Find the Right Customizer
Step one is always the easiest. There are a ton of sites out there such as Figure Realm or The Fwoosh have a TON of customizers out there. Take some time to look over all the different galleries and find a customizer that creates a look similar to what you are looking for. For example, I try to create customs that (hopefully) look like they came from the factory. A fellow customizer (and a good friend of mine) Fast Freddie has a paint style all of his own by using shading techniques to create something that looks better than a factory release. So what is your collection looking for? Something to blend in with your current purchases or something that will "pop" on your shelf? This is something you need to figure out.
Find Reference Pictures
I don't know how many times I get the classic "I want a figure that looks like [insert artist's name] version in that one book." Don't bank on a customizer to know what artist based look you are looking for. There have been too many times where I just google the artist and the character and base my work off of that. Most times, the customer is happy with the final product but sometimes colors or looks can be off. I like happy customers, so I will go back and fix it but it puts a strain on the relationship with that customizer in the future if you want more figures.
Long story short, take the time to find pictures to send to the customizer so you can get the look you want. That is the point isn't it?
Ask Questions
Of a customizer is not willing to answer your questions, I would suggest not doing business with them. I have purchased a few customs from some of the bigger names out there and they always have taken the time to answer my questions. By the end of the process, I received the EXACT figure that I wanted and that should be the case since a custom costs much more than a retail figure. Which brings me to my next point...
Know Your Price Range
Customs are not cheap. You are paying for someone's time and materials. At the same time, you are getting what you pay for. Someone that charges more for a custom than the next customizer might have more talent and use better materials. Also know when you might be getting ripped off. It is okay to ask several customizers for a quote before you commit to one. I once had a guy quote me $500 to make a figure and another customizer, who was WAY more talented than the first, quote me $150.
Get a Time Frame
Another great thing to establish with the customizer that you decided on is the time it takes them to complete a figure. Some guys can have a figure done in a week, some might take a few months to a year. Know when you want to see a figure completed so you are not left in the dark.
At the same time, don't email the customizer every day asking for an update or to inform them that they missed their deadline. For most customizers, customizing is just a hobby. These guys have full time jobs, families, and other priorities. Also, things just come up. For example, I wanted to have a commission done a month ago but I had to unexpectedly move across the country and then I had to get into an eBay dispute with a seller that tried not to send me the parts I ordered to complete this figure. Thank God, my customer is a very patient individual and has not let this effect our customizer/customer relationship.
Final payment
Know what the final price is before the project starts. List out what you want and find out how much it is going to cost you. Also know that if you request changes mid-project, that is probably going to cost you more than what was originally quoted. Find out if the change is going to cost you more before the customizer changes it. If the new price is reasonable to you, have them make the change. If it is not, well, I really don't know what to tell you. Ideally, know EVERY aspect of what you want out of the customizer and the figure you want before they send you a quote. That way these mid-project negotiations so not come up.
Cover your butt when you make a purchase as well. Most customizers ask for a down payment before they start, usually half of the final price. This is fair because you don't know who you can trust on the internet. By paying half, the customizer will be able to recoup their time and materials if the customer doesn't pay when the figure is done. For the customer, you are not out the complete amount if the customizer never finishes the figure. Also, DO NOT gift the payment when using Paypal. Most customizers will hate me for saying that but you need to cover your butt as the buyer and if they are too cheap to pay the fees, then they should have factored that in for their final price.
Finally, PAY FOR THE FIGURE IN FULL!!! Customizers talk to one another. Their are so many dead beat buyer lists out there, it is not even funny. So if your name pops up on one of them, good luck having anyone make you a figure.
eBay
This last point is short and sweet. When bidding on a custom figure and you lose the auction, it is okay to contact the customizer. Each customizer has their own way of handling this. Some won't answer your e-mail, some will tell you they don't take commissions, some might say "sure". For me, I am going to charge you more than what the auction went for. That is fair to the person that put the most money down on the table to win the auction because that is what I feel is fair.
There you have it. This might be missing some detailed points but here is the basics. I am trying to quickly write this over my lunch break so feel free to ask me to elaborate more in the comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment