How late is too late to ask for a refund?

[n.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry if something like this has been covered before, I was going back in previous advice posts to see if something fit my situation, but nothing quite yet.

So around three months ago I commissioned an artist for a $10 chibi item, their style was really eye-catching and I was itching to get my character done by them. Their quality for $10 was really astounding, so I figured it was money well-spent.

The turn-around is quick, and I get my product, but... something seems off. It's cute and I accepted the product as is.
However, as time goes by, I see that the work I was given was not of the quality they delivered to other clients, past or present. Part of the drawing was un-colored when I gave it a good lookover. I suppose I overlooked my product because I was excited to commission them.

The artist has no TOS visible on any of their art pages, and recently has been showing some rather flighty behavior with other friends of mine who were supposed to get work from her (i.e. not doing their half of art trades, etc)

I feel like I'm in the right to ask for some sort of revision, but its probably too late since everything was 'completed' and delivered to me. Should I tell the artist I'm unsatisfied, or should I chalk it up as a loss due to waiting a bit too long?

It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth either way, my commission is visibly rushed by their standards. And they don't take these small commissions in large batches, so I feel like more attention should have been paid to mine?

Comments

[jakejynx.livejournal.com]

How long has it been?

[n.livejournal.com]

It's been three months, as my post has clearly stated.

[gatekat.livejournal.com]

Have you talked to them at all about your issues?

After you've accepted the commission's finished product, it's far too late to ask for a refund. It just makes it look like you're trying to bully them into giving you free art by saying you aren't happy.

[n.livejournal.com]

The last thing I would want is to bully them into giving me something new.

I didn't speak to them at all, and even attempting to prod them about an art trade seems to evoke a response of 'oh i forgot' or 'i'm really swamped with things'. Some commissioners seem to have gotten similar responses when they post journals seeking more commissions or adoptables.

I wasn't sure if I should even bother, hence my post here.

[chronidu.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm a bit confused but what is troubling or problematic about them turning away or saying their too busy for additional commissions or trades? It would be one thing if it was work that was already paid for, but there is nothing wrong with an artist saying they are currently too swamped to take on new work, if anything its a GOOD thing, it shows their responsible and aware of their current work load.

[snowyedges.livejournal.com]

If you got the art, I'm not sure if you should be asking for a refund, to be honest -- especially if it's been more than a few days/weeks. I would at least try to ask them if they'd fix it up a bit to make it more to your liking (the botched coloring job on it)? It may not be the most professional thing to do after accepting it as-is, but it's worth a shot to ask -- the worst the can say is no. Hopefully they still have the file/didn't merge the layers.

I've been in a similar position before. I did a trade with a well-known artist when I first learning to draw years ago and the half they gave me was less than stellar quality compared to all the others. It was kind of a kick in the gut. That's a bit off-topic though. Oops.

[corghi.livejournal.com]

I don't see why you couldn't nicely ask for a revision or tweak. It's a bit difficult since time passed between you getting the piece and then figuring you're unhappy with it.

I could understand if you had just got your piece and realized you're unhappy but since you happily accepted it..

You're better off just sucking it up and just making sure not to overlook errors when you commission someone again.

Sorry for sounding harsh, it also does depend on how much time has passed between you accepting and realizing you don't like it too.

[n.livejournal.com]

It probably wouldn't be too much to ask of them to color in the parts that were blatantly left untouched, but a revision of the piece is out of the question.

The lapse in time is what brought me into questioning the piece at all. They kept producing more work, and then comparing it to what I ended up receiving, it just... really didn't match up with their usual standard of quality.

And then I felt suckered :s

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

If I'm going by your post, you've waited a couple months which is just way too long after the initial agreement to accept the finished image. It's just a lesson to learn that when you are unhappy with a product, don't hesitate to tell the artist! It's better to let them know while they are able to fix it, then to come back a long time later expecting more work. It's also a little insulting to hear that the customer wasn't being honest in the first place.

Perhaps ask to pay a small fee to edit it to your liking from them? Since you're going back and asking for more work/time to be spent.

I would chalk this one up, and learn for next time.

[n.livejournal.com]

I really am leaning towards just accepting it as a fault on my end, but their behavior seems to be getting worse by the day.

I honestly wouldn't want to commission them again after seeing how they carry on, and I heavily suspect because of long-past turmoil with the artist, that my work was half-assed because I was the one asking for her art?

There's no way for me to know, but with her treatment of other artist friends of mine, my gut tells me otherwise.

[maxi.livejournal.com]

What does that have to do with your commission? It's been 3 months since your art was completed and approved by you, I don't think their seemingly worsening behavior(?) is relevant now.

Chalk it up as a loss or politely ask if they could fix the errors and pay whatever fee there might be.

[catwithpen.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with this. Her current behaviour is not relevant to your issue.

[chronidu.livejournal.com]

See from this comment it's starting to sound like this is something personal? I don't understand how their behavior months after you accepted the commission is relevant to this, or changes the mistake in your decision. Sorry I guess I'm just confused with where you're coming from or what you're trying to get at with this.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Honestly, their behavior -now- has little to do with your commission/transaction before. Their treatment of your friends has nothing to do with your business, as you can choose not to continue purchasing from them. I advise that.

I think you're hanging on to this artists behavior now a bit too much, it's best to move on and ignore them. Don't assume things. If the artist had any ill will against you from past drama, then they probably should not have accepted the job from you. They did, they finished, you accepted - that really should be the end of the story.

Again, you didn't tell them you were unhappy 2+ months ago, and it'd be incredibly unfair to do so now after that fact.

[totschrei.livejournal.com]

I would say politely bring up the matter to them. I, as an artist, would want a customer to tell me if they were not satisfied with my work.
However, asking for a refund or revision after 3 months of wait would be very rude.
Perhaps, as neolucky stated, offer a fee for a revision.

Though my advice is to politely point out how you do not think their quality in art differs from other pictures.
But again I would say its rude to ask for a revision or refund so late.

[growly.livejournal.com]

I think it's far too late to ask for revisions or a refund, and a $10 commission's not really worth persuing for refunds anyway, unless the artist just plain didn't deliver anything.

I've been in that situation before- I've accepted work I really disliked, but because I didn't say anything immediately and I told them it was okay, I never brought it up again and moved on.

[chronidu.livejournal.com]

Just going to agree with this, and second the sentiment that I've accepted commissions that felt lazy or I just plain didn't like simply because even if the end piece wasn't satisfactory to me, they did what I asked them and especially in the case of cheaper commissions, I guess you could say I got my money's worth.

If there were big mistakes I brought it up, but otherwise I learned from it and just moved on and sought out different artists in the future.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

I've made this mistake too - I got excited and okay'd the picture, then some time later realized there were some major flaws. But it was absolutely my fault for not paying close attention sooner so I let it go.

Lesson to learn for future commission purchases!

[straychowchow.livejournal.com]

I've done this before! I'm so excited to see the finished piece that I overlook errors, and by the time I realize them I've already approved it. I try to wait a day after receiving a commission and looking at it a few times throughout the day to avoid that now.

[wolf-goat.livejournal.com]

Going to go with the "chalk this one up to experience" folks here. 3 months is too long. It doesn't matter what they are doing now or what they are saying to other people or anything: your transaction is now complete.

You can of course ask for a tweak to it, if you say "hey, it's been a long while I know but this missing patch of colour is just bugging me a bit, would it be possible for you to fix it?" but offering a couple of $ for their time is the most polite thing to do.

[ibagface.livejournal.com]

It has been far too late for any revisions by now. Theres a good chance they dont have the layered work anymore and it could be hard and time consuming to make the changes.
Next time you get some art, ask the artist if they dont mind you waiting up to a week to sign off as fully happy. That lets you get over the excitement and allows you to analyze the product fully. Then you can either sign off as happy or ask for some fixes (depending on their TOS).
You can attempt to contact them but if they are busy dont expect them to be jumping at fixing things, especially for free.

As for their attitude, I understand that this artist has clearly already upset you and is continuing to by how they are treating your friends and fellow commissioners. Unfortunately your transaction with them is finished. You can dislike their practice, dislike their attitude and never commission them again but you cant really use what they are doing now into getting your own way with your art.