(no title)

Jun. 1st, 2011

8:49 AM

I need some advice regarding a discount commission slot. I'm going to be going on a trip on June 9th, and I opened up for discount commissions to be completed before the day I leave. The issue is I've had someone whom has not paid. I accepted their commission, and they asked me where to send payment about six days ago. I sent them an email yesterday saying I was going to get to their sketch yesterday, and I did. I delivered it and... nothing.

I currently don't have anything in my TOS that mentions how long someone has to pay me before I drop their slot. I do have a clause that says I can drop a slot for any reason at any time, though. However, due to the circumstances, I need to make up the amount I'm missing before my trip. I will also need about two or three days to comfortably finish a commission of that type before I go.

How long should I wait before I inform them that I need to move on? I made it very clear when I posted this journal that they were for the trip, and that I would have them completed and delivered before June 9th, so I could use the funds. Of course, I could be jumping the gun on them approving the sketch, but I figured they'd send payment after six days by now.

Edit: While I was at work, they sent me payment. Phew. Thank you guys.

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Comments

( 19 comments — Leave a comment )

kiriska

Jun. 1st, 2011 04:03 pm (UTC)

I require payment before any sort of finished work is done, so assuming they approve the sketch, require payment ASAP.

I don't know how quickly you work, but if they don't respond by the end of the day, I would go ahead and advertise another slot to finish by June 9th. I also don't know what your schedule will be like upon your return, but you could maybe give the dropped commissioner the option of having their commission completed after your trip for the same price (if they pay before the trip, or maybe, if they decide to pay after, at your normal price?)

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(Deleted comment)

kiriska

Jun. 3rd, 2011 12:33 am (UTC)

Normally, I would agree, but as the OP is on a tight schedule and has mentioned the date she needs to leave for vacation to the commissioner before, I think a prompter response can be required here.

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saeto15

Jun. 1st, 2011 04:37 pm (UTC)

Bump them to the bottom of your queue or put the commission on hold and take someone else who's willing to pay in a timely matter. You're not obligated to do a commission without receiving payment.

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megumi_kitten

Jun. 1st, 2011 05:15 pm (UTC)

This! I'd also add a note (bumped due to nonpayment)

So if they suddenly send you a note freaking out about being bumped, you can clearly point to "NonPayment!" and remind them you needed this before June 9th.

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kadaria

Jun. 1st, 2011 09:01 pm (UTC)

I like this idea the best too.

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grygon

Jun. 1st, 2011 04:51 pm (UTC)

Always require payment in some % before you start work and make it nonrefundable if it is a %. I accept partial payments sometimes and then show them nothing but grainy photos as proof that work is being done until I get the full payment. Did I read it right that you've already given this person the artwork without having got payment?

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shukivengeance

Jun. 1st, 2011 06:52 pm (UTC)

Have you actually told them you didn't get the payment? They may have made a mistake.

Othher than that, no payment means no work. Find a replacement.

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shukivengeance

Jun. 1st, 2011 06:53 pm (UTC)

Wait my bad, you finished it and sent it to them anyway?

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saeto15

Jun. 1st, 2011 07:10 pm (UTC)

Yeah, I didn't see that, either. At this point there's nothing to be done, other than hope the person is honest and sends payment.

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celestinaketzia

Jun. 1st, 2011 07:52 pm (UTC)

No, I just did the sketch. I can easily re-use it.

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shukivengeance

Jun. 1st, 2011 08:01 pm (UTC)

Ah okay I was a bit confused by the wording. It sounded like you'd already finished the sketch and emailed it to them before getting paid. I really think it wouldn't be unreasonable to drop the commission altogether and re-use this one for something else and just take on another slot. The time's getting pretty short and if it wasn't for your holiday deadline then waiting on them for payment would be more reasonable.

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stormslegacy

Jun. 1st, 2011 07:04 pm (UTC)

To stop this kind of thing, I either require payment up front for small commissions or a small fee upfront for thumbs + a sketch for large ones. Granted that doesn't help you now =3

I would tell them they have a day to respond or else you re-open the slot. No money= no obligation. I think a more than a 72 hour period of payment is exceedingly generous.

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celestinaketzia

Jun. 2nd, 2011 12:12 am (UTC)

I usually do take payment upfront, no questions. It's just since I was on such a tight deadline, I didn't want to wait around not doing a sketch at least. I did say that if the item was not done 100% before the 9th, I'd refund the difference.

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inkyjinx

Jun. 1st, 2011 08:15 pm (UTC)

Honestly I would drop this commissioner and find a new one ASAP. Waiting nearly a week to be paid when you've made it known that you're on a tight deadline is unacceptable, especially if they haven't even bothered to contact you and let you know why they haven't sent payment yet.

If you're worried about upsetting them, you could also put their commission on hold until you're back from your trip.

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sbneko

Jun. 1st, 2011 09:56 pm (UTC)

Oh goodness, you don't know how much it bothers me when people don't feel the need to tell me things. I've had to wait on people for about a week before, when the whole time something happened that made them unable to pay, yet never told me.

Artists should absolutely keep commissioners in the loop, but most commissioners forget that they need to as well.

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thaily

Jun. 1st, 2011 11:37 pm (UTC)

Remove him from your list and nag him for the money he owes you for the sketch; if getting payment for the sketch is this much of a bother, I wouldn't even try for the full piece. Especially if you need money in short order you're better off attracting a new customer for his slot as soon as possible.

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thaily

Jun. 1st, 2011 11:37 pm (UTC)

P.S. I hope you watermarked the shit out of that sketch.

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celestinaketzia

Jun. 2nd, 2011 12:02 am (UTC)

@.@ I didn't. You can bet your butt I will from now on tho, d'oh!

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