(no subject)

[sepp.livejournal.com]

Has anyone ever had any trouble with HimeRikkina of DA? She's giving me sort of a hard time, and I was wondering if this is in or out of character for her.



9/19/05, HimeRikkina of DeviantArt commissions me. I am to draw her three fursonas, a mongoose, a husky, and an orca in the same picture, standing in a halfcircle.
9/20/05 I email her, telling her my mailing address and that the total will be $46.
9/22/05 she says:
"Once I get paid I will send it out to you although it may take a few weeks. I'm going to FurFright in
October and I have to save money and I owe my mom rent. But you will recieve your payment before then
and I would love to see the sketch first! ^^ thanks!

Akina"

9/26/05, I sketched it out and scanned it for her, to see if there were any changes she'd want. I asked a question, too, regarding where the nosering would be on the orca character in the picture.

she replied right away:
"...I didn't even think of that hehe So ixnay that. That's fine. The sketch looks excellent! And
Haruka's hair is black. Money will be on it's way soon!"

11/9/05 she says:
"Sorry! I haven't ditched you I swear! ^^; had major financial problems! You can finish it the moment
you see it in the mail! I'm really sorry I haven't ditched you >><<

Akina"

to which I reply:
"it's all right, don't worry. everyone has times like that, ever so
unexpectedly - can't do anything about it ^_~
thank you very much for letting me know, I appreciate that.
when will you or did you send the payment? just so I can keep an eye
out, because it's rare I get mail.. so I don't check often... it's
dumb. anyway. I'll finish your commission as soon as I validate your
payment :)
thanks again

-lisa sepp ommert-"

11/28/05, she sends me this email:
"As soon as I find some stamps your money order will be in the mail! :) I didn't forget!"



It is WAY past FurFright now. it's been 5 months, and 2/25/06 I get this note from her on DeviantArt:
"Okay I had the enevlope with your address on it and I had the stamp on it and I read the back of the
money order and found out it had expired >< SO! I'm currently flat broke so hopefully you'll get it
within the next two weeks.... I am so sorry!!!!

Akina"




I've never had a bad commissioner before, I really don't know how to handle this. can someone give me some advice as to what to do? I don't mind waiting for her to send me my money, I mean... I've waited this long. I also don't finish the drawings I'm paid for until I get the checks in the mail. I really have lost nothing in this deal, save for my patience.
what do you guys think I should do, and should I believe that she honestly just has crap going down and can't pay?

Comments

[schnee.livejournal.com]

If I was in your position, I'd just give her a deadline and tell her that if the money hasn't reached you after that, the deal will be called off.

Since she mentions two weeks, personally, I'd give her four or so - two to get the money, two to get the money order to you. This should be a reasonable timeframe.

If she's honest, she should be able to accept those terms and get the money to you for good now.

But I don't know her personally, so I can only offer this generic piece of advice. :)

[sepp.livejournal.com]

I *am* going to give her a deadline. I really would rather have the money, whenever she gets around to sending it, but I'm pretty tired of waiting.

thank you for the advice :)

[schnee.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. :)

[ilea.livejournal.com]

money orders don't expire that quickly. most are one year some are two. I think she's still jacking you around.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

thank you, I agree.

[hellhound.livejournal.com]

To concur with ilea; I've never gotten a money order that expired that fast. My guess is that she's screwing around. Set a deadline for her so she knows you're serious about this. She'll either get her act together and send the money or cancel; even canceling is better than this, because at least you could be done with it.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

Like I mentioned in a previous reply, I am going to set a deadline. if I don't recieve the money by april 5th, I'm calling it off.
I really hope she just gets down to it and gives me a conclusion, this is rediculous -_-

[filthy-animal.livejournal.com]

I didn't know money orders expire. Either way, stamps are usually sold at Amscott and banks...

[mazz.livejournal.com]

usually depending on where you get it they do expire.. but it usually it like a year before they do.

[cortezopossum.livejournal.com]

This sounds a lot like the crap I've gotten from deadbeat e-bayers (and furbiders). I agree with the others -- set a fixed 'payment or deal is off' date.

I don't know why people do this. Are they just expecting the seller (or artist in this case) to send off the product unpaid? Did they 'bite off more than they can chew' when asking for the commission in the first place and can't really afford it? Or are they just bad at getting things like this done and genuinely forgetting.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope she *doesn't* expect me to draw this thing for her anyway. Hopefully by posting this here, people will understand that - in my opinion - she is completely unfit for commission business deals.

[xstaticsakuraxx.livejournal.com]

I'm having a similar problem with a commissioner. She's constantly making excuses. I don't mind if she can't pay right away, but I did do a sketch. I guess I'll just chalk it up to bad luck. If she doesn't pay, then LAME.

Let's just hope it all goes well xD

I learned that you should never even BEGIN until the first portion of the money clears ~.~...

[sepp.livejournal.com]

I hope it goes well with you too, situations like these are certainly no fun at all ^_^;

[westly-roanoke.livejournal.com]

With me it's fifty percent before I'll put pencil to paper. That way I know the comissioner will pay up. I also don't scan in prelims, I just take a really crappy digital photo of it so they can't run off with my picture.

If you ask her what money order she purchaced...you can double check the website of that particular brand and see if they even expire at all.

Tell her if she doesn't pay up in four weeks (See the comment by...someone else for why) then the deal's off.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

I try and make sure I have sketched the drawing out for the commissioner to make sure that they are satisfied with the product I'm making for them before they send the money and decide later they don't want it, and ask for money back ((this has happened before)).

I have given her until April 5th.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Sounds like she's jerking you around, I agree that you should give her a deadline.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

upon listening to what you all had to say and further contemplation, I know for a fact she's jerking me around. ^_^; thanks.

[banrai.livejournal.com]

You might mention to her that ALL post offices sell money orders, and a stamp is only $.37 more than that.

Sounds to me like you're being told lies. I agree with the other commenters, give her a deadline.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

I gave her an ultimatum. thank you for your input, muchly.

[skulldog.livejournal.com]

Even if an MO expires as the person who bought it, as long as you have the reciet, you can go and refund it's worth. So the whole, not having money thing sounds like a lead on.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

I quoted you somewhat ((in mostly different words)) in my ultimatum to her, I hope you don't mind. thank you very much.

[uneide.livejournal.com]

I'd say she's jerking you around, personally. Granted, I"m paranoid, I take all the money up front since I pretty much do all the work within three weeks. *shakes head* I'd set a hard deadline -- if she doesn't pay up, I'd just auction off the piece or some such.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

thank you very much. yeah, I told her she had to send the money by april 1st. if I get the envelope and the date isn't april 1st or earlier, I told her the deal's off. I want to keep the money, but naturally I have to send it back to her 9_9

[izzyferret.livejournal.com]

From USPS: Domestic money orders are paid regardless of the time passed since their issue.

Western Union: The Western Union Money Order payment instrument does not have an expiration date. However, if it is not used or cashed (presented for payment) within three years of the purchase date, there will be a non-refundable service charge deducted from the principal amount of the money order where permitted by law.

...and so on, you get the point. :P Since I'm sort of a jerk like that, I'd just say call the whole thing off. She shouldn't be lying to you. You're expected to tell the truth, she should be too. XD But I'm a big meanie! Do whatever you feel is best.

[sepp.livejournal.com]

I quoted the "from usps:.... of the money order where permitted by law." bit in my ultimatum to her.
thank you VERY much for your help, I appreciate it greatly.