Problem resolved.
Jun. 4th, 2010 07:50 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
billykane32.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
artists_beware I don't know how to get the original journal I wrote back, but I will recreate it from what I can. I didn't realize it was against rules to edit it the way I did.
I commissioned the artist for a 3 part piece about 3 years ago. During the first week or so after commissioning I was given 2 sketches (A correction from my last entry). It wasn't until about 2 years later that I received one of the sketches partially finished with flat color added to it.
Within that 3 years, those were the only things I had received. I would ask the artists about the project every few months. But I feel I wasn't properly informed or kept up on the progress, if any. I was told that the project was near finished and they were on a CD. But the CD in question could not be located. I asked several times about this and was told later that they could not found.
Keep in mind this is how things were presented to me. I have discussed the situation with the artist and aspects of the following have been disputed. But I was told, and have the IMS, that to make up the missing stuff I would have a choice to get 1 piece of something different to make it up. I turned this offer down because I, at this point, had still not recieved any finished pieces of the 3 piece project. I told the artist to forget it because I was upset and did not want to wait for something, which at this point, I never thought would be realized.
The artist recently contacted me and tried to resolve the situation. I recieved 2 pieces of the commish colored. These pieces the artist tells me have been done all this time. But keep in mind I never received these pieces over the 3 years until now. Even when I asked about the commish.
I did not get a refund (and I did not ask for one). I simply recieved the 2 pieces and called it even at that. He did offer to make up the last piece, but I simply wanted things done with. I do not want to pursue the situation further.
I commissioned the artist for a 3 part piece about 3 years ago. During the first week or so after commissioning I was given 2 sketches (A correction from my last entry). It wasn't until about 2 years later that I received one of the sketches partially finished with flat color added to it.
Within that 3 years, those were the only things I had received. I would ask the artists about the project every few months. But I feel I wasn't properly informed or kept up on the progress, if any. I was told that the project was near finished and they were on a CD. But the CD in question could not be located. I asked several times about this and was told later that they could not found.
Keep in mind this is how things were presented to me. I have discussed the situation with the artist and aspects of the following have been disputed. But I was told, and have the IMS, that to make up the missing stuff I would have a choice to get 1 piece of something different to make it up. I turned this offer down because I, at this point, had still not recieved any finished pieces of the 3 piece project. I told the artist to forget it because I was upset and did not want to wait for something, which at this point, I never thought would be realized.
The artist recently contacted me and tried to resolve the situation. I recieved 2 pieces of the commish colored. These pieces the artist tells me have been done all this time. But keep in mind I never received these pieces over the 3 years until now. Even when I asked about the commish.
I did not get a refund (and I did not ask for one). I simply recieved the 2 pieces and called it even at that. He did offer to make up the last piece, but I simply wanted things done with. I do not want to pursue the situation further.
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no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 01:48 pm (UTC)Sounds like BS to me, the whole "oh I've lost it" or "I don't have time" when they are spewing out art at an insane rate...
It sounds like he just doesn't want to do your pic but he wants to keep your money.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 02:34 pm (UTC)Some might disagree but I think you should get a FULL refund even though he did a sketch and flat colors because you were jerked around so long...
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 04:22 pm (UTC)Question for the OP: Did you see the sketches or did he just tell you he did them? Because if he didn't show you anything, (at least I think) you are fully entitled to a full refund.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 02:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 04:25 pm (UTC)Your link isn't working right btw.
You should ask this guy for a refund, he should not get to keep your money having only produced one sketch with flat colour and a whole bunch of excuses.
As for the "I lost the finished piece"? I wouldn't take any artist who gave me that excuse seriously at all, a lack of organisation on their part is their problem, they should be looking for it not giving you excuses, they lost it, they need to find it.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 09:57 pm (UTC)And your story appears to have changed, which puts it in somewhat of a different light.
I'm not a mod myself but I do think you should have posted a more complete entry rather than having to edit it later. If you're going to use this community to post about issues with someone, please try to put up all the information because when you leave things out or explain them poorly, that affects whether or not you get good advice and can also result in drama if the other party gets upset about the entry being lacking.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 04:41 pm (UTC)So thanks for the warning, but it would be nice to hear that you attempted to get that better resolution out of this. A yay or nay to the original deal or refund from him would be a great start.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 04:53 pm (UTC)I know I would certainly be fed up. I don't think this is sabotaging at all. However, I'd have to see both sides to truly know what's been going on behind the scenes.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 05:45 pm (UTC)After three years anyone would be fed up and disillusioned with the empty promises they've received.
Personally if I was the sort of artist who would leave a client hanging for three years and then offered them something worth a third of what they paid for? I certainly wouldn't expect a positive reaction.
If the artist wanted to make things "right" he'd have apologised for the issues and turned out the original commission and perhaps added something to make up for the issues; offering a "deal" worth less than a third of the originally contracted work isn't trying to make things right at all.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 07:53 pm (UTC)It's one thing to say "this guy took 3 years and I haven't seen a result." It's quite another to add "he approached me and I told him to eff off!"
Given that three years has passed and that the criticism of Rakun here could imply poor organization, management skills, etc, it is plausible that he misremembers or was confused about the original agreement. (or as the situation is now resolved, that the completion progress of the other two was miscommunicated.) It is very bizarre to see a bait and switch of this nature, after all this time. Considering the lack of a simple attempt at communication, I don't feel it is wrong to question the OPs handling of this event. Let's make this a teachable moment for everyone here.
It is good to hear that the situation is resolved though.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 10:00 pm (UTC)The OP seems to have edited the original post and added some things that weren't there before which changes the whole context.
Off hand though, if an artist hasn't produced a commission more than a year after the initial contract/payment? Generally most of the time they won't produce it no matter how long the person waits or how much contact the commissioner attempts to have. There are going to be people who eventually just give up and forget the matter, as much as we may wish people didn't since it just lets unprofessional artists get away with it.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-05 04:44 am (UTC)Look,
"Off hand though, if an artist hasn't produced a commission more than a year after the initial contract/payment? "
Not an excuse, especially given the complaint here. And thus my criticism.
"as much as we may wish people didn't since it just lets unprofessional artists get away with it."
Thus my criticism.
I understand that you have an issue with what I am saying. But it would be nice if you listened instead of preaching to the choir. You might find out that we don't disagree all that much.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-05 03:39 pm (UTC)I am listening, I merely disagree that as the story was explained originally that the reaction of the client was that bad or unexpected, I think anyone would be fed up after three years.
I also don't think it helps when clients who've been patient for years post here and get told "you should have put more effort into resolving this" what do you think the three year wait was?
no subject
Date: 2010-06-05 05:04 pm (UTC)The first phrase to my first comment, which you replied to: "You are fed up, and that is understandable."
To help you understand I provide three "fed up" responses. You tell me which is best.
A. "It would be nice if you could stick to the original agreement. I asked for three images, not just one. I am tired of waiting and being led around and I don't want to waste any more time with your broken promises. This is my address, but I'm still going to warn people not to commission you until I get what I paid for or my money back."
B. "I've waited long enough and I am tired of discussing this with you because nothing comes of it. Next time I hear from you I want it to be about the refund that is in my paypal account. Until then, I am going to warn people not to commission you."
C. "You know what? Forget it. I'm tired of waiting and any more time I spend with you is going to be time wasted listening to your excuses and broken promises."
Neither of these was time or labor intensive. All of these essentially say the same thing, they are all an attempt to permanently close the dialogue between the two. But there are key differences. A and B make it clear that the end of dialogue does not end the agreement, whereas C terminates the agreement! A and B also clearly state the action that will be taken against the commissioned for not fulfilling the agreement, whereas C does not threaten any recourse. Finally, with only 8 additional words, A clearly explains the reason for the upset, which would have saved OP a lot of anger if OP had not immediately jumped to the conclusion that he was being ripped off outright. For the effort of a few extra lines, OP can be done with Rakun, and even though Rakun can still simply do nothing, chances of a better result are still much higher. It doesn't matter how long OP has been waiting. Too long is *always* too long.
And I've spent far too much time explaining this. If you don't get it, I'll hope you don't have the chance to make the same mistake.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-05 07:47 pm (UTC)You can "explain" all you like, I still disagree, especially because of the tone and words you used, you accused the OP of "sabotaging" the artist's "attempt to set things right", the term sabotage means a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion. It's a negative perjorative term in other words, which is quite impolite imho.
That isn't all, for starters, you had no idea whether it was a genuine attempt to set things right or yet more excuses. Someone who has been bombarded with excuses is quite likely to just throw their hands up and go "forget it, I don't want to deal with this any longer" because after three years there is no reason to expect any promises to be actually kept.
If someone keeps making and breaking promises, you don't keep giving them the benefit of the doubt forever, you eventually accept that they have no intention of keeping said promises.
So ragging on the OP for being a normal person and not giving the artist the benefit of the doubt after three years of broken promises and excuses? isn't too helpful.
Yes, the OP later explained some things which cast the issue in a different light but as it stood, your comments came across as blaming the OP for not being "willing to work" with the artist despite the fact that the OP had been patient and willing to work with the artist for three years and had got naught but the run around, and quite frankly, there are very few people who wouldn't go "forget it" after that length of time.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 04:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 04:56 pm (UTC)Even if it's true, it's still a warning that he's not organised enough to take them on.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 06:09 pm (UTC)I would say that the reason they offered 1 piece instead of 3 might be the fact they considers that he/she'd be undercharging for what they can offer now. Not that it makes a difference to you and really, if they had completed the commission when their prices were set then it wouldn't be an issue.
Still, that is a shitty deal for you.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 06:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 07:22 pm (UTC)It's more the principle of the thing - I think the OP is owed a refund and the artist ought to know it :P
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 08:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 09:12 pm (UTC)I guess there was some sort of resolution looking at the edit, but the artist definitely still sounds like one to be wary of.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 08:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 06:11 pm (UTC)Did you get the refund?
Mod Notice
Date: 2010-06-04 06:24 pm (UTC)1. No screening or deleting comments (INCLUDING YOUR OWN) or posts. Ever. If you notice someone doing this, please email one of the moderators.
If your situation is resolved, do not edit your post with strike-through text. You may add updates to the body of your post in order to provide evidence, additional information, or if the situation is resolved, as long as the initial warning remains intact.
Please rewrite/return the original warning material you had posted. From there myself or another Moderator can label this post of yours as resolved.
You've been warned.
Re: Mod Notice
Date: 2010-06-04 07:03 pm (UTC)"About three years ago I commissioned the artist Rackun from FA ( http://www.furaffinity.net/user/rackun/ ). It was for a 3 piece commission, which I immediately paid in full.
Over the next three years I was jumping through hoops about the entire thing. Every few months I would ask about the progress of the project. I basically got 1 quick sketch the first week I commissioned him. And I never saw anything new or worked on until 2 years later when he finally added some flat color to said sketch.
In the end, the only thing produced over this long period of time was a sketch with flat color. He insisted that he was going to finish everything ASAP. I had a hard time getting a hold of him for awhile. After asking the artist more about the progress I was eventually told that the project was pretty much done. And that it was located on a CD. A CD which he could not seem to find.
So then began a new game. Asking periodically if he had found the CD with the "finished" commissions on it. I never was given a straight answer. Usually met with him signing off of YM. Or a quick, "I need to talk to you about that, but I need to go."
Finally a few days ago I was told by him that he has lost whatever commission stuff he did for me. And that to make it up he was going to give me a choice. That to make things right he would instead do 1 piece commish of something different for me. He immediately had to go, and told me to think about it.
So I was basically getting 1 commish for the price of 3. What a deal! When I saw him next I told him I had decided on his offer. He immediately thought I had accepted it and began to ask what I wanted to see.
Well guys, after 3 years of getting nothing finished, I had had enough. I told him that I was going to be realistic and I didn't want anything. Basically because that's pretty much what I've gotten or will get. I do not plan on taking such a supposed "deal" nor do I want to ask for something new and wait another 3 years to have nothing finished.
Of course, I don't really expect anything to be done. But let this be a warning out there to anyone wanting to commish him for something."
If this is out of line sorry, just trying to help!
Re: Mod Notice
Date: 2010-06-04 07:05 pm (UTC)Re: Mod Notice
Date: 2010-06-04 07:09 pm (UTC)Re: Mod Notice
Date: 2010-06-04 07:56 pm (UTC)Re: Mod Notice
Date: 2010-06-04 07:03 pm (UTC)Your friendly neighborhood moderator