Beware: VaughnBlondtail

[thebrokentape.livejournal.com]

WHO: Vaughnblondtail -> www.vaughnblondetail.deviantart.com, www.furaffinity.net/user/vaughnblondetail

WHERE: Furaffinity.net/Deviantart.com

WHAT: $75 commission from me

WHEN: Initiated beginning of June 2011, finished June 24th

PROOF:

1: http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae340/ABrokenCassette/Picture32.png
2: http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae340/ABrokenCassette/Picture33.png

EXPLAIN: 

So this guy commissioned me to do a series of seven colored images for $75. As is my usual policy, I asked him to pay me half up front and then the second half when the piece was finished. He sent me the first half of the money without any problems, but then comes the trouble.

After finally finishing the piece I told him that I had it ready, and if he was set to send me the second half of the money. He said he was, and so I sent him the image with a watermark. He said that he loved it, but then promptly told me that he didn't have the rest of his payment yet. :\ I feel a little cheated and pretty frustrated because this guy also has decided to not respond to any of my attempts at communication (it's been a month and a half now with no word.) I've provided a few screencaps of conversations we had.

Comments

[hellebore.livejournal.com]

The FA is linking to rottencanines

[hellebore.livejournal.com]

Unless it is the same person?

[bork.livejournal.com]

Here's the correct URL for them: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/vaughnblondetail

[thebrokentape.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I've fixed it in the original post now.

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

[You changed it to .com, FA is a .net address. ;)]

[thebrokentape.livejournal.com]

XD Oh, thank you for pointing that out, I totally overlooked that!

[magickitsune.livejournal.com]

Pretty shady.

How big was the watermark? Was it all over the picture or just a small signature?

If you have a good view of the image itself, some people don't care if there's a watermark. What I do is stick a huge, obnoxious "SAMPLE" over the image and reduce its size to about %25. That way, they can have proof that their image is complete, but they don't get anything worthwhile until their payment is sent.

[thebrokentape.livejournal.com]

It was pretty small actually, probably my biggest mistake.

Your idea is a really good one, and one that several people have suggested to me. I'll definitely be doing something like that in the future.

[magickitsune.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It sucks that such measures have to be taken.

I don't know how many times you've tried to contact him, but maybe you could try telling him that you've posted here? I don't know if he's the type to start drama, so it's your call. But sometimes bringing it to the public is all it takes to get the artist/commissioner to follow through.

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

:( Bummer....I would have waited until I got the second payment and sent them a low res and yeah big smacking "sample" watermark over it. Next time hey.

[aggro-badger.livejournal.com]

He commissioned me back in December and, if I recall correctly, there was some trouble or miscomunication over payment at the time. It was during a sketch stream where I require payment upfront, and I held a place for him, and started on his picture when he informed me that he didn't have the money at the time. Or something, its been a while.
He did come through with payment though. Hopefully it will work out in your case, also.