Hi there are. I have been having some issues with a maker I commissioned to make me a partial. It was just the head and tail. We started contact late January, early February, for a special type of fursuit mask, and a tail. She said it would only take a couple weeks, but I set a deadline for the beginning of August so I could have it by a certain con.
A little knew to the community and commissioning of fursuits, I paid the entire amount in advance. She said that she didn’t usually start work until it was entirely paid off.
With little updates, the due date came and past, and I noted her several times prior to requesting updates. A couple weeks later, she noted me asking when the due date was and acted shocked when I told her it had passed. With great politeness she apologized and offered to make me hand paws in addition. I reluctantly agreed, knowing it would take her longer but I really wanted the partial. We agreed to yet another deadline of September. Came and passed.
Since then, communication has been very spotty. When I DO receive updates, the partial (what little bits she shows me) looks beautiful. And, everytime she does note me back, she is really nice, and it almost makes me feel bad for asking her to show me something, anything. However the excuses kept coming. It has now been 5 months over due, and I haven’t really seen any progress in 3 months.
I don’t know what to do. I have a feeling it was dumb to pay all upfront…and she has such a long queue, I’m afraid it won’t ever get done. She’s very kind and a lovely artist, but so far I am having my doubts about her work ethic.
A little knew to the community and commissioning of fursuits, I paid the entire amount in advance. She said that she didn’t usually start work until it was entirely paid off.
With little updates, the due date came and past, and I noted her several times prior to requesting updates. A couple weeks later, she noted me asking when the due date was and acted shocked when I told her it had passed. With great politeness she apologized and offered to make me hand paws in addition. I reluctantly agreed, knowing it would take her longer but I really wanted the partial. We agreed to yet another deadline of September. Came and passed.
Since then, communication has been very spotty. When I DO receive updates, the partial (what little bits she shows me) looks beautiful. And, everytime she does note me back, she is really nice, and it almost makes me feel bad for asking her to show me something, anything. However the excuses kept coming. It has now been 5 months over due, and I haven’t really seen any progress in 3 months.
I don’t know what to do. I have a feeling it was dumb to pay all upfront…and she has such a long queue, I’m afraid it won’t ever get done. She’s very kind and a lovely artist, but so far I am having my doubts about her work ethic.
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How should I word an ultimatum like that? I have trouble wording myself and this situation is so difficult already.
Something similar that would be fine and not rude, i can't words sometime but it's a start of how to request one. At that point you can give them a fair time limit for the deadline to finish the suit or refund you before you must go to drastic measures.
We're not a, "If you're posted here, it hurts your rep" kind of community. I feel that to use A_B as a threat misrepresents what A_B is.
Edited at 2014-01-08 04:36 am (UTC)
First and foremost we are Artists "Beware", it's important to keep that in mind.
Sure, a mention of "Hey, I'm concerned about this and I'm thinking about posting to A_B to see if I'm overreacting" would go over better than "If you don't do this, I'm going to post you to A_B" ...which was what I was thinking. There's a difference in saying that there's intent to post to a review site for reference, and a dead-on threat.
AB is often times used between customers and artists, as a polite warning to get them to respond. I don't see what's posted above as threatening, but more of a general warning.
Edit - Also, sometimes mentioning AB is all a person has to use to get the other persons attention. There are some folks who have absolutely ignored every other avenue but get a fire under their bum when AB is mentioned.
Edited at 2014-01-08 05:55 am (UTC)
After reading both of your opinions on the matter, I can conclude that I spoke a bit too soon. You're both right. Mentioning AB on it's own isn't a threat. I kept thinking back to the cases where a commissioner would use it as a manipulation tactic to get what they want. Much like in the case of Comico doing it to Baebunny. http://artists-beware.livejournal.com/674962.html#comments
After re-reading what Mazz wrote a few more times, yeah no. Nothing threatening there.
While we don't support the use of Artists_Beware as a manipulation tactic (for example, we've had situations where the OP threatened with A_B, received resolution, but then still posted the artist), like Yelp, the knowledge that bad business practices may become public is enough to motivate an artist to seek resolution.
It's unfortunate that it comes to that at times, but I personally (mod hat off) would rather someone let me know they intended to post my behavior on A_B if I didn't follow through than have it come as a surprise.
I have checked the tags, and her name is not on there. But...I have seen shouts from others on her page asking for updates on their orders.
Taking full payment upfront is not typical for costumes, because you're talking about a much more expensive project on a much longer completion timeline then most visual art.
Going this length of time without result is ridiculous.
This sounds frighteningly similar to another situation I'm aware of, one one hand I hope it's the same person if only for the knowledge that there aren't two people with the same practices
After 2.5 years of waiting, I received a foam base with the fur on top of it (not glued down, mind you) and about 2 yards of fur to finish my partial with
Honestly, at this point I'd try to get a refund. Maybe get the materials as well if you know of someone who might be able to help ya finish. I just wish I would have done it sooner, would have saved so much time and been much less stressed over it
Edited for spelling
Edited at 2014-01-19 05:12 am (UTC)