks, and is now stalled on it because of that.

Probably best to just get a refund and move on.

[hanabikun.livejournal.com]

I should probably note she runs her own webcomic, although she has no set update time for it

[mistresswolf.livejournal.com]

"$100 for a six page comic is really cheap."

lol I do mine even cheaper (edit: well actually now it is a litt bit more than that since I just remembered I raised my prices last week) ... but it is a fast, doodle style, flat color. XDD I am surprised that I don't have more inquiries for comics. haha

[excessdenied0.livejournal.com]

I'm not surprised at all that you don't get more inquiries. Undercharging and devaluing your work isn't going to attract a whole lot of business, and the sorts of clients that it will attract are often not the ones you want to work for anyway.

At a rate of less than $100 for 6 whole pages of work, I'm surprised you are willing to do the work at all, considering how much time and effort you would need to make even enough money for a week's worth of groceries. You'd make more working a couple shifts at a fast food joint.

[mistresswolf.livejournal.com]

lol Probably, but I'd rather sit on my fat arse than flip burgers. haha

I only do my comics in a style like this (http://www.furaffinity.net/view/10633737/) (edit oops used BBCode instead of HTML haha) so it takes less than an hour to do it. If the client is getting a low amount of pages, it is $20/pg. If they are getting a higher volume it is $15/pg. I have one long term comic and one that I am unsure of the length (but it seems it will be at least 100 pages). Each of those guys pays more than I am asking (one pays double and one always gives me a 50% tip), so it is working out so far. :)

[xubunturambles.livejournal.com]

Post her here. She's obviously not ready for the commission world.
And just throwing in my two cents here, a real friend wouldn't keep you waiting for a comic for 2+ years -3-