Beware: Incorgnito

[silvercrow33.livejournal.com]

Who: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/incorgnito/

What: Discounted Digital 2 character colored sketch for $25.

When: I paid for the commission on December 22, 2014

Explain: Incorgnito opened for discounted Xmas colored sketches on the 22nd of December: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9wbtv8sm0f435qm/xmassale.png?dl=0
The same day, I sent them a message via note requesting a 2 character image: NSFW https://www.dropbox.com/s/q29ze15pmle26c0/1.png?dl=0
I was told that it would take about 1-2 weeks: https://www.dropbox.com/s/egsvy10s6xvf8v2/2weeks.png?dl=0
On January 14th, I sent a note requesting an update: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5sr0gvvk64pquxz/update1.png?dl=0
It was read and subsequently ignored or forgotten.
On January 21st, I sent another note requesting an update: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fpjygqp3kgbmo4l/update2.png?dl=0
It was not read until I sent another note on January 25th informing them that I wanted either an update on my commission, or a refund: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hjb9gt8l7yelmkb/update3.png?dl=0 Note that in this I mistakenly said it had been nearly 6 weeks, but I had meant to type 5.
Their response: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ctqm1obtuggmtt0/tooscik.png?dl=0
The sick journals they posted: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6441909/ http://puu.sh/f2oyL/7df74b1c54.png
I asked if I would have it complete before the end of January: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4dvo64l8bp330ip/endofjanuary.png?dl=0
Told told me they weren't sure, as they were still sick: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fwyk2l0g4q8sl52/2sick.png?dl=0

My biggest issue is the lack of communication. They told me that they hadn't been responding to notes because they were sick in bed, but despite being too sick to respond, they were still fairly active, posting YCH's, Journals, and commissions: NSFW https://www.dropbox.com/s/81z6t11rhyz7z3v/dateproof.png?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/zzr4v69gx36ihaq/janjournals.png?dl=0
I expressed to them my frustration with no communication from them, and informed them that if it couldn't be completed before the end of January, I would like a refund: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h3exxd6ylu05h9b/noexcuse.png?dl=0
I was told that they do not offer refunds: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5chyv9kw6alolr0/3weeks.png?dl=0
Also, they apparently forgot how long ago I commissioned them, as they state that it has "only been 3 weeks you've been waiting when I said 2. It's only a week after the approximate date I gave you and the entire week it's been "late" I've been sick." which is not correct.
I grew increasingly frustrated and sent this note: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gf8xv0uft58z0wz/5weeks.png?dl=0
They get angry with me, and accuse me of blackmailing them: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xwreia7fv5hv7h0/blackmail.png?dl=0
I deny that and once again try to explain my frustrations: https://www.dropbox.com/s/du4hwwwvedgt6ta/notblackmail.png?dl=0
They attempt to provide more places to contact them, as apparently FA is not their main profile: https://www.dropbox.com/s/efb197ildm2mbku/healthfirst.png?dl=0
At this point, I was far and beyond done with dealing with them so I ask again for a refund: https://www.dropbox.com/s/l7ppuyea171p5es/done.png?dl=0
Looking back, I also realize they said "about one to two weeks" not exactly 1-2 weeks, but the priciple of them not responding to me still stands.
They sent me one last note, accusing me of "literally threatening" them and being unprofessional: https://www.dropbox.com/s/seodcd66pz4efrs/threat.png?dl=0
This was the note that made me decided to post them to AB. They remind me that I only paid X amount compared to their usual cost, and that I'm throwing a fit because I'm not getting my "fap material" due to their lung infection.

Overall, this artist uses their sickness as a reason why they were unable to respond to notes, despite being on consistently enough that they should easily have been able to respond with some sort of update. When confronted, they shoved their "no refunds" TOS rule in my face and accused me of blackmailing and threatening them, which is untrue. They also reminded me that their are other people in their queue that have waiting longer than I, though I couldn't have had anyway of knowing that, and then they offer to show me their names, which is definitely not appropriate. Twice they forgot how long it had been since I had initially commissioned them, even though I repeatedly told them it had been 5 weeks.
I also noticed that three times they mention the number of people in their queue, and each time it changes, from 10, to 12, to 5. This inconsistency confused and concerned me.

I recieved my refund so I suppose it's "resolved" but that in no way excuses their behavior. It was a hassle dealing with this artist, and I don't ever wish to go through something like this again.

Comments

[exo-formicidae.livejournal.com]

Well that went sour quickly...

Definitively unprofessional of the artist not to contact the customers about the delay. I actually had a sever lung/throat infection 3 weeks ago, so about the same time as the artist - and can definitively sympathize with it being all hell. But as you said - if they are healthy enough to post a ych, they are healthy enough to send a short note informing of the delay.

Heck, even if they had the ych already finished and ready to submit - then they must have submitted it fully knowing that they have people in queue that have been waiting a while, so taking on more work, even though they aren't sure when the illness will clear up enough to work on the backlog is pretty bad in itself. That "no refund ToS though.. when will people realize that it does not hold up *sigh*

The communication is very bad, and the tone they had later on with the accusations of black mail and threats gave me a really bad taste too, won't be doing business with them any times soon.

though, in all fairness - I felt you came off as very crass. In both the initial note and even more so in the later ones. It might be that I am more used to polite chit chat (basically just greetings/how are you, tagged a long with "I wonder how the progress on my commission is coming along"), but you where very right to the point, and maybe not rude - but definitively not polite. So while I don't excuse it, I understand why the artist lost their temper with you. And you with them later on, imho both should probably have taken a breather and thought through their response before replying. (Again might just be me)
Also at the end they did seem to try to work things out, but never actually admitted any fault, so a refund would definitively be the safest route.

[kattotang.livejournal.com]

Hm, I don't understand how there was any lack of politeness in OP's first few notes. Sure, they didn't bother with chit chat, but why should they? It's a business transaction. They got right to the point, but I think they were nice about it, in a formal way. :o

[tock-fast.livejournal.com]

They may have been straight to the point, but the total lack of empathy towards the artist being severely sick is a huge turn off, and that's when straight to the point becomes rude.

[kattotang.livejournal.com]

Like I said, it's a business transaction. OP is not obligated to show tremendous amounts of empathy for someone who was outright ignoring them. The artist didn't even make a journal about being sick until the 22nd, while the initial note asking for an update was on the 14th, and those first two notes were just seeking communication--OP even said "no rush!" in the first one. The artist was active with YCHs and the like even while sick, so there's no excuse for the complete lack of a response. Which is all OP wanted to begin with--the entire problem was the lack of communication, but the artist didn't even once apologize for ignoring them. Like the first response OP got didn't even say "I'm sorry, I've been sick", it just said "I posted journals about being sick", implying the onus is on the OP to see the journal. It might be easier to just post a journal, and like you said in your other comment most people would probably wait, but I see no reason why the artist couldn't take 30 seconds to respond to OP's initial note. They took the time to read it, why not take a moment to respond? It really makes no sense to me.

If you had a regular job and you don't take the time to call in to tell them you're sick and instead just don't show up, you'd lose your job. Same thing here--if you don't take the time to communicate with clients about what's causing delays, then you're probably going to lose clients.

[karthegrax.livejournal.com]

I think we can all agree that the artist should have replied to the first two notes, however the passive-aggressive from the customer when the artist finally replies, followed by overt hostility is alarming. I know that when I'm sick I have a shorter fuse and a I'm less likely to censor my thoughts than normal, so I can understand the artist getting cranky after that.

While I agree that FA journals aren't ideal methods for contacting clients, I'd check them if I thought the artist was running off with my money, and I find it weird that OP didn't. IMHO it's not strange that they're active on their account but not checking/replying to notes when they're sick. I don't check work emails but I fluff about on the tablet when I'm crook. Same difference, really.

Bottom line, the artist should have maintained better communication, but I don't think the commissioner needed to be so cold and uncaring. There were a lot of sentences that could have been phrased more neutrally.

[vauvakolibri.livejournal.com]

" I don't check work emails but I fluff about on the tablet when I'm crook. Same difference, really."
Not cheking emails is one thing to me, but the artist did read the note and chose to not reply and they knew they had missed a deadline, which to me would warrant a reply, especially since the artist was capable to take (and possibly finish) more work.

[songstressfox.livejournal.com]

I dunno, it might just be personal preference, but while I'm not a commission artist, I do some service work for two Breedable/Changing Pets shops on Gaia Online (basically like adoptables communities?) and I get extremely annoyed when people do the "hey how you doin what's up oh by the way what's going on with my thing" routine because I find it...dishonest, if that makes sense? They aren't interested in me, they're interested in whatever it is they want from me, and I don't enjoy the small talk dance to get there.

[teekchan.livejournal.com]

Your screen shots are extremely tiny, even when full viewed. Manually zooming in makes them too blurry for me to read.

Edit; And as a warning for anyone who clicks their page, theres feral porn. Very NSFW.

[tock-fast.livejournal.com]

Honestly, reading through this I see it more as a beware towards the OP. They had a rough deadline laid out by the artist, but the moment it went over by a few days, everything went to hell. By the sounds of things, the artist got pretty damn sick. A room mate of mine was out of school and work for two weeks when she got a similar illness, and she went through hell that whole time, so I can definitely understand and sympathize how the artist would post journals instead of wanting to note ten or more people status updates, when most people are content to wait a few days, or check the artists journals for updates if they have concerns.

However, the artist should have a public queue; it's pretty unprofessional not to have one. When you have a queue of ten or more people, it's a good place for clients to see that things are being worked on, and that progress is being made, even if it's not on there commission; it shows that you're active.

Also: "I also noticed that three times they mention the number of people in their queue, and each time it changes, from 10, to 12, to 5. This inconsistency confused and concerned me."

"they were still fairly active, posting YCH's, Journals, and commissions"

I think you answered your own concern there. As well, the artist had mentioned using art as their sole income for three years. Of course they'd post YCHs and open for more work. That's just planning for the future and good business strategy (assuming they finish all the work).

[vauvakolibri.livejournal.com]

"but the moment it went over by a few days, everything went to hell"
Honestly looking at the notes, that's not really the impression that comes to me. It's one thing not to want to inform all of your commissioners when you're sick, but if the artist is capable of posting journals and taking more commissions (and possibly finishing others), they should be capable of answering a note sent to them instead of ignoring multiple of them.
To me, even if I were the commissioner and had read the journal about the artist being sick, them ignoring notes would still be a red flag to me personally (in the sense that if you're sick and not doing work it's understandable, but being sick and doing work while ignoring work contacts is not).