commision pet peeves?

as someone who does comms, I try my best to be communicative ;u; I don't understand when artists ghost and still appear active on their accounts, which essentially means they're ignoring their clients.

as for me, I got a bit ??? when someone asked to be on my waitlist, then when I PMed them a week later, they didn't reply even though they read the message. I gave them another week and then PMed them again, at which they tell me they aren't looking to buy comms now due to money problems and to remove them from my pinglist. 

The very next day they make a thread seeking comms @.@ I don't mind if people aren't interested anymore, but to take up my waitlist spot and fib, it's kinda disheartening. I'd rather them just say "not interested in your style at the moment, looking to buy something different" instead of lie about money problems OTL

Artists accepting MORE commissions when they already have a full to-do list. For instance with what I'm referring to in my own personal experience, I had already been waiting well over a month along with two other people and she just put up another custom auction for three others. It's on the third month now and only one has been finished for one person. Also, there being a lack of communication. I hate feeling like crap for asking for an update and I do it weeks apart.

Another one, artists lying about fake injuries (yes I know sometimes they're real but a lot of time you can tell), other smaller stories instead of just fessing up to the truth; procrastination, depression, etc. I can take the truth and I'll be fully happy with it but please don't lie to me. Then all the comments are like "Oh nooo take your time!" and all I want to say is..."I've been waiting for three months and somehow you've lost your internet, broken your leg, had a baby, got kidnapped, was rundown by a rhinocerus, got in trouble with the law and had to flee the country."

Edit: ALSO the artist not being able to edit their artwork because they "did it on all one layer." Usually it's because they whitewashed my OCs, didn't get hair dark enough or the right beard length/style. I understand if you didn't purposely make my dude look vanilla and that you're not so good at drawing hispanic people but PLEASE aLLOW YOURSELF SPACE TO EDIT AN IMAGE.

I'm sorry. My luck hasn't been very good with artists lately.....

As a commissioner:

-Being lied to. Just be honest, and don’t promise deadlines you can’t keep. I remember once I commissioned an artist who told me repeatedly my commission was being worked on over the course of 5 months, and then the final result (with no WIP) was of my OC in an outfit I uploaded only a week before I received the commission. I’ve learned to be a bit tougher in asking for actual WIPs rather than just being like “thanks for the response I look forward to seeing the art” about it.

-having to chase an artist, sometimes across different social media accounts, for an update.

-unlimited slots on inexpensive commissions, AKA if you’re not in the first 10 to get a slot then you might get your art in 3 years if you’re lucky when the artist burns out due to an impractical workload.

-a stupid TOS with unprofessional clauses like “no refunds ever” and “I can cancel your commission and partial refund/no refund,” there are a few incredibly skilled artists I have passed up due to having revolting TOS’s, since even though you can’t enforce illegal clauses, it tells me that the mindset of the artist might be troublesome to deal with.

-having to describe the exact image I want with exact pose references down to the last detail - I can understand why artists do this, but unless it’s a custom/reference sheet, I feel like I’m just punching what I want into an art-vending-machine instead of paying an artist for their skill, which includes some creativity.

-paying a detailed character fee and then having the details missing/wrong.

-people who will draw het but not same-sex relationships.

-public/comment commission applications. Beyond basic slot claiming, I hate this. I don’t want to post my PayPal address or unwatermarked character art publicly.

-“if you so much as LOOK at me while I’m working on your commission I will SCREAM” - this has never happened to me but there are some artists that give off this kind of energy...

As an artist, nearly all of my clients have been excellent superstars!

-getting creeped on by a person asking for a commission. And on a less terrible bit still irritating level, commissioners acting like they deserve friend treatment after I’ve drawn an anime picture or two for them.

-when NO information is given, like I get a reference and 2 words, or I’m told to draw them smiling - if the commissioner is happy that’s all that matters but I feel guilty for not delivering my best work sometimes.

when character owners identify their characters as nonbinary but doesn't clarify their body type. so either i need to ask if it should be female or male body type which makes me feel highly uncomfortable like I am fucking up the chara's identity???, or i come up with a pose where you can't really tell what body type it is... and pray for not being yelled at for ruining everything yeah sorry

As a seller: 

Obtrusive watermarks on very detailed characters. Endless nitpicking; I'm not talking about edits, but I once had a commissioner ask me to tweak a characters body type repeatedly, only to eventually ask for a refund because I wasn't doing what they wanted. I even tried tracing over their example image just to see if that would be closer to what they wanted and they still said it didn't look quite right. People who try to get around prices by sneakily asking for cheaper items and then adding a ton of specifications to it; ie. asking for a full body sketch commission and trying to turn it into a reference sheet commission. I'm willing to work with peoples budgets, but don't be that guy. People who trade or sell their characters in the middle of a commission or trade without telling me? Hello? Do you still want this or not? Commissioners who won't say if they don't like something; please! if you don't like the art i made you, tell me why so I can make it right ;w; I'm a part time barista, and I run into this problem at my job too haha, PLS LET ME GIVE YOU YOUR MONEYS WORTH, I promise it won't hurt my feelings.
Edit: couple art comms, pls, tell the artist what their height difference is. It's very important.

As a buyer: 

no public queue; its really not hard to have a public queue, especially if you are not good at communicating regularly with clients! it gives them something to look at and see in a moment where you're at with their artwork and keeps you from getting frustrated messages in your inbox. When artists promise a piece by a certain date and don't follow through; I do get emergencies and things happen, but the amount of times this has happened to me is frustrating. I'd much rather someone just be honest and tell me they're going through some stuff and it might be a while before they are finished rather than 'I'll get you a progress shot by this weekend' only to not hear from them again until I message them. Artists with a full queue that repeatedly take same day comms, stream commissions, or make tons of off base adopts; you are actively disrespecting clients who have waited longer by doing this if it is a repeated issue. Lies in general; if you are lying very often, your clients will be able to tell. I can't stress how important being truthful is, most people are very patient when it comes to artwork as long as you are willing to be honest.

as a buyer:

-making my "thicc" characters skinny, or my skinny characters thick. (i.e big breasts and wide hips) You and I both know my character doesn't look like that.
-leaving me on read for a year... or two. come on man, just tell me you can't do it / lost interest and give me whatever you did or a partial refund! I won't even be mad.
-using old designs instead of the new ones. If you skimmed the first three images at least, you'd know that the previous design is outdated and isn't used anymore.
-putting my "cute" characters in "sexy" clothing ;___; it's a little uncomfy.
-never getting wips, which caused all the above LOL ; It feels like if i ask sometimes as well, they'll bite my arm off. 

im going to post in my own thread because i need to rant as a buyer i HATE having to chase after artists who owe me commissions. ive got to go through several platforms, cross multiple dimensions, and give a goblin a gold piece so i can cross a bridge just so i can get an update spdhfgdig.

I just can't stand it when I describe and link refs and the commission drawer still gets it wrong sdfssgs

As  a seller 

- I get overly complicated designs ( I don't have the skill level to draw your automobile oc)

- Sometimes I mess up details (I try my best to correct them)

- People retracting their commission as soon as I finish it,  I don't get payed (I need food and supplies man)

As a buyer, I hate it with all my guts when people mix up  my characters Delanei and Laney. Yes the names are similar but that gives you no excuse to give my characters the wrong hair color, length, or body features. I've had this happen a lot with art I receive from my irl friends. 

Waiting years for any progression for art I was owed in 2014 and now its 2019.  They still have not made any progress.

Being guilted into waiting on a commission for longer than i should have taken.