Question regarding non-payment of commissions
This may not be the right place to put this, but thought I'd give it a shot.
For the first time in a year, I have a customer who is refusing to pay for a commission after it was completed. I know this is partially my fault because I didn't ask for half up front. But I hadn't had any problems prior to this, even with clients that just popped into my website.
The person is claiming that he didn't know he would have to pay for the artwork and feels that I am being completely unreasonable for expecting payment. I sent him the link to my commission page where it lays out the pricing. He stated that he never read that page because he didn't feel that it applied to him. After I took his artwork off my site, he sent me an email demanding that I put the links back up because the artwork is his and I have no claim to it.
So, I'm here asking you guys and gals how you handle a situation like this. One thing that I have changed is that I now require half up front before I start working on the images. Is there anything else that I should do different? And how should I handle this person before I go completely ballistic on him.
Anulien
20 years ago
If you have never had a problem till now, don't change anything you are doing. You just happened to run into a special olympic who thought he was more important than you getting paid for your work.
ROzbeans
20 years ago
Its time to go ballastic. He's obviously an idiot, especially since he didnt even save the artwork before you ganked the links. Its not that kick ass ranger you did, is it? Oh and I suggest yanking any c/c links everywhere.
While you're add it, who is it so none of us get hit with the jack ass, if you dont mind me asking?
While you're add it, who is it so none of us get hit with the jack ass, if you dont mind me asking?
Sunbur
20 years ago
No it's not the ranger LOL
This one is a dark elf enchanter in Elemental Dawn on Bertoxx named Myrmedan. It was a kick ass signature too!
Part of it was probably my fault because I didn't clarify in the emails regarding payment. I put the link to the commission page in the first email response I sent to him but I didn't spell it out for him. It was bad for me to "assume" that he read and understood it.
This one is a dark elf enchanter in Elemental Dawn on Bertoxx named Myrmedan. It was a kick ass signature too!
Part of it was probably my fault because I didn't clarify in the emails regarding payment. I put the link to the commission page in the first email response I sent to him but I didn't spell it out for him. It was bad for me to "assume" that he read and understood it.
Sarah
20 years ago
I don't see how any of it is your fault. I would just tell him one more time, quoting your commissions page then not respond to him any more.
It is time and money lost for you, but the way things sound you're not likely to get the money from him anyway. Atleast you get to keep the art.
And you can maybe pirate it a bit for something/someone else. :)
Sunbur
Part of it was probably my fault because I didn't clarify in the emails regarding payment. I put the link to the commission page in the first email response I sent to him but I didn't spell it out for him. It was bad for me to "assume" that he read and understood it.
I don't see how any of it is your fault. I would just tell him one more time, quoting your commissions page then not respond to him any more.
It is time and money lost for you, but the way things sound you're not likely to get the money from him anyway. Atleast you get to keep the art.
And you can maybe pirate it a bit for something/someone else. :)
ROzbeans
20 years ago
Half up front is definitely the best way to protect yourself. How I used to do it (since i'm so lazy that i've stopped, /snort) was if I did not know the person, I asked for full payment after they saw raw screenshot layouts. In one case I waited for a money order to come in the mail before I did anything. Most people want to pay up front, but in emails I always make it clear that I charge $$, not plat. I'd give an approx price and sometimes I wouldnt get replies back, which obviously to me means they didnt think they'd have to pay or the price is too great.
That sucks you did the work and now you wont get paid. Maybe you can incorporate it into a smaller gift for a DE you know? Or maybe that jack ass will come to his sense. Post the emails!!! I want to see how much of an ass this guy is. :teehee
That sucks you did the work and now you wont get paid. Maybe you can incorporate it into a smaller gift for a DE you know? Or maybe that jack ass will come to his sense. Post the emails!!! I want to see how much of an ass this guy is. :teehee
Rikr
20 years ago
If he already has it linked into is signature, in his messageboards, Why not put a note on the sig and put it back up, like:
"This cheap bastard commissioned me to do work for him and then decided to renig on the deal and not pay for his order. I hope he burns in hell!!" And then add Dildo's up his ass or something.
Just tell him you were sorry for the confusion but he obviously made a mistake and misunderstood, but since you are such a nice person you'll hook him up this time. Send him the link. This may ensure that he uses it, then everyone will get to see your nifty note on the sig.
-The End
"This cheap bastard commissioned me to do work for him and then decided to renig on the deal and not pay for his order. I hope he burns in hell!!" And then add Dildo's up his ass or something.
Just tell him you were sorry for the confusion but he obviously made a mistake and misunderstood, but since you are such a nice person you'll hook him up this time. Send him the link. This may ensure that he uses it, then everyone will get to see your nifty note on the sig.
-The End
Guest
20 years ago
I love you Rikr :) We would so get along lol.
And sry Sunbur for the problem you ran into. I dont have a lot of money, so if I see a commission or are interested and its too much money, I just say no thanks, or dont bring it up again. I cant believe someoen would try to get their way out of paying (cause thats what he did) by cheating you. :( He knew all along how much it was, he just thought he could get it from you no matter what after you'd finished it. Dern peeps :(
And sry Sunbur for the problem you ran into. I dont have a lot of money, so if I see a commission or are interested and its too much money, I just say no thanks, or dont bring it up again. I cant believe someoen would try to get their way out of paying (cause thats what he did) by cheating you. :( He knew all along how much it was, he just thought he could get it from you no matter what after you'd finished it. Dern peeps :(
Mai
20 years ago
I would say that you do have a right to it. It is your artwork, not his. Until he pays for it he doesn't have a claim to it unless you give it to him. Since you assumed he understood that then it wasn't a gift, nor should he expect it to be.
From how he sounds he knew upfront that you expected him to pay but he is thinking he could get a free signature from you. Most people would have understood the mistake and felt chagrined at finding out you wanted payment. Either offered to pay or said they couldn't and apologized. They wouldn't have demended you give them to artwork anyway.
So he's either a jerk and doesn't deserve it or is more likely trying to scam a nice artist out of free artwork.. either way he deserves to "burn in hell with the dildos as suggested in Rikr's post"
From how he sounds he knew upfront that you expected him to pay but he is thinking he could get a free signature from you. Most people would have understood the mistake and felt chagrined at finding out you wanted payment. Either offered to pay or said they couldn't and apologized. They wouldn't have demended you give them to artwork anyway.
So he's either a jerk and doesn't deserve it or is more likely trying to scam a nice artist out of free artwork.. either way he deserves to "burn in hell with the dildos as suggested in Rikr's post"
Saraquael
20 years ago
Yeah, definitely in agreement here. Keep the image off the site. He can make all the demands he wants, but without any exchange of money, he's got no claim to it.
Plus... why is he hotlinking off your site anyways? Now he's just pulling money out of your pocket.
Plus... why is he hotlinking off your site anyways? Now he's just pulling money out of your pocket.
Gilae
20 years ago
Heh. I did some stuff for a guy who still hasn't paid me for it. I have a hard time charging ppl for stuff as it is, so initially I thought I'd just overlook it. But the more I think about it the more pissed off I get. Play hardball!!
Xandare
20 years ago
You could sign him up for a bunch of Transgender Beastiality forums.. plaster his contact info all over them..
thats what I would do, unless he's the type to go in for that kinda thing..
thats what I would do, unless he's the type to go in for that kinda thing..
Sunbur
20 years ago
I allow people that I've done a sig/magelo for to link to my site (free advertising). The main reason is because I get 10 gigs of bandwidth per day (yes per day) and I haven't even topped 2 gigs of usage per day yet. That's even with 80% of the sig/magelos still in use out there.
The guy has "said" he was going to pay, but I'm not holding my breath hehe If and when I see the payment, I'll put the image back up. But not until then.
And Gilly, I was the same way about accepting payment. Until I sat down and figured up one day (with the help of a client who actually felt I was undercharging LOL) how much it costs me per image just for models. Then we divided it by the average usage of the model over a year. Then added in how much MY time was worth. Personally I don't think my time is worth as much as he did LOL So I took the numbers he came up with and divided them based on the size of the image. And as I look at my DAZ history, I probably should charge more LOL Don't let it slide as you're building things up. Make the decision and stand by it :)
The guy has "said" he was going to pay, but I'm not holding my breath hehe If and when I see the payment, I'll put the image back up. But not until then.
And Gilly, I was the same way about accepting payment. Until I sat down and figured up one day (with the help of a client who actually felt I was undercharging LOL) how much it costs me per image just for models. Then we divided it by the average usage of the model over a year. Then added in how much MY time was worth. Personally I don't think my time is worth as much as he did LOL So I took the numbers he came up with and divided them based on the size of the image. And as I look at my DAZ history, I probably should charge more LOL Don't let it slide as you're building things up. Make the decision and stand by it :)