Just like everyone else here, I have had a very bad experience that I wish to report. The artist's name is Modem Redpill, and he's popular on FA. At Anthrocon 2007, I commissioned him to do a $40 commission. He was our roommate. And while he was there, he said he was having financial problems, and he asked if he could borrow $350 for rent. Being new to this artist group I felt that this group were nice and honest, so I lent it to him. After AC 2007, I managed to get at least $51.00 back from the rent loan, according to him, and that was it. Later emails from him became a "pity party" on how much he was in debt, yet I would watch his journals and he'd be going here and buying these items, and spending money, etc. I finally PMd and told him that I wanted to cancel the commission after almost a year of nothing.
Even my Partner emailed him, asking what was going on, and he acted innocent and said that he told me that it might be a little more wait until he got the money. Meanwhile, he attends Further Confusion and other Cons, and from what I heard, did well in artist's alley. My partner again emailed him, and he said that he owed lots of people money, and that I should "get in line." And that he would contact us when he was ready to pay.
Anthrocon 2008 just ended. But before it started, he made a major announcement that he just couldn't be attend AC due to other things. Yes, probably because there were several people who would have asked him for me as to when he would pay me. You see, I'm also a person who has become handicapped since AC, and now in a wheelchair, so the money would have been nice to have back.
I want people to know that he has defaulted on other commissions, too, and I think he's never to be trusted. I stepped out and did him a favor, and got burned.
Even my Partner emailed him, asking what was going on, and he acted innocent and said that he told me that it might be a little more wait until he got the money. Meanwhile, he attends Further Confusion and other Cons, and from what I heard, did well in artist's alley. My partner again emailed him, and he said that he owed lots of people money, and that I should "get in line." And that he would contact us when he was ready to pay.
Anthrocon 2008 just ended. But before it started, he made a major announcement that he just couldn't be attend AC due to other things. Yes, probably because there were several people who would have asked him for me as to when he would pay me. You see, I'm also a person who has become handicapped since AC, and now in a wheelchair, so the money would have been nice to have back.
I want people to know that he has defaulted on other commissions, too, and I think he's never to be trusted. I stepped out and did him a favor, and got burned.
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Give money, with the expectation that you're not going to get it back. When you do, awesome, bonus!
Although, I agree with Tealizard that I think it's not too cool of you to use physical presence of several people to scare him into paying you back. Whether you mean it to or not, he would feel physically threatened, which is not terrain you want to go into.
If I didn't know someone personally for many years, I would NEVER loan out that kind of money just based on principal of "same interests". Furry or not, everyone is different. Good, bad, or otherwise.
It sucks that you were burned on your commission however, you did at least get that back. Therefor all this is about? Is your naivety in handling money.
And I frankly didn't understand what "greyfur" was supposed to mean. I'd suggest using non-fur terminology when dealing with something like this. Not everyone will get the slang, or the sub-culture you're a part of. I just can't take people seriously when they say such things as "mate" and so on.
I also feel it's highly wrong for you to have other people try and get your money back. If there's an issue, call the police, go through the process like a normal person (Fur, whatever). Because he can easily turn this around as an assault on his person and get you in hot water. And advertising it here is not helping your case any.
And besides..we're talking furries here. It's not like some guy would find himself surrounded by three or four weight trainers. If three or four furries came up and confronted me at a con and made me feel uncomfortable, I'd have conops/security deal with it.
OH, wait, I don't grift large sums of money from people, so I guess it's not an issue for me.
EDIT: Haha, a mob of furries. And being a roo. I didn't even notice what I did there.
Edit x2: Are people seriously taking sides and patting each other on the back in this thread. Some guy posted about something that probably won't go any further and the energy that's being expended in here is as if the op was talking about gay rights or something.
fffffffffffffffffffff
Edited at 2008-07-05 07:50 am (UTC)
Thanks for the warning, I definitely wouldn't commission an artist who is not unable but unwilling to pay off his debts. If he was truly willing, why doesn't he just offer to pay you back in terms? Instead he's rude and condescending and tells you to "get in line"?
Huge warning flag there, apparently he's not paying back multiple loans and/or commissions. And if he just decides he doesn't want to do commissions a year after they're paid for, that payment turns into a loan. Loans should be paid back as soon as possible, but obviously this artist doesn't agree.
So yeah, the loan bit is relevant.
I'm sorry this happened to you.
While he's a great artist and a VERY good friend to me, I'm so sorry to hear you got burned.
To anyone who commisions him: You're looking at SERIOUS friggin wait time. I know people who have waited years for him to come around, and often, but not always, he does. I think that most times, he takes more than he can handle, and being a party animal squanders it foolishly. It's one of the reasons our relationship (mine and his) is a stalemate. It seems he can never commit to any one thing.
It's a pity because he could do so much better.
Very very sorry to hear what happened to you, I hope you have much better buisness in the future. And I hope to see you around the fandom.
- Rhari
I don't know why anyone would consider this to be even remotely acceptable behavior. No commission in the world is worth gambling for, and for anything other than the Sistine Chapel, "years" of wait time is beyond ridiculous.
The fact that you state yourself that he takes more than he can handle and is a party animal (combined with the OP's account) says to me he's unreliable and squanders his money. Definitely not someone I would pay money to commission.
Wow, who spilled the drama barrel in here?
Anyway drama aside, it's a bad idea to lend out money you expect back because people do let you down on it.
I do have to say though your wheelchair? Hasn't really got anything to do with it. It's shitty to refuse to pay a loan whether someone's disabled or not.
Anyway thanks for the warning, I definitely wouldn't commission this guy, if he can't be bothered to pay back a loan, what happens if he up and decides he isn't doing waiting commissions or refunding anyone? Yeah, so not worth the risk.
I am so sorry I ever got involved.
Naturally some of us want to be kind to others, and in return, we hope that others will be just as kind. Unfortunately, people are not like that. In a fandom or otherwise. It's not good to assume everyone is out to get you, but don't assume everyone is going to do right by you.
I personally will never deal with this artist. If someone has such a hard time taking care of a loan that was meant to keep a roof over their head, then that speaks volumes about how they'll treat other people.