What do you do if someone doesn't pay for a commission?

[DGRequiem]

I have a bit of an odd situation.  Someone sent me a bait doll to customize, but ended up having to cancel it due to non-payment.  I asked her what she wanted me to do with the bait doll back in April, and sent another reminder more recently as she never got back to me (and still hasn't).

So what do I do?  I don't have her address. I feel weird doing anything with it, but I also don't intend to keep it indefinitely hoping that one day she'll stop avoiding me.

[Galactica]

When someone flakes on a commission- you keep the deposit.  I guess that includes the bait doll.

[Thunderwing]

*nods* I agree. You have tried several times to get back in touch with the person. Are you certain they have seen the messages? If you send PM's through the Arena, and they have been online?

I would send one last round of messages, PM them, as well as email. "If you don't get back in touch with me by XX XX (date), then I will be getting rid of the doll".

Then you are free to throw it away, customize as you want to, ebay it, etc. 

I am assuming that it was not a hugely expensive doll or impossible to replace.

[BerryMouse]

I never take pre-payments for my commissions (but I think I have to do it in the future).

So had the situation once that someone comissioned two customs and never got back to me.
I sold them to someone else but that was not the sense of the work.

Not sure what I would do if they paid a deposit - prolly keeping it and trying to sell the commission then.
In your case, like the others already said, keep the doll and that's it, not your fault if they never got back to you?
It's always annoying and also kinda sad.

[DGRequiem]

Yes, the doll is probably worth $15 at most, probably more like $10-12, and yes, I know she's seen the messages.  She got her monetary deposit back, but yeah, kind of an uncomfortable situation.

[ponylady]

I would send one last round of messages, PM them, as well as email. "If you don't get back in touch with me by XX XX (date), then I will be getting rid of the doll".

Then you are free to throw it away, customize as you want to, ebay it, etc. 

This is exactly what I would do. If she is reading your messages and not responding there is not much else you can do. And you should not be expected to hunt her down for an address to send her doll back. If she wanted it back then she would answer your PM's. 

[Sarahlacewing]

I have in my custom post that if a person decides they don't want the custom for any reason, then I reserve the right to rebait or sell the item to recoup the loss from the cancelled commission. I think it's pretty common.id send one last message with a clear time frame (if I don't hear from you by -- then I am taking this action).

[tulagirl]

I have in my custom post that if a person decides they don't want the custom for any reason, then I reserve the right to rebait or sell the item to recoup the loss from the cancelled commission. I think it's pretty common.id send one last message with a clear time frame (if I don't hear from you by -- then I am taking this action).

This is a very good idea and you are smart to do that ahead of time.  That way no one can say they didn't know.  And sending a time frame is very professional and a good idea.  I do the same thing.  This is very good information!