(no subject)

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

It's been a YEAR since I paid 17$ for two LJ icons from chapeljax and I still haven't seen them, or the lineart/sketches he'd said he'd "done but can't color due to no tablet". Now...that pertains to digital coloring...but he could always try and color them with real media.

I can't get money all that easily, and I try to trust who I'm paying, especially if they seem to be popular, but friendly, like this guy.

I could always ask for my money back, but I've been told I won't get it, or I'd only get half of it back.

What should I do guys?

I have read his journal and the posts he's made, but waiting a year for icons is too much for me, and I'm normally a VERY VERY patient person. so..yes..what do I do?

I should note I have nothing against him personally. Just to clarify!

Comments

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

I don't think that requesting a realmedia commission in place of the digital commission is a reasonable alternative, as realmedia can easily take much longer timewise, and I know I personally charge more for realmedia because of the supply costs for colored pencils and the like.

Who has told you that you won't get your money back? Other people, or Chapeljax?

Some more information on the communication you've had with this artist might be helpful. A year IS a long time to wait for icons, but how well have you been keeping contact with them? have you personally asked for a refund? etc etc
I think you posted about this here before, but I don't remember all the details.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I talked to them once before in Jan/Feb, and they had forgotten about me because I payed via snail-mail, so I had to resend my info. I'm also told I'll have them in a couple weeks...and that didn't happen. I've also commented in there LJ asking about the icons (several times) and got no answer as of yet.

As for the money issue it was other people, so I'm not quite there in listening to that just yet. And I posted about this sometime in december or january I believe.

[theassassinnox.livejournal.com]

Give him an email. He is super busy and doesn't currently have a working tablet. You will get your icons. They are just on hold right now.

He can be hard to contact. I'd send him and email and check base. If you like, I bet he would refund your money.

A weekly email is not out of the question at this point until contact is made.

~S

[banrai.livejournal.com]

I already told you what I thought about this situation in your LJ.

I think it's utter bull that you're being ran around like this, as well as being taken advantage of with the money situation. You've always been an awesome customer with me, and I know how wonderful you are to work with, as well as how good with communication you are. I have no doubt that you've done the same with Jax.

By the way, your origional post is here: http://community.livejournal.com/artists_beware/64403.html

[skulldog.livejournal.com]

I had a friend who's still on Jax's suit que, he was promised multiple times that the suit would be done before FWA, then that the suit would be shipped to the con center during FWA. FWA passes, and the suit is still not done, possibly not even in time for AC, I'll have to wait and see this weekend.

Jax took on a lot more work than he should have, and has admitted to it. I can understand the broken tablet, but a year is way more than one should wait on something small. This isn't a suit, this isn't a large project.

I'd send more email, be a little more demaning (Though nicely) and say you want to see at least INKs soon.

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

For now, since he has stated that he needs to raise money for a new tablet, I would hold off on bugging him again until after he has it. AFTER he gets the new tablet, assuming that you are his oldest outstanding commisioner/on top of the waiting list, give another month or so before asking for your money back.

I think it was irresponsible for him to wait a whole year, but making a big deal about it while he doesn't have the materials isn't going to be very productive, IMHO. if someone ordered a marker commission from me and I realized I was out of the color I needed, I wouldn't really appreciate it if they bugged me at any point while the new marker(s) were shipping if I'd already told them I didn't have the right materials.

[moonstone-wind.livejournal.com]

Sadly Ive no trust in him after a bad commission fall thru waiting 9 months for paws I can imagine your flustration over icons. And im sorry your getting treated unfairly.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

Well...it's not him overall I don't like, it's the fact that they could have bene done when he was able to that bugs me :X

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I'll give it a shot..but I'm not sure what to expect :X

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

Thanks pal..and wow..the old post still exists?? XD

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

oh, I didn't mean to say that you were making a big deal about his immaturity (I just realized my comment could be read that way).

I meant to say, no point in harrassing him about a digital commision while he doesn't have the tablet, that's all.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I tried that once...and I had to resend my info and was told then I'd see them in a couple weeks :X Didn't happen obviously..

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I know. I guess my willingness to wait's worn thin is all.

(sorry if I snapped..wasn't intentional if I did)

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

oh, no, no harm done ^^
I think your post here is fully justified, I'd probably be seeking advice too, if I were in a similar situation. I can understand your frustration, and I hope that you get either your icons or your refund in a timely manner.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's unfair, it's just the "year wait already" has gotten to me :X (and I"m good about waiting for stuff I really want and all). It's not the icons themselves, but that it takes me awhile to save for something I see that I like :X

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

So do I. *hopes for the best*

[lupusetgruis.livejournal.com]

I can understand the broken tablet, but a year is way more than one should wait on something small.

Especially when you could just use a mouse for digital colouring.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

Yeah.. =/

[crssafox.livejournal.com]

Real media in place of coloring digitally is not an unreasonable request when the commission is just a simple icon.

Assuming he's not doing full-sized sketches of the characters, then scanning and coloring digitally.... a small sketch would be no prob to ink and color using real media. Heck, I do it all the time with con badges... All you need is a quick inking, lay down base color with marker and do highlights and shadows using colored pencil, and you're done with one in less than an hour. And if the sketches are already done, then the majority of the work is done - half the trouble is getting the sketches to look right. ;P

I'm assuming that a digital icon commission wouldn't be all super-detailed; nor should the real-media substitute be overly complicated. A quick coloring job, and scan the image... He doesn't even need to send the original, since the commission was for an icon in the first place. (You don't exactly get "originals" with an icon... you get the icon, and that's it.)

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

Your point(s) is/are very valid and true :)

I personally would probably still charge an extra dollar or so, because I'm kind of stingy with my materials, but then again I think that kind of charge could be overlooked if I were working with someone on a yearold+ commission.

So... yes, I'm agreeing with you XD

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

It's only the neck/shoulder up I think..judging by the other icons he's done ahead of me that he did right away

[jtbeckett.livejournal.com]

what was the icon image supposed to be? i mean, do you have a link to any other examples of 'wish'?

[rapytur.livejournal.com]

Dang. You seem like a nice person/great customer too. ;;

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear he jsut sort of brushed you off like that Shin. I do hope the matter gets resovled. Maybe this post will be what it takes for him to either refund your money or get you your icon.

[ex-midnightf139.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear you've had a bad round like this. I hope everything will get worked out somehow. Good luck!