Pricing customs

[sirenamber]

So, I am wondering how everyone prices their customs? I was thinking about this because I know there are so many customizers, which brings down the 'market value', but when you consider how much it actually costs to make a custom including supplies and time, how low should you go?
If a bait costs you $2 - $12 (boy baits are expensive), and a hank of hair is $3 (I usually end up using 2 hanks, so that is $6), plus paints and sealants and any other extras, not to mention sculpting; how much do you charge for your time? Just curious...
I am charging about $25 for my customs currently.. which I thought was pretty good, considering making a boy can costs me around $20 just to break even. What do you guys all think?

 

[Firefly]

I think that is a really reasonable price ! and your customs are very nice
When I see customs for like $50.00 I am like get outta here ! just because it couldn't have costed nearly that much to make it but I unno thats just me. I think I would personally charge about that for mine and no more.

 

[Tiegrsi]

I am charging $25 for mine, as long as all they need is paint and hair. Sculpting is extra, though since I haven't done a full size pony with sculpting in a while I'm not sure how MUCH extra (lol).

I don't consider myself a super-amazing customizer, though. I think in the future if I get better at it, I'd charge a little more (like $30-35).

If you look at the post that is stickied at the top of this forum, though, you'll find a bunch of different customizer's and their base prices.

 

[Skeen]

just because it couldn't have costed nearly that much to make it

That isn't the point. When you buy a custom you're not really paying for the materials used, you're paying for the time, skill, and effort of the artist. It's like that for ANY artistic medium. ALL customizers have access to all of the same materials thanks to the internet and online shopping, but what NOT all customizers have is the same level of experience/skill, and that's what you're paying for.

My baits come from the flea market. They cost no more than a quarter each. Dollyhair's cost is fixed at around $3 a hank. My paints cost about a dollar each, spread out over god only knows how many customs before I run out. My sealant is the same way. My brushes, clay, and other tools are the same as well. When you look at it that way, my customs potentially cost no more than $5 to make, but if you think I'd sell one of them for that little, you'd be mistaken.

 

[kalavista]

Skeen makes a very good point. People pay hundreds of dollars for customs from advanced artists, like Woosie, Darkhorse, Spippo, etc. It's like any art - you aren't paying Picasso for the price of his paints, you're paying for his skill.
:heart:

 

[bluemoondreams]

see this idea of paying more for a great artist I agree with. However i have trouble even getting £5 for one of mine some times, which means I seldom brake even...it can be agrivating esepcially after all the work you put in.

 

[Zanny]

On thing I've learned from selling art over the years, which applies to this too, is when you're putting something up for auction, your minimum bid ought to be the LEAST you're willing to let your piece go for. While a $5 or $10 minimum might catch the eye of deal hunters, you also run the risk of letting it go for that low amount. I had an incredibly detailed pencil piece with a full background (an original 11x14 piece, not a print), something I'd spent a solid six hours of work on, go for a $5 minimum at a silent auction. It just made me want to cry. Since then, I've learned to set my minimums at what feels like a fair compensation for my time and skill. While it means I sell a little less, at least I get what my work is worth.

 

[KittySurprise]

I'd be willing to pay at least $50 for a very well done custom that I liked. Of course right now we're poor but if I was going to buy one that's how much I'd pay lol. I agree that one should go for at least 30-35 though...for me, it really all depends on how good the art is but I can see how someone might have trouble judging their own work.