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A tip for would-be art collectors/patrons/etc.
12 years ago
General
Firstly - always, always check the background of the prospective artist, and if you can, take a glimpse at Artists Beware.
Secondly - always pay for goods and services. It might seem altruistic to pay the Paypal fee yourself (especially if the artist says they are in dire straits) but if you don't pick goods and services, you greatly limit your options for recovering your money.
Thirdly - if the artist request it be paid to "Friend or gift" (or whatever the option is), consider that a big red flag that something is up. Goods and services is perfectly acceptable, and also gives you more options to recover your money.
Fourthly - You have a 30 - 45 day window in which you can get a guaranteed refund via Paypal - if something seems fishy or off, don't stall on it and contact the artist to discuss it the moment you become aware.
Source? I won't name names (at least not publicly), but I'm out $70 which I can not recover due to a combination of all of the above.
(also, if you do go for a chargeback, for god's sake don't tell Paypal it's because your furry porn didn't get done on time / was traced. I think that'll get you banned.)
Secondly - always pay for goods and services. It might seem altruistic to pay the Paypal fee yourself (especially if the artist says they are in dire straits) but if you don't pick goods and services, you greatly limit your options for recovering your money.
Thirdly - if the artist request it be paid to "Friend or gift" (or whatever the option is), consider that a big red flag that something is up. Goods and services is perfectly acceptable, and also gives you more options to recover your money.
Fourthly - You have a 30 - 45 day window in which you can get a guaranteed refund via Paypal - if something seems fishy or off, don't stall on it and contact the artist to discuss it the moment you become aware.
Source? I won't name names (at least not publicly), but I'm out $70 which I can not recover due to a combination of all of the above.
(also, if you do go for a chargeback, for god's sake don't tell Paypal it's because your furry porn didn't get done on time / was traced. I think that'll get you banned.)
THIIIIIIS. I lost a few hundred bucks by being screwed over
They also don't allow paying for things with the personal payment option since they miss out on fees, so that's a good way to get banned AND lose your money.
Paying as a gift also neglects you from disputing it later. ;c
One time I did win an auction and the artist had the gall to ask me to pay for the Paypal fee for a $425 digital art commission. If I had half a brain I would have dropped my bid but it has been... two years later now? No art still. :V
I should not be expected to cover an extra bit of fee for them.
You do not see online websites charging extra for that paypal fee.
I think if the artist keeps their Paypal account dry Paypal isn't going to give you your money back. You'll need to go do a chargeback in which case your Paypal account will likely get banned.
(Also who did this to you? I might have a commission order from them. D:)
I forgave him because I knew he'd never deliver it and would always turn it around to make it seem like I was the one at fault for him not completing it, but then I saw that he's doing the same thing still to plenty of other people, so at this point I don't want to be silent on the issue any longer.
But I don't want to directly name names right now, either, so what should I do?