Need Advice on wait time?

[weisk.livejournal.com]

I'm normally a very patient person when it comes to the completion of artwork, so long as the artist communicates effectively with me, like most people. I'm kind of in a situation where I'm not entirely sure what to do? I rarely commission people that aren't my friends, who I'm fine with taking however long due to our relationship, and the times that I have commissioned outside of people I'm personal with, I've never had any problems with.

It's nearing three weeks since I sent payment for an adoptable/design (one that was already drawn). My original note telling the artist I have sent payment and another note I sent a two weeks later double checking to make sure they hadn't forgotten about me, haven't been read. My main issue with this wait time, is that the artist has been active during this time and have been pretty actively uploading new deviations, making/responding to comments, etc. It doesn't help, too, that I had to wait about a week PREVIOUS to these three weeks, to get their paypal information, and again during that week they were very active. Today I decided to post a comment on their profile, but I'm not sure what else I should do at this point?

I'm patient with artwork but the artist said they all they needed to do was send me a file, so it's not like anything is having to be drawn? I don't think that I'm being impatient, but should I be waiting longer to make a fuss out of this?

Unfortunately I wasn't too smart and sent the payment as "friends and family" (I know, I know, this is my fault), so I cannot file a dispute if the artist continues to ignore me. It's such a small monetary amount ($10), that I really don't want to have to file an AB against this artist. :/ Any advice is appreciated, for now and for future!

Comments

[sableantelope.livejournal.com]

If the artist does not fulfill obligations I suggest you post the AB. The amount matters in how serious what they did is, but small or large wrong is wrong.

The fact they are putting their account at risk and making buyer's break the TOS to buy from them is all around bad news, big or small amounts. They aren't being an ethical business person and that's not good for anyone, themselves included.

-edit:(sorry mods) just one thing the 'just need to send file' excuse has been used in countless situations like this. The art may or may not exist.

[torotix.livejournal.com]

I don't really feel like 3 weeks for a $10 already drawn adoptable is really grounds for an a_b tbh.
Since you have paid, you already have rights to use the character even if you don't have the transparent/unwatermarked file, and you have proof that you paid for the adoptable if anyone questions you.

Have they edited the original image saying that you now own the adoptable?
Maybe leave a shout on their page or even a comment on their newer works expressing how shaken this is making you.

I wouldn't be worried if I were you. At one point I was using dual operating systems where if I wanted files from another os I would need to restart my computer which was a hassle, so sometimes I would take longer to send some files to customers. It might just be some sort of hassle that is stopping them from sending you the file right away but obviously their ignoring you doesn't help.

[weisk.livejournal.com]

Just want to make a comment in response to both of you! Thankfully very recently (a couple of weeks after I originally submitted this question), I was finally able to contact the artist through their friend. Although I had to go through a lot of detective work to find their tumblr...

@torotix - The issue was, was that the artist had removed the deviantation with the artwork, and I had sent them a note AFTER they had taken it down. I had seen the adopt while on my phone, and messaged them when I got home inquiring about it being taken down due to being sold or whatever, and things went from there. It turned out the artist was going to keep the design, but after talking them, they decided to sell it to me. So I had no access to the image at all, and was thereby unable to even use a watermarked/thumbnail/whatever. ):

@sableantelope - I appreciate the comment! I was thinking along the same lines, but I didn't want to see... I dunno, whiny? For this potential AB, or any in the future that might be for a small amount.