Artist Beware: Somber (FA)

[scalpelkitty.livejournal.com]

WHO: Somber

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/somber

WHAT: I commissioned her for a fully done DIGITAL couple piece to be done as a gift for a friend. Which means this it was to be fully rendered - Two characters, full color and shades and background.

WHEN: Payment was sent up-front. I paid her the full payment of $30.00 on August 31, 2013.

PROOF: http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag18/LaRougeVampire/trans_zpsb3902c76.png
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag18/LaRougeVampire/screencap_zps85f7b748.png

EXPLAIN: She and I have been friends for a while and I had asked her if it'd be alright to commission her for a gift I wanted to get for a friend. She agreed to do it and told me to send the payment of $30.00 to her. And just out of the blue today she told me she could not do my commission. I asked her why and she stated "I have my reasons" so I said I understood, but still I was baffled. I had asked for my money back since she didn't even go as far as a rough sketch. She said "I don't do refunds." Then I found out she took offense because I do not like what she likes. I do not agree that personal likes should affect what you're paid to do from a client. And I honestly think it's unfair for me that I cannot be refunded my money. $30 to most people IS a large chunk out of their wallets - in this case, MY wallet. I then went to file a dispute on Paypal, but they were unable to do it. So, now I'm out $30.00 and nothing that came out of it.


EDIT: She has refunded my 30. Please tag as resolved.

Comments

[syrae-universe.livejournal.com]

As a professional artist (Well... far more professional than I was in my younger years of being commissioned), I told scalpelkitty that this was theft. And since there were not many options left, the advice I could only give was to forewarn other commissioners regarding this particular artist... by posting this up here on Artists Beware.

Because it was highly immature to just refuse to continue a commission, let alone refund, over just a dislike of a particular topic. Friendship/likes and Professionalism has a fine line. Don't remove that line. Know your boundaries. Because if we're allowed to do that, then the simplest things could offend someone and they would be allowed to outright refuse service to another. But it doesn't work that way.

I have friends who are my frequent commissioners. They know me well, I know them well. Even there are dislikes of certain things towards each other, we don't let it get in the way of business. As it should be. If you can't keep things separate and in order, then why are you allowing your work to be purchased?

Hopefully this will be a lesson learned to understand what's acceptable and what's not. To learn how to be professional, learn from your mistakes, apologize, and better yourself as a businessman/businesswoman.

[scalpelkitty.livejournal.com]

I would like to give a HUGE thank you to everyone: My family, friends and other commissioners for their help and support. This is greatly appreciated and I am grateful to have so many awesome people in my life. <3

Thank you SO, SO much!

[evan-balot.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it only took three days for this to get resolved. I can only hope the artist hasn't done this to other people already.

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

I am glad to see you got your money back. And I hope Somber can come away from this realizing you A) do what you were paid to do or B) Refund the customer when you do not want to and C) keep personal stuff out of it, or if you can't... back to B!