Beware RejectedDreams

[mikastar.livejournal.com]

Who: RejectedDreams
Where: DeviantART, http://rejecteddreams.deviantart.com
What: Traditional Art
When: September 30, 2011 - Oct 2, 2011

Proof: In explanation.





I must strongly caution anyone who receives an art request from RejectedDreams on DeviantART. He comes off all nice at first, but then turns around and belittles your work, changes his story around, and accuses you of scamming him. Here is my ordeal:

I posted a journal stating that I was doing sketch commissions. In the past, it was understood that that meant pencil sketches, not cleaned up line work. Most people realize this when commissioning.

Journal - http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/proof1.jpg

So I get a lovely note from RejectedDreams requesting a commission. I proceed to find out further info about his request. I also let him know my process, telling him that he may request changes to his image once I submit it to him, before the final image is complete.

Note - http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/proof2-1.jpg

He thinks that's "cool." And even tells me to include the same type of tusks on his elephant that I had drawn on a previous piece in my gallery. Keep this in mind, because later on he tells me that's not what he wanted at all.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/proof3-1.jpg

I send him a preview of what I sketched up

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/Elephant_Sketch.jpg

Then proceed to tell him that if he would like any changes, he may ask for them now. He is completely fine with the image and tells me to go ahead and clean it up.

Cleaned up image -
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/AchooElephant.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/proof4.jpg

I send him the cleaned up sketch as well as an extra drawing for being one of the first 5 ppl to note me for commissions. He is very unhappy with it and begins to ask why its not like some of the other commissions in my gallery, mind you those were digitally inked, line art commissions, not sketches, as I had specified in my journal.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/proof5.jpg
I actually feel bad that he misunderstood the terms of our agreement and would like to rectify the situation, but before I can even reply to his note, he attacks me, claiming that I am scamming him.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/proof6.jpg

When I do respond to him, in a very professional manner, he becomes even more verbally abusive. As for the "ton of details," he was never specific about them at all and never made any suggestions when I showed him the preliminary sketch. I even agreed to revise the drawing, but as you can see, he just blew past that with his ignorant ranting.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/proof7.jpg

I then issued a refund and blocked him. There is no way I am going to do work for someone like that. I tried to be nice...I mean I'm pretty sure I addressed the issue in a very professional way. I have never had such an experience like that before. Please do not take requests or anything else from this person. He is rude, completely unprofessional, and immature.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/neko_83/proof8.jpg



I advise saving yourself a lot drama by avoiding this one altogether.

10/7/11 Edit: Just wanted to thank everyone who has commented for all their wonderful support and advice. I just recently found out about this community and am very happy that it exists!

Comments

[mariechan.livejournal.com]

I just know this guy personally from some debates and drama he made before. He was a Christian fundie and known to steal some photographs to try and make political points (one including a miscarried fetus). I just don't like his attitude altogether because in the past he's shown to be pretty difficult and bigoted overall. *shrug*

[mikastar.livejournal.com]

If I had known all of that before, I would have never taken a commission from him. After the whole incident, a bunch of artist friends on Facebook referred me over to this site. ^_^ Glad this place exists.

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

This guy's 'tude puts a bad taste in my mouth. A very good beware all the way. How in the hell do you expect, much less DEMAND more than what is advertised!? Makes no sense.

[mikastar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was pretty sickened by the whole ordeal. >_< I can't believe people like that exist.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Why would he assume 'sketch commissions' means he's going to get a coloured and inked piece? For ten dollars?? He must be one of those kinds of customers, thanks for the beware.

[mikastar.livejournal.com]

No problem. I only found out about this site after the fact, and he's already been listed on here once. Wish I would have known sooner.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

You handled the situation gracefully and very professionally, beware is entirely deserved on his part.

[mikastar.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've been in customer service for a long time now, so I've had years of practice dealing with jerks. ^_^

[claytronic.livejournal.com]

I liked the part where he said a-ok to the sketch but then said that it was all wrong and totally not what he asked for.

[mikastar.livejournal.com]

That made me insane for like an entire day. I kept thinking that somehow I missed something in his note. x_x

[everainsley]

Woah, so, on top of sudden change of heart and inability to read, he sends you a message, then an hour-ish later (because artists are glued to their computers at all times and never sleep/eat/work another job/go to school, I guess) accuses you of not responding.

Thanks for the beware. o_o

[mikastar.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you noticed that! XD I was totally blown away by the fact that he didn't even give me a chance to respond. I was actually typing back to the first note when he sent the second one. o_o

[meguroco.livejournal.com]

I just have to say that that is probably one of the most professional reactions I've ever seen to a terrible customer.

I applaud you.

[suzeyy.livejournal.com]

Seconding this. You handled yourself really well.

[vellacraptor.livejournal.com]

You handled it really well!
Though if you gave him the finished art, I would not have refunded him. It was his own mistakes, and clearly he was in the wrong. If anything, I would have given him just a partial refund as you do need some payment for the work.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm not a big fan of refunding people like these because it essentially rewards them for their behaviour. I understand wanting him out of your hair, but now he has art AND his money.

[china-kitty.livejournal.com]

I know him from a lot of drama he had created, but you handled him well despite his entitled behavior. A beware well deserved.

[silvertales.livejournal.com]

Pretty sure all your communication was perfectly clear about what you were offering. You showed him the sketch and he said "ok." If he has decided, after the fact, that he has been scammed, that's only a problem in his delusional mind.

Does he seriously think a digitally inked and colored commission should only be $10?! It's "customers" like him (and artists who indulge this kind of behavior) that make it difficult to be a freelancer/independent artist.

I think you were quite professional and personable and handled this difficult customer rather well. I'm just sorry you had to deal with something like this.

[lackoflollies.livejournal.com]

As an artist who charges low prices for colored work ($10 colored sketches, $5 extra if you want it clean-inked), I feel slightly offended at the statement that we 'indulge' that behavior. I charge what I feel my work is worth, and so do others i'm sure. It's not OUR fault some random smear on the internet can't read and thinks he's entitled to far more then what he paid for simply by throwing a tantrum, nor should we be looked down upon and accused of encouraging a bad behavior because of them.
Just my two cents.

[lackoflollies.livejournal.com]

Major kudos for handling that so professionally. Thank you for the beware. <3

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Wow. Beware rightly earned. This guy's entitlement is frightful. 10 dollars is about average for a pencil sketch commission. I'm not really sure why he thought that it entitled him to far far more.

[mekania.livejournal.com]

Really, instead of the refund you should have linked him to the journal the example image. There's no way you weren't clear about what the commission included. And you seemed to go farther by making it more of a "scene" image with props and much more cleaned up than your example. He got more that what he paid for and is really undeserving of the refund.

I went to your page (to see the example pic) and saw that you are no longer are taking commissions. I'm assuming it's because of this situation and I understand but I would recommend taking a break and trying again. We (commissioners) are really not all like that.

[mikastar.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know not all commissioners are bad. I've been doing commissions for over 9 years, both on deviantART and in real life. I've never had an issue like this before. Usually, the people I work for are very respectful and professional. This just threw me off, so I decided to retreat to my cave, lick my wounds, and return when I have a nice, detailed contract clearly outlining my terms of service. So, at least if something like this ever comes up again, I'll feel protected when I tell them no refund. ^_^

[hunter-san.livejournal.com]

You handled that really well. That guy is absolutely nuts and not worth the effort to talk with. I don't think he deserved the refund since it's his own fault he decided you suddenly meant something else, but kudos for handling him so well.

[ellonwye.livejournal.com]

It's sort of cute how he's initially really happy with the sketch, but then completely changes his mind and says that's not what he wanted at all. He appears to live in his own little universe and the fact there's evidence that he thought the complete opposite not long ago doesn't seem to matter to him. Adurr.

[werewolfofwater.livejournal.com]

I remember he was on here before accusing the artist of scamming him because he couldn't use paypal or whatever? I dunno.

I used to clash with this guy in arguments sometimes too, but that has little to do with this. Let's just say, it's not really surprising to me that this guy would be so delusional. It does kinda surprise me that he's being so verbally abusive though, I've never seen him behave that way before, maybe he's abandoned the whole christian thing.

I also don't think you should have refunded him, since you did the work. It's not your fault that he doesn't understand what the word "sketch" means. He also started complaining about all those details that were in the original rough sketch that he could have asked to be changed, but he said it was cool and to go ahead and clean it up. He only complained after you had cleaned it up. None of that was your fault.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Deleting comments (even if it's meant to be more of an edit) is against the rules here, please don't do it again and please read the rules on the userinfo before participating further.

[fastbreak333.livejournal.com]

Wow. An hour between notes is apparently "totally ignoring me, it must be a scam"! This man's practices should be known everywhere. Thanks for the heads-up.

[ime2667.livejournal.com]

You even gave an example of what people were getting! Saying that's not what you advertised is just plain stupid, for lack of a better word. UGH! Some people.

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

WOW...to both your awesome way of handling such a 'person' and WOW to his horrible attitude. Seriously don't people know what a "sketch" is? o_O

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Shame you gave him a refund, you earned that money :/

[razzek.livejournal.com]

I've worked with this guy before without too many problems, though he can get antsy and high maintenance. Once I made it clear what my terms were and that I would not tolerate certain kinds of behavior, he wasn't too bad. But I can see why a lot of folks won't work with him and he's come very close to being put on my blacklist.

Also, that was an adorable piece you did for him. :) You might want to write up a refunds policy so you don't have to do so much work for nothing in the future.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Somehow I'm not really surprised. People who exhibit this kind of personality type seem almost able to 'sense' when they can push someone and since he was fine with the sketch initially there's little doubt in my mind that he suddenly decided to 'hate' it just so he could get his money back or squeeze more work from the OP. He's likely done it before, and will do it again in future to somebody else.

The only way to deal with this type of individual is to be firm and not cave in to unreasonable demands.

[mialattia.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you had to deal with him.

But why did you bother to refund him? You did the work; I personally would hate to validate anyone like that if I've fulfilled my end of the contract.

[natalie n johnson (from livejournal.com)]

I know this is a very late response, but I felt the need to apologize on behalf of all Disciples of Christ. I'm Xiao-Feng-Fury, a former friend to Rejecteddreams. I may not know the full reason for his sudden change in behavior, but I can only assume that he went astray after surrendering to an immense amount of cyber bullying at DA. I've abandoned communication with him at least two years now due to his aggressive behavior. Regardless to what has happened to him or how it happened, I find his behavior towards you and other artists inexcusable and just plain rude.

I hope you accept this apology on behalf of Christianity. I can only pray that RD comes back to the Lord, because his behavior is NOT according to the word of God at all. Thank you, and God bless ya!


XFURY