Don't Know what to do!

[stitchex.livejournal.com]

I had someone commission me and promise to pay the fee as soon as the pay pal balance went through. Thinking they were good honest people I posted the picture publicly. *opps my bad >|* It's been 3 months now and they've contacted me about getting another commission but refuse to respond to any e-mail or message sent about the payment.

I don't NEED the money. Really if they just explained the situation like they're having some sort of trouble it wouldn't be a big deal. I only charged $5 for the picture. It's the moral of it, they won't even talk to me about payment let alone pay the freaking 5 DOLLARS. Really how hard is it to get $5? :|

So now I've never had this done to me before. I don't know what to do? Do I just make the line art free? Do I keep harassing  them about 5 dollars?

Offenders DA: http://darkwolfart.deviantart.com/

Images:


Help :(


Edit: I contacted the customer a few more times and they finally sent the money. :) Infact they paid extra because they felt bad for making me wait for payment so long. Thanks everyone for all your advice and support!

Comments

[lyosha.livejournal.com]

Off topic a bit, but-- man, for $5, you're selling yourself way short. o_o

[tealizard.livejournal.com]

IAWTC

[neoscottie.livejournal.com]

I agree. o__o

[stitchex.livejournal.com]

lol D: I work cheap because it's not for the money it's just for the fun of it.
I charge like $5 for lineart, headshots/bustup pics (fully shaded/colored)
because I don't feel like its worth more DX

[thrivis.livejournal.com]

Agreed all over the damn place. :'D

[acinom19.livejournal.com]

I think if you just let them get away without paying you, they just might get the idea in their head that they can do this to anybody. I would keep after them and tell them that it's pretty crappy for them to ask for something else when they haven't even paid you... just wow on that one >:/

I'm not a lot of help since I've really not gotten into the commission thing so I'll just shut up and let someone more experienced than me say more.

(Edited because my spelling is awful today!)

[stitchex.livejournal.com]

I know!! I was like "o_o really? you want to pay me for something else but not the first one?!" Makes no sense :| And your absolutly right. They can't start thinking it's ok to do this to anybody.

[plushabilities.livejournal.com]

I second this.

[rupertistheone.livejournal.com]

No matter what, it's great that you told us, because we should all know never to accept a commission from her if she doesn't pay. That way no one will accept something from her and she'll lose no matter what :) What goes around comes around.

Good luck gettin' the money!

[fiercereaper.livejournal.com]

Are they using this on an RP chat site or something? You can report them to the site(s), since they're effectively stealing the artwork from you.

And 5 bucks is your money for doing a service. If it was anything they ordered in RL like cable service or something, they've been shoved into collections by now.

[stitchex.livejournal.com]

Yea they're supposed to be using it either as a pose or like a avatar on a forum I think??
You know what I never thought of it that way before haha. REAPER TEACH ME YOUR WISDOMS

[kiriska.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I had worked with Darkwolf before a few months back without incident, though more recently I'm still awaiting payment from her on some sketches I said I'd do after payment. I haven't bugged her about it recently since technically she doesn't owe me money, but I can understand your frustration.

I'd say keep bugging her about the money. If you can't get it, as a Wolfhome pose, you can revoke permission to use the pose completely and bar her from future commissions. :/

[stitchex.livejournal.com]

Yea but unfortunatlty for me WH and I don't get along the best. They don't listen to my requests art wise. but I'm going to try and get ahold of an artstaffer and see if they can just look out for it.

[theredangel.livejournal.com]

Wow! That is -awesome- stuff.. and for 5 dollars? You're worth a heck of alot more than that.


People will be dishonest if they can be. Thanks for letting us know about a dud.

[rileycostello.livejournal.com]

unfortunate about that guy :(

But if you're open, shit, I'll pay his five on top of your fee just to get some art from you... and pay in advance XD

[stitchex.livejournal.com]

:O I don't know if I'm allowed to post this kinda comment,
BUT AM TOTALLY OPEN FOR COMMISSIONS.
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/kitara

[tsunami-ryuu.livejournal.com]

I say that in your next email to them about their current commission request, tell them they won't get a second commission until you have that $5 from the first one in your account.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

Well, flat out refuse to work for them again until they pay you for what you've done (and, of course, don't work on anything else until they pay you for that)

Whether or not to bug them about the $5 is up to you, but at the least be clear that you want nothing to do with them unless they pony up :P

(and yeah, I know lots of people here say you should bug them and raise your prices, but bugging them may or may not be worth the hassle for you; and you certainly could charge more, but again, it's your choice!)

[melloyellowduck.livejournal.com]

I agree with this, don't take another commission unless they pay you for the first one... I hate to think the worst of people but, what if they just expect more "free" art from you? Thats not right :/

[silverlinz.livejournal.com]

Ohhh id love to commission you! Whats your contact info? Or if youd like mine that works to.

silver@nlwolf.com

[hellebore.livejournal.com]

how do you take payment, paypal? and are you seriously only 11 years old??

[breakspire.livejournal.com]

The 11 thing confuses me... if you really are 11, I can see how a commissioner would think they could take advantage of you. Doing business over the internet with an 11 year old seems strange to me, but maybe I'm already old-fashioned.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

It's sad that he won't even pay you the 5 bucks you (under)charged for it.

[scamps.livejournal.com]

sucks about that commissioner, But I'm rather gobsmacked with your art to tell the truth, I watched you on FA, and as the others have mentioned, are you really only 11?.

[kami-storme.livejournal.com]

Uh oh.. if someone can't afford to spare $5, guess what, they need to GET OFFLINE AND GET A JOB!

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

IAWTC

XD

[aazhie.livejournal.com]

can i have it for $5 if they don't take it? I will SOO love it better than they... and are you still taking commissions?

Re: XD

[stitchex.livejournal.com]

well D: I don't want to resell it since it is *they're* character and stuff but I'll make you one of yours? :D

[synchra.livejournal.com]

OMFG KITARA. HAI.

[stitchex.livejournal.com]

OMFG UUUUUU!!!!!!!!!

[purpule.livejournal.com]

Why is everyone saying you're 11, when you haven't said you're eleven, and I highly doubt that you are? (and typing in your name found an OkCupid account that say's you're 20, though that page does look like a joke, to be fair Ahaha)

EITHER WAY, you definitly should fight for your money. It may only be a fiver, but it's a fiver that you earned, should have actually gotten more money for in most people's opinions, and the person you made it for is acting like a complete chancer.

[purpule.livejournal.com]

and according to that page, if you are 11, you would have been 8 when you made it :B

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

I would say go after it...If someone makes an agreement they should damn well keep it no matter what.

[likeshine.livejournal.com]

dude i saw your work on an auction site once, i think.

i'll take an icon if you like to draw gryphons or dead guys

[sedatedintolife.livejournal.com]

Do you still do commishes?
Ie...I like your art...yum