Advice request

[familliaraver.livejournal.com]

Take on a rush order, finish entire costume on time, in two months start to finish, ready to ship on time. My end of the deal is finished.

Customer informs me after seeing final photos she will pay me the final (around 700 including shipping) on Thursday.

Thursday passes. Not entirely worried.

Talk to customer Friday, don't mention payment, talk about photos, normal conversation

Remind customer Saturday the remaining balance is due and I need to ship Monday to get it there on time.

Informed customer was robbed on Thursday and is unable to pay me anything until after AC.

Inquire about when I can expect payment, if they can get me anything by the 8th (I have bills too, you know)

Waiting for a response. Feels as if I'm getting the cold shoulder. Customer has been absolutely wonderful otherwise.

My TOS doesn't cover any situations like this. That is being fixed.

I'm completely heartbroken, I don't know what to do. If this was a normal commission (something that takes me 5-6 months to finish) I normally wouldn't have a problem giving 3 months for them to sort things out and put them on the back burner.... I put my other customers on the back burner to rush order something that now can't be paid for on time. I made this specifically to be at AC. Would it be fair to ask for further compensation/late fees?  I don't even have the room in my studio to have a suit hang out for 3 months.

Halp me AB; you're my only hope.

Comments

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

Look, I dunno how they GOT to the con, or if they're even a local to it; but cons take pre-planning, usually months in advance and if things like flights were arranged; those are hard to move, much less get refunded on. Hotel is usually paid to the room holder in advance if you're smart, on top of con reg, etc.

A lot of this could have been done pre-suit and pre-robbery. And even then, they might have gone anyway just to make sure their loss (if there was one) isn't doubled by not attending and losing all that pre-spent cash.

[metallik-hasse.livejournal.com]

I find it difficult to believe that the person in question will attend this convention with zero money in hand. How are they going to eat for example? They could be using that money to help pay OP. I'm jaded as hell with these kinds of excuses, honestly.
Sure, they may have the con all prepaid, but that doesn't answer as to why they waited to tell OP until two days after the alleged theft took place.

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

Hey, I agree with you about how its likely an excuse; some of it does not add up. I'm only explaining how the may have went anyway even if they were robbed.

In the case of daily living expenses, I've been to enough anime and comic cons to know even the brokest of attendees have things of 25 cent ramen and knock-off Nature Valley bars on them after blowing whatever cash they did have on getting to the con/badge/cosplay. They'll be there to be there and probably not buy a single thing because they're broke as a joke.

But again, these facts don't absolve the client from their responsibilities. Its just something I've observed in my con career.

[metallik-hasse.livejournal.com]

I can see your point, yeah. I'm just really jaded by these excuses being abused in the furry community. :/