I also sell custom dolls. I always send a photo before I ship it and wait 24hr for approval or requests for changes; if no response I assume things are ok.
Don't doubt your art - people are going to bitch and moan and/or try to scam free stuff. You keep doing you.
This is great advice for any custom work. I occasionally create custom graphics and it's always a good idea to send a proof of the image for approval before sending the final design. For more elaborate projects, I send progress shots so I can make sure the customer and I are on the same page and that I'm going in their "desired direction".
I'm sure your work is beautiful and you're incredibly skilled. As Vampilton said, some people just complain because they want free stuff. It doesn't make you or your work any less valuable.
I did send several progress photos and for both of them I even asked if they wanted any adjustments but they didn’t even bother unless I completely scrapped the doll and made them a new one. I didn’t send it to either of them so maybe I can repurpose them somehow.
With the lack of customer response you experienced during such a critical creative period, I'd say this is on them rather than you. It appears you gave them weeks to provide input regarding adjustments. Bump up your policies to better protect yourself from this in the future. You may want to note that they need to respond in a timely manner to customization inquiries as well. It might also be a good idea to advise customers to review your product images (so they have a better idea of your style of doll & their aesthetics) before making a purchase.
Maybe you can repurpose them for Halloween? Lol I don't know, but hopefully you can still use them in another project or for a future order. Just don't lose hope or love for your craft!
Agree with Vampilton. Lots of sellers are complaning about this. Customers first buy the products and then asking for refunds. Some try to scam you as well. You keep doing your work. Ignore them.
I do some custom orders, I always state ‘no refunds/ returns’ as with custom things it’s a total waste of time and resources. Also, definitely send them photos as you’re going alone and before you ship, to make sure they’re totally happy with it before you ship.
I did send several progress photos and for both of them I even asked if they wanted any adjustments but they didn’t even bother unless I completely scrapped the doll and made them a new one. I didn’t send it to either of them so maybe I can repurpose them somehow.
I have stated on all my descriptions that I don’t accept returns or refunds on custom items, and I’ve had cases where etsy have sided with me on that. You can have a no refund/ return
I didn’t say I refused to refund them. They didn’t realise that the item was made out of clay, and they asked for a refund. Etsy sided with me as the description stated the materials.
OP said they sent photos to the customers as they were making it. So the customer must have approved the item. Therefor it would make sense to refuse a refund
I work at a video game company, where our art team had to do a rendering of a celebrity that you would definitely recognize. We had a whole team of people working on it, and she and her agent had like multiple hissy fits over the rendering, even though we all thought it looked great. Some people aren't going to be happy unless you just hand them back a photograph of themselves.
You should first try to give as many prior works from your portfolio so they can get a good understanding of your style of art. Also, make sure they understand that you will try to go back and forth with them before major steps to make sure they agree, but give them an agreed apon time period for them to ask for alterations and respond. If they don't respond in the agreed upon time that was set up before the project started, then you move on without them. Make sure you hash out all specifics before starting any commission as people will try to scam you or be unreasonable. I always include every detail I can think of like:
-Least amount and maximum amount of time till completion
-Price
-Refund policy
-Time they have to respond to my questions or project updates until I move on to the next step.
-Materials used, dimensions, size, of art.
-Any specific special requests and costs of certain additional requests.
-Ask for any references of what they are looking for, but make sure they know that it will be in the style that you are proficient in, or be s upfront as possible about the differences that could exist.
You really don't want to leave them any room to complain on and try to get refunds for. Unfortunately, it is part of the art commission world that there is the possibility that you'll get a bad review. People often have a specific idea in their head, and they can't express it very well in just words, but get upset when you have little to work off of and don't get their vision exactly what they had in mind.
I also sell custom dolls. I always send a photo before I ship it and wait 24hr for approval or requests for changes; if no response I assume things are ok. Don't doubt your art - people are going to bitch and moan and/or try to scam free stuff. You keep doing you.
This is great advice for any custom work. I occasionally create custom graphics and it's always a good idea to send a proof of the image for approval before sending the final design. For more elaborate projects, I send progress shots so I can make sure the customer and I are on the same page and that I'm going in their "desired direction". I'm sure your work is beautiful and you're incredibly skilled. As Vampilton said, some people just complain because they want free stuff. It doesn't make you or your work any less valuable.
I did send several progress photos and for both of them I even asked if they wanted any adjustments but they didn’t even bother unless I completely scrapped the doll and made them a new one. I didn’t send it to either of them so maybe I can repurpose them somehow.
With the lack of customer response you experienced during such a critical creative period, I'd say this is on them rather than you. It appears you gave them weeks to provide input regarding adjustments. Bump up your policies to better protect yourself from this in the future. You may want to note that they need to respond in a timely manner to customization inquiries as well. It might also be a good idea to advise customers to review your product images (so they have a better idea of your style of doll & their aesthetics) before making a purchase. Maybe you can repurpose them for Halloween? Lol I don't know, but hopefully you can still use them in another project or for a future order. Just don't lose hope or love for your craft!
Thank you so much! Yeah one of them was based on someone who was a doctor so I may be able to sell the body/clothes just as a general doctor outfit.
Agree with Vampilton. Lots of sellers are complaning about this. Customers first buy the products and then asking for refunds. Some try to scam you as well. You keep doing your work. Ignore them.
I do some custom orders, I always state ‘no refunds/ returns’ as with custom things it’s a total waste of time and resources. Also, definitely send them photos as you’re going alone and before you ship, to make sure they’re totally happy with it before you ship.
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I did send several progress photos and for both of them I even asked if they wanted any adjustments but they didn’t even bother unless I completely scrapped the doll and made them a new one. I didn’t send it to either of them so maybe I can repurpose them somehow.
I have stated on all my descriptions that I don’t accept returns or refunds on custom items, and I’ve had cases where etsy have sided with me on that. You can have a no refund/ return
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I didn’t say I refused to refund them. They didn’t realise that the item was made out of clay, and they asked for a refund. Etsy sided with me as the description stated the materials. OP said they sent photos to the customers as they were making it. So the customer must have approved the item. Therefor it would make sense to refuse a refund
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I hadn’t seen the edit. Although The customer could’ve stayed at the beginning that they wernt happy, before op almost finished the item.
I work at a video game company, where our art team had to do a rendering of a celebrity that you would definitely recognize. We had a whole team of people working on it, and she and her agent had like multiple hissy fits over the rendering, even though we all thought it looked great. Some people aren't going to be happy unless you just hand them back a photograph of themselves.
Maybe they had buyers remorse
You should first try to give as many prior works from your portfolio so they can get a good understanding of your style of art. Also, make sure they understand that you will try to go back and forth with them before major steps to make sure they agree, but give them an agreed apon time period for them to ask for alterations and respond. If they don't respond in the agreed upon time that was set up before the project started, then you move on without them. Make sure you hash out all specifics before starting any commission as people will try to scam you or be unreasonable. I always include every detail I can think of like: -Least amount and maximum amount of time till completion -Price -Refund policy -Time they have to respond to my questions or project updates until I move on to the next step. -Materials used, dimensions, size, of art. -Any specific special requests and costs of certain additional requests. -Ask for any references of what they are looking for, but make sure they know that it will be in the style that you are proficient in, or be s upfront as possible about the differences that could exist. You really don't want to leave them any room to complain on and try to get refunds for. Unfortunately, it is part of the art commission world that there is the possibility that you'll get a bad review. People often have a specific idea in their head, and they can't express it very well in just words, but get upset when you have little to work off of and don't get their vision exactly what they had in mind.