If you’re looking to make quick Robux or hire someone to create assets for your game, this guide will help streamline your commission journey.
Portfolio
To showcase your capabilities and previous work, it’s important to have a portfolio. Think of it as a resume, highlighting your strengths with images and videos. You can use popular sites likeCardd, Artstation, Roblox’s Developer Forum, or even a Google Doc to easily create and share your portfolio.
When I consider working with someone the first thing I do is explore their previous work. I’ve commonly found people having a very small amount of work included in their portfolio and this can really hurt my chances of working with them. I’d recommend always keeping your portfolio updated with your latest work and include as much of your previous work as possible.
Below is a short list of portfolios that I felt were good examples to learn from:
When contacting a potential commissioner, be sure to provide as much detail and context as possible. Your message should include:
- What you’re specifically wanting
- The style, quantity, and any extra details
- The timeframe you need the job finished by
- The budget you’re willing to spend
Here’s an example of how you can initiate contact with possible commissioners:
Terms & Conditions
Establishing terms & conditions upfront and before any work begins or payment is made is crucial for a successful commission. Some common terms & conditions that should be established are:
- Can either party resell or redistribute the work?
- Can the commissioner share media of the work?
- Refund policy
Timeline
Creating a timeline helps both parties stay on track towards reaching their goals. First, figure out when you want the task finished by, then choose a few dates between now and then. For example:
In this example, the project was to be finished by May 2nd. Two milestones were set on April 19th and 25th. Additionally, a condition was posed to the commissioner that if they didn’t reach the milestone on the 25th, a refund would be given.
Payment Methods
PayPal
PayPal is the most commonly used payment method besides Robux. When using PayPal, consider the following:
Friends & Family
People often request that payments through PayPal be sent as “Friends & Family” rather than “Goods & Services.” The reason behind this, is that PayPal will not refund any transaction which has been sent as “Friends & Family.” So the person requesting the payment this way thinks they are safe from chargebacks.
The truth though, is that “Friends & Family” payments are not immune to chargebacks and they can even get your PayPal account suspended. As it turns out, “Friends & Family” payments are only immune to chargeback if the payment was directly from PayPal and not a credit card company or bank. Additionally, PayPal has been known to suspend accounts who misuse “Friends & Family” transactions, which is extremely easy to track.
Refunds
It’s important to know that when you refund a payment, you actually lose a small amount of money. According to PayPal: “If you refund a payment for goods or services, there are no fees to process the refund, but the fees you originally paid as the seller are not returned to you”
Chargebacks
A chargeback occurs when someone disputes a transaction with their bank or credit card company, claiming that the transaction was “unauthorized” or that the “product was never delivered.” Losing against a chargeback is unfortunately common, and banks and credit card companies tend to take their money back quickly. When responding to a chargeback request, provide as much detail, screenshots, and evidence as possible.
If you lose your battle against a chargeback, the next step is usually filing a lawsuit, if the amount of money lost is worth it.
Fees
When you receive a chargeback, you may lose all of the money and incur fees on PayPal. PayPal’s fee is $20, while Stripe’s fee is $15.
Remember to establish terms & conditions upfront, provide detailed information when initiating contact, and carefully consider payment methods to ensure a successful commission experience.
Tips
When sending a payment, you have an option to describe what the payment is for. You should be very careful with your wording here because it could easily get your or both parties involved accounts shut down. I’ve witnessed someone receiving payments for “Gun Models” and then having their PayPal account locked.
Stripe
Stripe is less commonly used than PayPal, but they’re quite similar.
CashApp&Venmo
These services are more easily accessible than PayPal and seem to be more commonly used by younger audiences.
I’ve briefly used both of these services and they’re acceptable, but I would prefer using PayPal as it feels much more professional.
Chargebacks
Customers may still chargeback using these services, unless the payment sent was from their CashApp or Venmo balance. If the payment was sent from their Bank Account, then they can still call their bank and file a chargeback.
Robux
This is the only method which is entirely accessible to anyone under the age of 18.
Chargebacks
There are no refunds or possibilities of chargebacks.
Receiving Payment
To receive Robux payments, developers often useGame Passes.
Here’s how it works:
- Create a Game Pass for your game
- Configure the Game Pass and set the “Item on Sale” to true
- Set the price and share the Game Pass link
It’s important to note that when you establish a price for your Game Pass, you need to account for the 30% tax on Game Pass transactions. For example, if you set the price of your Game Pass at 1,000 Robux, you’ll only receive 700 Robux. To receive a flat 1,000 Robux, you should add the 30% tax (300 Robux) to the price, resulting in a price of 1,300 Robux.
The value of Robux can be a bit tricky to understand. For example, if you were to purchase $10 USD worth of Robux, you’d get 800 Robux. If you were then to use that Robux to pay a commission of 1,000 Robux, it would be the equivalent of paying $2.80 USD! This is due to the Developer Exchange, which allows you to convert your Robux back to USD. When paying with Robux, it’s important to realize that 1 Robux is worth $0.0035 USD.
For new developers, it may be wise to avoid paying with Robux at first, as they’re literally losing money when purchasing Robux. However, once they start making Robux through their projects, it can be a convenient way to pay for services.
Guidelines
Vetting
When you’re in the market as a buyer, it’s essential to vet the sellers before commissioning any work. One effective method for vetting sellers is to examine their history on various platforms. While I personally use Discord for commissions, this vetting process applies to most social media platforms.
To begin, explore the Discord profile of the seller you’re interested in commissioning. Additionally, check if they have any other social media accounts linked. It’s a good idea to note down these links in case they are removed from the profile later on.
Furthermore, take the time to search through the messages the seller has posted in servers that you both share. This can provide valuable insights:
- How long ago did the seller start selling their work?
- Do they exhibit professionalism in their interactions?
- Have there been any instances of drama or accusations involving the seller?
It’s worth noting that if a seller has recently joined the community, it may increase the likelihood of them being a scammer.
Downloads
Exercise caution when downloading files from individuals online, particularly in the context of Roblox. The most common file formats used in Roblox are.rbxlxand.rbxmx. When receiving files in these formats, be vigilant and verify their authenticity before opening them.
Team Create
When commissioning someone for a project, it’s important to limit their access to only what is necessary. For example, if you’re hiring someone to create a map for your game, avoid granting them access to your entire game’s place. Instead, copy and paste the relevant elements from your Workspace into a separate place and invite the builder to work on that specific place.
By following this practice, you can safeguard your project and ensure that the builder can complete their work without unnecessary access to unrelated components.
Going First
Determining the order of delivery during a commission can be challenging. In my experience, when commissioning work from someone, it’s advisable to adopt a 50/50 approach. This means paying 50% upfront and the remaining 50% once the seller shares media of the finished product or delivers it to you.
However, if you find yourself being commissioned by someone else, it is generally not recommended to deliver the entire product until you have received full or majority payment. This approach helps protect your work and ensures that you are fairly compensated.
In most cases, if you have commissioned something very specific, the likelihood of the seller scamming you by not delivering the final product is low. It is unlikely that they would invest their time in creating a highly customized commission only to deceive you and risk not receiving full payment. They are unlikely to be able to repurpose those assets elsewhere.
Remember to follow these guidelines to mitigate potential risks and establish a mutually beneficial commissioning experience.
