Josef Rubinstein - Bad Commission Experience Warning!!! 1 1

[Romain]

One last thought ...

The " sorry I'm french" stands for me only for the bad communication due to the time difference between us ..not for the language issues because there's no reason to apologize for this IMHO ..

 

[lookwhoitis]

"Patience is a Virue!"

[Michael (OML)]

"Patience is a Virue!"

 

Romain, thank you for your note. Most appreciated.

 

Yes, I have always found that patience is a virue. Personally, I get fairly steamed when commissions I have paid for run exceedingly late. It isn't right in any way shape or form so I understand everyone's anger -- I've experienced it and I've done what I needed in such situations so I get it and I understand it.

 

One thing I would say is that there is some difference between someone who took money with no intention of producing and someone who took money, acknowledges that artwork is owed and is slowly taking care it. Joe is largely current with people who have commissioned him in recent times and is slowly working off those several commissions that are so very very late.

 

II agree with those who ask why Joe can't simply stop everything he is doing and finish these super late ones. Unfortunately, life doesn't allow him to do that (and I'll say no more on that subject). I know Joe will get these done as I've worked with him in the past as he finishes one then another of the people on his super-late list.

 

I'm so pleased that Spencer is willing to get involved. I've no doubt that Spencer will try as mightily as possible to handle this situation as he has done time and again for other commission folks who run into trouble with an artist. Spencer is the Saint of Comic Art Fans and the patron saint of those who are waiting too long for commissions. My personal advice is to let Spencer try to sort things out and lets all see what he says in a few days. That is merely advice and nothing more -- feel free to disregard or follow.

 

Michael

[Romain]

That does it !!!

 

Dear Michael, though I sincerely appreciate all your efforts to straighten things with Joe my last email exchange with Spencer just resulted in my willing to put a final point to this horror story, at least to mine ...

 

So please note I will put the commission on ebay with no reserve the day I get it !!( if I get it ! )

That means : no need for further attempt to help things for me

I ask to be put off the list or down the list of all the commissions pastdue from Joe so everyone can hope to get their own even faster as mine was a big one

 

Good luck everyone !!!!

 

En France on dit " le ridicule ne tue pas ! " but I'm not sure of the equivalent in english ?

 

 

off line until next time ... (thumbs u

 

 

 

[chromium]

 

En France on dit " le ridicule ne tue pas ! " but I'm not sure of the equivalent in english ?

 

 

 

 

Sticks & stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

[Romain]

 

En France on dit " le ridicule ne tue pas ! " but I'm not sure of the equivalent in english ?

 

 

 

 

Sticks & stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

 

Thanks Chromium that's it exactly !!!

 

So please note I will put the commission on ebay with no reserve the day I get it !!( if I get it ! )

That means : no need for further attempt to help things for me

I ask to be put off the list or down the list of all the commissions pastdue from Joe so everyone can hope to get their own even faster as mine was a big one \:\)

 

Or refund can be sent directly to the Hero Initiative !!!

[LloydJBailey]

I would feel bad for Joe, or call it a genuine error on his part, if it wasn't for so many people claiming to have emails ignored, and been flat out lied too, and then to top it off, he posts on the forum to the original poster, "Can you post that I don't know exactly who he is and to write me directly to get a resolution."...

 

It shouldn't take YEARS to get a resolution. I can't help but feel sorry for everybody who is waiting on Joe. I think he needs to prioritise his long list of years over-due commissions and get them out. Nobody should have to wait these ridiculous lengths of time.

 

All people can do is take it as a lesson learnt, and don't pay entirely upfront again.

 

I don't see how Joe can defend his actions, there is no words anybody can say -- I feel for Joe's rep having to post here and tackle an issue that isn't even his -- I don't see why his name should be tarnished in any way at all. Besides picking up his pencil and getting on them, there is nothing else Joe can do/say.

 

I know one thing for sure, I won't be getting a commission from Joe.

[jjonahjameson1]

One last thought ...

The " sorry I'm french" stands for me only for the bad communication due to the time difference between us ..not for the language issues because there's no reason to apologize for this IMHO ..

 

 

Hi, Romain:

 

You've already apologized publicly two years ago, and in my opinion, there's absolutely no need to apologize again. Nothing has changed the fact that Joe still owes you a commission & hasn't communicated with you & other commissioners that paid in advance.

 

With regard to Spencer, I hope things work out and he is able to assist all commissioners.

 

Although Michael has stated he spoke with him about your situation, I will also discuss the matter again with Spencer because I think there's enough water under the bridge to let us work together and resolve this matter. (thumbs u

 

 

[Romain]

Dear friend, PLEASE DON'T !!!

 

IT's over for me regarding this commission ............

HONESTLY it will just get me even more furious than I already am ..................

 

I repeat : please put me off this list so the other robbed commissioners get their due, Joe his reputation back

OR one can send the refunds to any charity one may find convenient

OR I'll put it on ebay with no reserve the day I receive it.

 

Sincerely appreciate the efforts but that's the last time I'll ever speak of this matter and I'll try not to think of it asap

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Terry Doyle]

Dear friend, PLEASE DON'T !!!

 

IT's over for me regarding this commission ............

HONESTLY it will just get me even more furious than I already am ..................

 

I repeat : please put me off this list so the other robbed commissioners get their due, Joe his reputation back

OR one can send the refunds to any charity one may find convenient

OR I'll put it on ebay with no reserve the day I receive it.

 

Sincerely appreciate the efforts but that's the last time I'll ever speak of this matter and I'll try not to think of it asap

 

 

 

 

 

 

Understand where you're coming from, Romain.

 

At this point in time, even if you received this long-overdue commission within the next few weeks, the bad feelings associated with the resulting artwork would totally eclipse any appreciation for the work.

 

You want to move on and not be reminded of the frustrating experience.

[westform]

I too totally understand where you are coming from. I had a similar experience a couple years ago and got very frustrated. I ended up selling the piece as soon as I got it on ebay and donating all the money to Bob Larkin who was and still is going through some rough times with medical expenses.

 

The artist and his rep were very angry and suprised I just 'flipped' it after all the wrangling, which was sweet justice for me. And, Bob was just as suprised and happy to get a windfall. Turned a negative into a total positive for me! Now when I think back on the ordeal and the piece, I get a warm feeling. Hope you net the same results. (thumbs u

[thethedew]

"Patience is a Virue!"

 

Ahhhhhh... The Legend.

 

AcA

[Michael (OML)]

"Patience is a Virue!"

 

Ahhhhhh... The Legend.

 

AcA

 

It truly is a virue, isn't it.....love that one -- it just gets better and better with age....

[Romain]

"Patience is a Virue!"

 

Ahhhhhh... The Legend.

 

AcA

 

It truly is a virue, isn't it.....love that one -- it just gets better and better with age....

 

Yes funny and yet very sad ...An instant classic !!!

[AnkurJ]

Its because of artists like this that I stopped collecting art and going to cons. Who needs the aggrevation?

[Michael (OML)]

To all of those customers on the Josef Rubinstein Commissions Waiting List:

 

 

I have spent the last two days in consultation with both Josef Rubinstein

and my attorneys at great length about this unfortunate situation and how to

resolve it amicably and as painlessly as possible.

 

To be sure ... Josef has never once denied he owes anyone anything.

He simply got himself into a bit of a sinkhole and we are trying to dig him

out of it so everyone walks away clean and happy.

 

Josef has agreed to let me help sort out the outstanding commissions for

him.

If you are one of the customers who is currently waiting for a commission

from Josef AND can prove that you have already paid for it, please let me

know by May 30, 2012 the following information:

 

1) Date of Payment – when did you actually pay Joe?

 

2) Proof of payment – either a canceled check, a confirmation email from

Joe, a copy of a PayPal statement, etc., Something to prove beyond a shadow of

a doubt you have paid the amount you claim.

 

3) Exact Amount of payment

 

4) What the commission is – I will need as many details here as possible –

I want to know EXACTLY what it was that you wanted Joe to do. Please

describe in great detail the size of the piece, whether it was pencils only,

pencils and inks, a painting, etc., which character(s) in what pose in which

costumes. In other words, I want to have all of the details necessary so that I

can have them for Joe so there can be no chance of any misunderstandings.

 

5) If there is something REASONABLE Josef can do to upgrade your request,

let me know.

If it can be REASONABLY accommodated it will be.

If your request was for Captain America single figure drawing and you ask

to be upgraded to the full Avengers lineup ... well that is not reasonable.

However, it your piece was a single figure no background and a limited

background would work for you fine.

Just be realistic in your request.

The last time I had to deal with something like this, a customer asked for

an upgrade from a one figure pencil only drawing 8 1/2" x 11" to an 11" x

17" -- 12 figure pencil, ink and tonal wash drawing with a full New York City

background ... NOT REASONABLE and the request was denied for obvious

reasons.

 

6) Your contact information as follows:

FULL NAME

STREET ADDRESS

CITY

STATE / PROVINCE

COUNTRY

POSTAL CODE

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER

EVENING PHONE NUMBER

 

It is very important that I receive this information on or before May 30th,

2012.

After that, I will be compiling all of the information into a list.

I will then have Joe start working on the commissions, starting with the

oldest piece first working towards the newest piece.

If I do not have ALL of the requested information from you on or before May

30th, you will not be placed in the proper position on the waiting list

(that doesn't mean you won't get one if you are owed one, it just means your

piece will come at the end of the list).

We reserve the right though to bounce around should Josef have a piece just

about finished which only needs a short bit of time to complete or

something simple like a blank comic cover or a sketch card which can be

completed in

an hour or two or three.

 

To answer the inevitable question ... unfortunately, Josef is not

financially sound enough to offer full refunds at this point.

I am sorry.

Both he and I wish he was, but he is not.

In this economy, as most people know ... just keeping your head above water

is hard enough.

That is not to excuse for what has happened ... I just want to be up front

about everything.

We are going to do our best to get everyone an awesome piece and Josef is

going to go to town on all of the pieces to give you your monies worth and a

little bit more.

 

Now, once this information is in and the credibility of the request

established, as a slight apology from Josef ... you may go to his page on my

website http://www.theartistschoice.com/rubinstein.htm'>http://www.theartistschoice.com/rubinstein.htm and choose ANY page equal

to 25% of the amount paid and it will be sent to you no charge.

I request more than one option as the web page is slightly out of date. (

SORRY ). Due to the costs involved, International requests will either

require additional shipping fees OR the piece can be held until the commission

is

completed and shipped with it ... whenever that might be.

I, not Josef is doing the shipping and the method I use for International

shipping is quite expensive. SORRY.

 

I know some of you are troubled that Josef might take on a couple of new,

smaller commissions during this recovery time ... but the man has to eat

while he completes this backlog.

I am NOT saying he is going to and I am going to do all I can to discourage

him ... BUT, IF his bills get too much AND he needs help AND he does accept

them ... he is going to rotate new commissions with his old backlog ( with

the focus on the old overdue ones ) in order to keep his head above water.

The commissions will also be done in and around his quote "regular" comics

work as well.

 

It is our intention / hope that we will see some good, steady progress on a

regular basis and that Josef will be able to restore his reputation and /

or at least show everyone that he is NOT the thief he has been made out to be

and our hope is that your piece was worth the wait and then some.

 

If anyone has any questions, PLEASE do not hesitate to contact me.

I am sure there is something I have not covered and it will come up.

I believe in full disclosure so there will be nothing held back if correct

information is given to me by the customers.

 

From this point on, please do not contact Josef directly about the

outstanding commissions.

Please contact ME at SpencerBck@... with any issues, questions,

concerns or the much needed commissions information.

I will be the keeper of the list in order to avoid any potential confusion

and any potential email misunderstandings.

 

I look forward to hearing from those of you who are waiting on commissions

from Josef.

I HOPE that this is enough of a commitment to make those waiting happy.

If it is not, I am sorry.

Outside of Josef winning the lottery, this is the best that can be done and

I hope it is sufficient.

 

Lastly, THANK YOU for your respect and your incredible patience the last

few days while I tried to work out the best possible solution to a bad

situation.

I look forward to getting you something you will be proud to own.

 

Respectfully,

Spencer R. Beck

The Artist's Choice

http://www.theartistschoice.com

 

PS: Once again, feel free to post this on any and all message boards you

think pertinent.

[Secret Son]

I have been waiting almost three years for my sketch from Joe. He doesn't respond to email any longer, and by no means did I hound him via emai. It's a shame that there are people like him in this hobby. Believe me there are many more out there that have gotten screwed over by this con artist. For those he may of come through for you may label him any way you would like but as far as I'm concerned he's a con man.

 

He just keeps pumping out the dynamic forces stuff and ignores many of us.

 

When he was answering emails he said he would be done real soon and that he would give me a few freebies for my extended wait. What a BS artist he is, it's been a year since that email.

 

Some advice stay clear of this guy and put your money with the dozens and dozens of fan friendly artist. Learn from my mistake.

 

 

 

[Speedy-D]

I have been waiting almost three years for my sketch from Joe. He doesn't respond to email any longer, and by no means did I hound him via emai. It's a shame that there are people like him in this hobby. Believe me there are many more out there that have gotten screwed over by this con artist. For those he may of come through for you may label him any way you would like but as far as I'm concerned he's a con man.

 

He just keeps pumping out the dynamic forces stuff and ignores many of us.

 

When he was answering emails he said he would be done real soon and that he would give me a few freebies for my extended wait. What a BS artist he is, it's been a year since that email.

 

Some advice stay clear of this guy and put your money with the dozens and dozens of fan friendly artist. Learn from my mistake.

 

 

did you read the post directly above yours before you wrote this?

[Mmehdy]

too little to late.....

[Secret Son]

I have been waiting almost three years for my sketch from Joe. He doesn't respond to email any longer, and by no means did I hound him via emai. It's a shame that there are people like him in this hobby. Believe me there are many more out there that have gotten screwed over by this con artist. For those he may of come through for you may label him any way you would like but as far as I'm concerned he's a con man.

 

He just keeps pumping out the dynamic forces stuff and ignores many of us.

 

When he was answering emails he said he would be done real soon and that he would give me a few freebies for my extended wait. What a BS artist he is, it's been a year since that email.

 

Some advice stay clear of this guy and put your money with the dozens and dozens of fan friendly artist. Learn from my mistake.

 

 

did you read the post directly above yours before you wrote this?

 

I did but I had to get that off my chest.