Not really a beware but..

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

I need advice on what a proper response to this situation would be. A customer came to me, and we agreed on a commission(A full body costume). We agreed on the price, and she has paid her deposit, and I have purchased her materials. I haven't yet begun work on it, but now she has come to me and asked about 'reducing the price' by changing the commission(to a partial). While normally I don't mind doing this, someone else(Her father) paid for this and contacted me about payment and actually paid the money, and I already have moved her commission back(at her behest) to a later date than we had originally agreed. Should I just change the costume to a partial and alter the price, minus the extra for the materials I've already ordered? Should I contact the one responsible for paying about this? This is really just.. an unusual situation(That I wasn't expecting in the first place) that I need advice on.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

[fenrirs-child.livejournal.com]

that's pretty weird... is she a minor, is that why her father is paying for it? if so, i think that means the contract or agreement or w/e is through him and he should at least be informed of what's going on. that's just what i'd do, but either way i'd definitely charge for the other materials purchased for the commission, and i think i'd be ok with changing it to a partial... unless you're worried that you may have issues getting paid upon completion? that's the vibe it gives me, she may have gotten daddy to pay the deposit and he doesn't want to foot the rest of the bill now, and she doesn't think she can afford the rest of the full on her own... just speculation though

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

No, she's over 18(Or so they both say), since I don't do work for minors.
That's what I was thinking, too? But she's contacted me again asking for MORE changes, that would make the costume MORE expensive(Adding wings, etc). And I'm just like.... uahdflkajsdklfj

[fenrirs-child.livejournal.com]

i don't know, that would make me pretty uncomfortable... i guess it depends on how safe you feel about getting paid at the end of it all, but i'd talk to the father and let him know how inconvenient it is to keep changing the design on you and see if that helps. i know i'd be pretty miffed if someone committed to a fullsuit slot and wanted to downgrade, because i may have decided to take a different commission than their now-partial, or it may be a pain to try to find another project to fill that space and the income lost. it's not like you're walmart or a chinese sweatshop, you're an individual artist, and while this may be a very personal project for them, they may not understand the other side of them vacillating on the details...

[merkotoz.livejournal.com]

This is how I would probably handle it:

Since the dad is the one footing the bill you should talk to him about the costs of a partial and whatnot. Whether they are a minor or not I would think that since the payment came from him that's who your contract is with, like Fenrirs said, so that's who to do business with. The child is only stating what she wants so that is as far as the involvement should go with her.

Also if it is clearly stated that the deposit is nonrefundable then just tell him so. The materials were bought and these are your rules. The only thing you should change is the labor price to a partial price. I mean if there is some money left over from materials have it go toward the partial payment.

So it's not too bad just a lot more involvement and running around.

[tanginello.livejournal.com]

Seconding this.

[louveg.livejournal.com]

Agreed. IMO the contract is with the person who pays. Therefore, changes and decisions should come to you from/through the dad.

[crssafox.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I would just confirm with the father to be sure that he is aware that he is only going to pay for the price of the partial, and any excess that has been paid on materials should go toward the payment of labor on a partial. :)

[sovy.livejournal.com]

This, pretty much. The kid isn't buying, it is dad who is buying a gift for the kid so you should go through him.

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much. I was worried about contacting the pay-er, I thought that might seem unprofessional. I'll be taking your advice and very much appreciate the input.

[uozlulu.livejournal.com]

I think that it's important to keep the source of the money in the loop. It's good to talk to her since it's for her, but it's good to talk to him too because he put up the money so he should know what his money is going to get. Also, if you had to give them a partial refund to reflect the change in commission you would be giving the refund to him and not her.

[synchra.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I'd contact the father first who paid to make sure she images this with him before going through with changing anything about the order.