Advice: In-person comission help

[yuki li]

A year ago I commissioned an artist, and did it in person, in cash, at a con. Because of this there is little to no evidence of this transaction ever happening. Since then I have had almost zero communication with them, and they have both started and finished numerous other commissions (including others of the same type getting more progress in a week than I had in a year) while having barely sketched mine, while giving me a story about "giving it the proper attention to detail" any time I ask about updates. I feel like I'm getting the runaround here.

My question is, how would I go about recovering my money from this person?
Should I wait it out again and hope they finish the product THIS year?
Does this warrant an AB report?

Comments

[thecreativepen.livejournal.com]

Waiting it out doesn't seem to have worked; if they haven't progressed in a year, then it may be time to ask for a refund. I would say to email them once more asking for a strict deadline, and if it cannot be met, to receive a partial refund, if work had been started on the commission.

In the future, if you go to cons and spend cash on a commission, make sure you have a log of it. I don't understand why more artists don't invest in a receipt book; it costs $5, and provides a paper trail for both the artist and commissioner. If they don't offer receipts, get something down on paper, and have them sign it with the timeline and terms of the commission.

[purpule.livejournal.com]

Their acknowledgement that you commissioned them in screenshot form should be evidence enough that a transaction took place.

[yuki li (from livejournal.com)]

aye, that I do have, just no paypal logs, which is what I normaly do since it has a nice paper trail for both parties.

[mazz.livejournal.com]

Every con Iv'e been too if the person takes cash they deal with it all on their own without the staff holding any money.
I've also only ever had one person who does cash actually write me a receipt at a con as well, which should be a more standard practice.
Though I've never gotten commissions at con except a sketch done immediately.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

AC does is for, I think, legal/tax reasons, but not any of the other cons that I know of. But I've only been to a few.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, whats mentioned above is primarily for art-show purposes. And for the conventions that require a tax ID/UBI, so the artists pay their taxes at the end of the convention.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Having done many many cons, both visiting and selling as AA and Vendor - %98 of artist don't use receipts, it's just not the usual form of business. Once in a great while I'll give one for large purchases, but in the end I don't use them as most attendees wanna come in and get their stuff and leave immediately. Hand writing a receipt is a long process for a $5 item.

Since it's primarily in cash, it's not a usual thing, however with the rise of Square and Paypal card readers it's helped give out digital receipts through email. Those things are great!

I do not give receipts for commissions at a convention either as I finish them within the hour they are paid for. (I take info in-case the person never comes back though).

Most conventions allow the artist to pay whatever state tax on their own. (Unless there isn't a state tax, which is sometimes the case)

Just sharing some info, as a long-time vendor <3.

[yuki li (from livejournal.com)]

thank you :)
also your icons....so cute @_@

[mazz.livejournal.com]

Every con Iv'e been too if the person takes cash they deal with it all on their own without the staff holding any money.
I've also only ever had one person who does cash actually write me a receipt at a con as well, which should be a more standard practice.
Though I've never gotten commissions at con except a sketch done immediately.

[mazz.livejournal.com]

Ooops forgot to hit the trply to the right thread. :C
--

They admitted they owed you the art, if they cannot produce art or refund a beware is warranted.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Yeah the mails in which they acknowledge you commissioned them are sufficient for a post. Are you going to ask for a refund in person? Might be worth printing out the e-mails and taking them with you if you do.
If they refuse to refund you I'd definitely make an AB post.

[yuki li (from livejournal.com)]

I"m not going to drive 60 miles and pay for an $80 con ticket to get a $75 refund.

[socks-the-fox.livejournal.com]

Have you considered having them send the refund via PayPal?

[thaily.livejournal.com]

"Should I wait it out again and hope they finish the product THIS year?" made it sound like you were attending again. Like Socks said, they need to use Paypal then.