Difficult Commissioner Followup!

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Here's a follow up post to my situation with a difficult and demanding commissioner:

 

MSN conversation following his post on A_B: (I did not initiate this conversation, I have them timestamped as well! Copy/pasted directly from my save file of this conversation)

I am Poppy Pandacoon on this specific MSN address. I have blanked his name out for the moment.

________ says (9:26PM)

WHY AM I ON AB?? WHY WOULD YOU ADD THIS ON MY STRES?
 

Poppy Pandacoon says (9:27PM)

Because I felt it necessary, I didn't just put you there for any reason. If you read my post it mentions you being difficult and pushy, which you were, :/ No offence meant but i'm treating this entirely like a business relationship throughout this not just friendship.


________ says (9:27PM)

Well thats idiotc, you owe me that money in full not just 'PART' of it like your gonna give me!!


Poppy Pandacoon says (9:31PM)

I said I would only give you a partial refund DUE to the fact that it's a custom artwork, not a store bought piece. I am not a bank, I worked hard on this and deserve some payment for what i've done, completed or not. So no, you will more than likely be getting resources and 25% back from your payment of $150 minus shipping costs of what is completed as I do not have the space to keep this, unless you want me repainting it and just remodelling said character so I CAN sell this and make a profit. So half of the $150 is $75 materials. You can get that back. Plus 25% of $75, the artwork cost, which is $18.75. $10 shipping due to its size, you wanted tracking and insurance. So that brings your refund to $83.75 if you still want it. Thats still a fair amount to be getting back.

________ says (9:33PM)

I dont WANT that tiny refund i want all of it!!! And i want the art caus its my personal charater, not YOURS to resell!!

 

Poppy Pandacoon says (9:35PM)

Well i'm sorry but you want that refund and I can't really pull that out of nowhere. I'd be redesigning said character to sell as this completed artwork if you do not want it with your partial refund. OR due to how close it is finished, I can just fully complete it for you and send it to you fully framed up and ready to go up on the wall. I'm happy to refund you in installments like I have mentioned in our texts, or to finish this artwork. I have the next few days off so I can complete it and send it out for you, unless you want me to give you the shipping ($10) back and you can come pick it up directly.

 

________ says (9:35PM)

Thats bullshit!!

Poppy Pandacoon says (9:36PM)

Look, I either want to finish this piece for you or make a profit that I can refund to you. I'm not TRYING to be a pain, or a selfish person, it's just that I worked hard on this for you, and I did not cancel it of my own accord, you did. Im happy with whatever option you pick, okay? Either way it can still be completed by your August 25 deadline and you can have it before then.

________ says (9:53PM)
 

Fine. finish the artwork and ill pick it up on 25th. I want the shippng back in cash.

Poppy Pandacoon says (9:54PM)

Can do, i'll make sure I have the cash for you. I'll chuck in a bag to put it in when not in use/moving as I know you move alot :) I'll email you completed pictures of it done and framed by August 24. At this point no changes can be made. Thanks for understanding my point of view.

(Taken directly from MSN, 10/08/11, texts are still not transferrable but I don't think they are necessary.


I admit it was hard to stay cool :/ I'm guessing this friendship between him and I might be over at this point, but I stood my ground and i'm proud of myself for what i've done! I managed to at least calm him down to understanding. From my last comment on msn, I was later blocked and he ignored all messages afterwards. I'll be giving him the address for the shopping centre down the road for him to pick it up from, I will be with my partner incase. I gave him this option as he might have preferred it, which he did.

Thanks for the support A_B, it really helped when I needed it! Once I find a few of his screen names, then I will post them. For now I feel I should not post his real name.

Comments

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I dont WANT that tiny refund i want all of it!!! And i want the art caus its my personal charater, not YOURS to resell!!

He's ridiculous. What kind of justification would he even have to have both all his money back and the piece (especially when he was the one that canceled)? It would be a theft of services at that point and how does someone convince themselves it's okay to steal from their friend? I just seriously can't see how someone could see it that way unless they were just naturally that selfish.

You're better off without him as a 'friend' and a commissioner.

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Agreed, hes been going off to all his friends, luckily they don't believe a word of what he's saying about me!

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I'd still like to know how he can justify theft of services. How are you the bad guy? How is he the victim?

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Well on text he basically says he expects artists to hold all money until commission is done :/ even though I mentioned straight up it was going on electricity.

He knew of my situation and originally this commission was to help me while he was getting something in return instead of gifting me the money :|

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

That really doesn't matter, though. It still doesn't entitle him to a free product and a full refund. It doesn't matter what his money went to.

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Exactly :/ I've updated my TOS to mention "If the commissioner decides to cancel...." etc to cover my bases.

But no way in hell did me not covering that entitle him to free product and full return. I don't see what got that in his mind! Maybe too many returns to stores and expecting it to be basically the same thing?

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

Hah. Is he the sort of guy who will eat half a hamburger and return it for a refund? That's the best analogy I can think of - some restaurants might tolerate that if they're convinced the food was bad.
... although if he eats the whole thing no one's gonna give him his money back XP

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

You did an awesome job of staying cool! I know I would've had trouble, heh. Like kayla_la said, you're better off without his friendship or business. I wish you better luck with future endeavors!

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Agreed! It was quite difficult, but if I ever get in this rut with a commissioner again i've updated my TOS!

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Sounds like you've got your bases covered. :)

[taasla.livejournal.com]

I have to commend you on staying cool through it all. What a fabulous job.

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[lurkerwisp.livejournal.com]

I want to live in a world where $80 is a tiny amount to me. 8c

Joking aside, this whole thing is insane. Thanks for updating here. I hope it all works out for the best.

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Agreed >: If $80 is a small amount my GOD.

And it was pretty insane for a bit, just glad it's mostly over.

[wyngaed.livejournal.com]

What a terrible attitude! I commend you for how well you kept your cool. I don't think I would of been able to. x_x

As an aside, can we get some links back to the previous posts about this situation? This is called a followup, but this is the first I've read about it and there's no specific tags for this situation to follow.

[whereisourcrown.livejournal.com]

http://artists-beware.livejournal.com/490034.html

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that :)

[banrai.livejournal.com]

Well handled, and man that guy seems like a jerk.

I would recommend releasing the commissioner's name so that those of us that have a 'stay away from this person' list can add them to it.

[lilclaudy.livejournal.com]

Yes, please do release the name.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

Thirding the request for the name. :/

[temrin.livejournal.com]

I agree. It'd be nice to know who to avoid :/

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

I WOULD release the name but he does not use his real name online :/ I'll be hunting for an online persona and if not, THEN i'll release his name :)

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

Good riddance, I say. He was acting pretty irrational about the whole thing. While losing a friend can suck, he was totally using you, whether he ealized it or not :(

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Exactly :( Sucks but at least I didn't give in!

[hellfire99x.livejournal.com]

Ah, I'd been wondering what became of your situation. Glad to hear it's mostly settled now. :) Great job! Here's hoping that the trade goes smoothly from here on out!

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Definitely! If it doesn't A_B will be hearing about it! XD

[mekania.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you are taking the proper precautions for the meet up! He may be your friend but his comments were just a little bit on the side of crazy so it'a good you'll have someone with you in case he changes his mind/gets out of hand again.

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Not to mention I didn't give out my actual address c: I'm glad this might work now.

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

You did a good job of staying cool and you are justified in the decision you made. You aren't ripping him off you worked on it and that work and material used should be paid for by the commissioner so you the artist are not out of pocket.

I wish that people could/would understand this.

I'm glad though that seems to have been resolved. Good luck!

[notorious_hunty.livejournal.com]

Good job keeping your cool. Losing friends suck, but it was plain as day he was taking advantage of you. When you can, post his name so we can all avoid!

[bubonicapple.livejournal.com]

you have the patience of a saint

i feel like i'm in that old MTV commercial with the kid sitting in front of the tv, his hair blown back by the force of awesomeness

that is what i am like right now, seriously. that was the most well-handled that situation could've possibly been.

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

Naww thankyou! <3

[otherscape.livejournal.com]

I really wish you would post the name of this guy so everyone can avoid him in the future.

"I dont WANT that tiny refund i want all of it!!! And i want the art caus its my personal charater, not YOURS to resell!!"

I just...what?

I'm also curious what he'll have to say about the painting when he receives it. I have a feeling he's going to say he hates it and then demand a refund for poor service. Could you by any chance post a picture of the finished painting as well, if you can?

Also, kudos for handling this guy so calmly. That was very professional. :)

[flarveon.livejournal.com]

I'll see if I can, might be able to get a nice picture =3

I have the digital version before I canvassed it up last night! Even chucked in a small badge of an older sketch he did not like to keep him quiet if you know what I mean X3

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/405/ademonsbloodbyflarveond.png/
He did not like the fur detail I added so I took that out and just cell shaded it with some airbrushing.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/flirtatiousarentwebyfla.png/
Mini badge!

[sisterskift.livejournal.com]

Wow, I don't know how you managed to handle that so well. I'm really impressed, hopefully that guy stops bugging you soon.