Question about payment.

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

I hope this hasn't been asked anytime earlier recently, but here goes:

I didn't ask for the money to be paid upfront for a $60 commission (I know, stupid!), and now I'm wondering how long it is acceptable to wait for her to pay me before releasing her name to this community.

During the process of doing the pic, she kept in constant contact with me. The original pic was done on March 10 (I sent a high-res scan), and since then she's only emailed me once on March 13 saying that she would email me soon again and that her dad has taken over her computer. I've sent her three emails already, on March 13, 18, and 31. The last two were concerning the payment and asking her to please keep in touch.

Is there any way to make someone pay up? :/ Any advice on this would be very helpful, thanks.

Comments

[ilea.livejournal.com]

I'd wait a month from when the pic was finished.

[martes.livejournal.com]

Don't send her a scan of the pic until you get payment. There are people who will request a scan then not cough up the money once they get it.

[kitschyduck.livejournal.com]

yeah, even a low-res scan. sheesh thats what happened to me with a £40 commission that took me 10 hours

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

argh that's horrible :/

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

:/ Unfortunately the scan is already sent.

[sekhmet.livejournal.com]

what you could do the next time you show a sketch is put some sort of a water mark across it. Then their less likely to take it and run.

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

oooh good idea :D thanks

Remember Scott Alston?

[ex-space-wo.livejournal.com]

When he printed his book, he used to rduce artwork down to a postage stamp and then blow it back up (don't ask me why). The result was sufficiently low rez as to be nearly unlookable-at. I say still give them a scan, but reduce it to like 30 DPI so it's only a hint of the final product.

Re: Remember Scott Alston?

[westly-roanoke.livejournal.com]

I take a digital picture with a camera, pencil and eraser covering part of the picture so that the comissioner gets a basic idea of the picture, but it's nothing to walk off with.

Re: Remember Scott Alston?

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

Doesn't that create a dilemma though? If it's so small, it'd be nearly impossible for the customer to notice any corrections s/he would like :/

Re: Remember Scott Alston?

[phineus.livejournal.com]

when it comes down to the finished product, it's generally a little too late for any real revisions.

[calorath.livejournal.com]

Monday makes a full month since the pic has been completed? I'd say that's more than enough time for payment to be received.

In the future I'd suggest half of the agreed amount be paid once a sketch has been accepted. I make my customers pay me %50 the day my crew shows up at the house to work. It's not insulting, it's business.

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

Yea, I've definately learned my lesson and I'm starting to have people pay up full upfront now :/ Thank you

[westly-roanoke.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't comission someone who makes me pay full up front.

Been burned too many times by artists who never cough up the art.

Fifty percet at the start, and fifty percent at the end. Best way to go.

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

Ah ok, thanks for that tip!

[duraji-synth.livejournal.com]

I completely agree, thank you! I'm glad I'm not the only one in this community who believes that it's never wise to give 0% or 100% up front.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

I usually ask for 50% up front and 50% when I have a sketch ready to be finished. Most people think it's a hassle and just give me 100% up front.

[duraji-synth.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, you're reliable, and a lot of people can back that up, so I would probably be okay giving 100% to certain artists that I can trust (and who will get it done within a month, maybe a little longer depending on the complexity).

[calorath.livejournal.com]

I dunno if paying entirely upfront is a solution, unfortunately I've been burned out of *large* sums of money on two occassions by payng entirely upfront. Gotta find that middle ground.

As for your situation, I'd procedded to be rather aggressive now.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Hm...The whole "dad took over the computer" thing is very bogus sounding. How old was this girl? Generally I'd never EVER work with a minor, or without some proof of them being adult (or mature) enough to handle payments. I recently am having the same issue...I asked for 50% up front, girl whines so I gave her a quick sketch and now she claims her "Bank" messed it all up and now I havent heard anything for 2 weeks. For the most part my clients always pay upfront (And are willing, since I have other clients for them to talk with incase of doubt) but if the customer wants only 50% upfront, I offer that as a possibility, given I have trust in them.

If you're getting it through paypal, send a few "Payment request" notices, and keep *every* single email you send to her, chances are she's bailed, or that she's too shy to contact you, or embarassed (Usually the latter). In anycase, don't give up!

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

Supposedly this girl is already married and is a cat breeder :/ The impresion I got was that she was pretty mature.

The 50% upfront payment is a really good idea-- do you think that having a page where former customers can leave good comments about you is something that would help assure new customers of your reliability?

I've already kept every email with the dates; she said she'd be sending via concealed cash in the mail.

Thank you so much for your help!

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Impressions are always hard to decipher when over the net. Far too often I'm conned into artwork by somone far younger and less mature then how they act online. =\.

I do think a page would be good =) See your newest post, I commented.

And..AHG...Cash in the mail...I can't stand that option. Unless there's some sort of guarentee that I'll get it (Like tracking) I never let them send it. They have no CLUE if I've gotten it, and I have no clue if I'll ever get it. Cash gets stolen immediatly these days out of the mail, it's amazing! I do check and Money orders only. The last bum to try sending me cash in the mail claimed it got lost then demanded his art anyways >_>...heh~!

[thaily.livejournal.com]

As soon as it becomes obvious that they have no intention of paying. I think it's pretty obvious already :/

I'm not sure you can force someone to pay up, unless you contact her parents and tell them you had an agreement with their daughter and she's refusing to pay up, but you'd have to A. find a way to contact them (though it helps if you have an address) B. Hope they're not breeders.

If you have the original and she refuses to pay, don't be shy of just selling it on to someone who will pay.

[duraji-synth.livejournal.com]

"Hope they're not breeders."

*laughs* Thanks, Thaily, I needed a good laugh to jumpstart my birthday. :)