My personal philosophy and recommendation at this point would be to send them another message, very clear: "Hello, I initially commissioned you on X date and sent Y amount up front as payment. I haven't yet received a sketch or any response after reaching out for updates on X date(s). Please touch base with me as soon as you're able or I will need to reach out to PayPal to dispute my payment. If I don't hear back before X date (up to you, I would recommended 2 weeks but longer if you're feeling generous) I will begin this process."
IMO it's one thing if you had already received a sketch, or if the artist had been responsive/let you know your comm was delayed. but radio silence like that is concerning and you shouldn't feel bad thinking about trying to get a refund
+1 to everything this anon said. Personally I also think you would be justified in contacting this artist offsite, via email or other social media. Somewhat sounds like they stopped checking FR.
Completely agree, this is what I'd do. They can't take your money and then totally fail to communicate and if they really did have some serious IRL shit go down then a charge back is probably low on their list of concerns.
Thank you for the advice. I've sent them another PM and if they don't answer in another two weeks I guess I'll be filing a chargeback. Really hope it doesn't come to that but I don't actually have any other way to reach out to them because they don't have any social media listed that I could try to get a hold of them through.
I think I like that! Part of the reason this is so hard for me to navigate is that I do commissions, myself, and the concept of ghosting someone is surreal to me because I immediately flipped it around like "well what would make ME do this to someone?" and then I got weird about doing a chargeback on someone who might be going through it.
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Re: How long do you wait before a chargeback?
(Anonymous) 2025-02-06 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)IMO it's one thing if you had already received a sketch, or if the artist had been responsive/let you know your comm was delayed. but radio silence like that is concerning and you shouldn't feel bad thinking about trying to get a refund
Re: How long do you wait before a chargeback?
(Anonymous) 2025-02-06 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)Re: How long do you wait before a chargeback?
(Anonymous) 2025-02-07 06:17 am (UTC)(link)Re: How long do you wait before a chargeback?
(Anonymous) 2025-02-07 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)Thank you for the advice. I've sent them another PM and if they don't answer in another two weeks I guess I'll be filing a chargeback. Really hope it doesn't come to that but I don't actually have any other way to reach out to them because they don't have any social media listed that I could try to get a hold of them through.
Re: How long do you wait before a chargeback?
(Anonymous) 2025-02-07 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)I work in thirds.
I take the first third up front and work on the thumbnails/sketches. Client picks the one they like the best.
I then work on the lines, and send them to the client for approval. Once they approve, I take another third.
Once the colors/flats are done, I send them in for approval, then take the final payment, and then do the shading (if paid for.)
At that point, if the client wants to add a tip, they can- or pay extra for extra changes/details added etc.
Keeps communication open between me and the client and puts the onus on both of us to keep in touch.
Re: How long do you wait before a chargeback?
(Anonymous) 2025-02-07 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)I think I like that! Part of the reason this is so hard for me to navigate is that I do commissions, myself, and the concept of ghosting someone is surreal to me because I immediately flipped it around like "well what would make ME do this to someone?" and then I got weird about doing a chargeback on someone who might be going through it.
I might steal that thirds process.