Advice Needed - Commissioner Not Replying

[zoey911.livejournal.com]

So about 3 months back, sometime in January, I offered art packages. I had one guy pick one up, and told me he would give me the details in a few days, since he had no ideas. So about a month goes by, and I note him to see if he has any ideas for the art yet. He reads it, but does not reply back. Another 3 weeks go by, and I note him again. Again, he read it, but did not respond, that was about 2 1/2 weeks ago..

So my question here is, what should I do? Should I just refund him and be on my way? Or should I just wait until he decides to get back to me (if he ever does), and then do the art?

Comments

[adzuki.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Personally I would refund the money and wash my hands of it. If they are not responding to your attempts to contact them, it just sounds like they are going to string you along for a while.

[kalika-tybera.livejournal.com]

If you have the means to refund him, I would do so.

I have a client who hasn't responded to me in FOUR YEARS. He commissioned me for a badge at Anthrocon and paid in cash, but told me he'd send me refs when he got home. Never happened. I've messaged him many times over the years on multiple accounts of his and he has not opened, read or replied to anything. He's not dead (thank god) either, I've seen him post updates, just... won't answer me. At this point I chalked it up as a donation because I don't know if he has Paypal or what his address for it would be and I've given up on messaging him. Oh well.

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

I'd just refund, with a note that he is welcome to commission you again in the future if he decides what he wants.

If you don't have it already in your ToS, I would suggest adding something about timeframes for giving you commission information before you'll consider business closed (I allow a week after agreeing to the commission). The way I see it, if someone commissions me, they should know what they want, and if they don't they are just wasting my and their time and money and I do not have the patience for that.

[teekchan.livejournal.com]

Refund.
But, unlike the above poster, I wouldnt let him purchase again. Not replying is a huge pain, and they're actively ignoring you too.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

Since this is happening so early on, I'd refund.

I can't imagining how frustrating it'll be once you do the actual work and need approval on steps, like the sketch. It's just really not wroth your time and it sucks to have art sitting there like that, especially as you'll improve over time.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

I would say give him a firm 'last chance' message where you state that unless he responds (within X amount of time), you will cancel the commission and refund.

Or just cancel it outright for lack of information. It's been long enough.

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

Refund him now. If he's holding up space on your queue for this long and he hasn't even given you info just imagine how it's going to be later. Not worth the stress.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

If getting the basic info is like pulling teeth, imagine what getting feedback will be like. Refund and run for the hills.

[zoey911.livejournal.com]

Thank you all for the responses. I'm going to refund him as soon as I can.

Oddly enough, I checked his userpage today, and it has been disabled.