Matt Adler-migration

I've never bought a commissioned piece before, but after reading this thread, and having heard about the previous Michael Golden incident, I could never feel comfortable giving an artist advance payment for a promised piece, regardless of who it was. I have to agree with whoever said that if the customer doesn't pay, the artist still can sell the piece to someone else, but the other way around, the customer is left with their money stolen or not getting what they paid for. It's sad that honest artists have to get tarred with this same brush, but I think those who make their living off commissions ought to be at least as outspoken about those dealing in bad faith as the customers; after all, it's their market that's threatened by this sort of behavior.