What about a rating system for customizers?

[ProgMatinee]

Just spitballing, is there a way to establish a tracking system in which potential customers can see how many $s or how many paint jobs, etc someone might have in their queue?

I know some sellers might have a conniption fit on this, but for the sake of the community, I would find it useful information.

Here's how it would work. The instant money changes hands, including deposits, a feedback form is started. The customer and customizer would list how much $ and how many items are involved.

The system would keep this information private at an individual level, but in aggregate any user can access any seller's results and see that "Johnny is in possession of $2000 of deposits and 10 headsculpts". This information is then used by potential customers to determine whether they wish to be the 11th sculpt in the "known" queue and whether the customizer appears to be accumulating uncompleted work/cash balance.

As work is delivered the feedback is closed and that item/cash deposit is removed from the pending and into a completed file.

 

[mightyq]

Just spitballing, is there a way to establish a tracking system in which potential customers can see how many $s or how many paint jobs, etc someone might have in their queue?

I know some sellers might have a conniption fit on this, but for the sake of the community, I would find it useful information.

Here's how it would work. The instant money changes hands, including deposits, a feedback form is started. The customer and customizer would list how much $ and how many items are involved.

The system would keep this information private at an individual level, but in aggregate any user can access any seller's results and see that "Johnny is in possession of $2000 of deposits and 10 headsculpts". This information is then used by potential customers to determine whether they wish to be the 11th sculpt in the "known" queue and whether the customizer appears to be accumulating uncompleted work/cash balance.

As work is delivered the feedback is closed and that item/cash deposit is removed from the pending and into a completed file.

Not so sure that would work, some people make a whole lot of money on here, not sure if they want this to be public. I could care less how much anybody makes as long as they deliver the product wich certain customizers on here are able to do every time, still they might not want their $$$ to be made public, I could be wrong. I guess a vote would be best.

 

[Hidden Jitsu]

I think this is a good and a bad idea.
The bad idea is the money Side off things and showing how much people charge I think that would be a bad idea.
Also time frame not sure on that as life can not be planned out.
As somebody home does this as there full time job should be able to deliver very quickly.
But somebody like my self whom works and has children as well as trying to paint and what not.
And then life can throw obstacles in your way meaning it is hard to get any paint time in at all.
Also I don't thinks you should be allowed to paint or sell until you have at least 400 honest posts , and by that I mean not looking through 400 posts and saying very good.
I mean 400 posts across a certain amount of time.
And then should be limited on the amount you can sell and paint like you can only accept 1/2 heads to paint and only sell 1 high valus item.
So then people can see how well you are doing and what not.
Also in my experience it is harder to paint really crap sculpts as they are just a pain to work on.
But when you get good sculpts they sort of paint themselves.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Keep the ideas coming - like I said I'm just brainstorming and looking for ideas.

Hopefully more customizers will weigh in as well.

As for "paying as gift" - it is against forum policy to ask for this - however for customizers - you're sending them hundreds of dollars months before seeing a finished product and you are putting a lot of trust in them. It will be way outside Paypal protection before you see anything anyway, so "gift" doesn't really matter in these situations.

 

[IKE-CON]

This is what I posted in another thread months ago. They
were talking about time limits(30-45 days) or possible rating system.
I think it would apply here as well.
********************************************

A lot of feedback left for me is based on custom work I did
for customers.

I think perhaps, there should be more detail left in the notes of
the feed back. Plus maybe like an Angies list check box system
where it rates different aspects of a transaction

One box you click for custom work

Then maybe something like this comes up.


1) Rate the transaction 1= completely satisfied 2 partially satisfied 3 Unsatisfied

2) Rate job completion time 1 = Finished ahead of schedule 2 within schedule 3 Did not finish on time

3) Rate Cost 1= finished under budget 2 = Finished within budget 3 = finished over budget.

You get the general idea.

A point system on top of the general feedback rating.
Or even a sub section rating for custom jobs.

Just throwing that out there.


As a customizer who does figures and parts, I find the size of the
job determines the time frame. Most of my customers are return
customers. So they know I spell out everything in advance.
Because I only take on one custom at a time(unless I'm
doing several of the same figure), my process is always the same.

1) Before any money is taken all details of the figure
are worked out in advance.

I give a full list of what the figure comes with, how long it should take
(realistic time frame) and how much it will cost.

2) Once agreed upon, a detailed Paypal invoice with all the details
of the figure listed is sent for deposit.

I do not start a custom job without a deposit..ever. That shows
to me the customer is serious. Also, it allows me to pay my painters
or tailors right away to get the ball rolling.

3) I stay in contact and send updates with pictures almost everytime
I finish another part of the custom. This normally happens every 1 to 2 weeks.

4) Once final product is finished and approved by the customer, a
final invoice is sent for the BIF.

The process for a full figure is normally 7 to 8 weeks.
Just parts, a lot less time.

So for me, a full figure custom can't be done in 4 weeks.
For sure if you're waiting on a painter or a custom part coming
back from a tailor or printer.

TIME: So that's why I think you should be rated on the time frame set for that project.

That shows they have completed the project on time or not.
Pretty cut and dry.

Just thinking outloud.

Of course it's different for a public offering, where I complete the whole figure or part
and then put it up for sale only when it's finished.

So maybe one check box for Commissioned Custom and one for Public Offering.
along with a basic definition of what those mean. That might help for some.

What do think?

 

[Cheungkinmen]

A rating system is great IMO. I always use the current rating system anyways.

Don't really have an opinon as to how or what should be implemented, but I do think that a complex rating system might get convoluted for the buyer and the artist may end up with low statistics say if 5 out of 12 leaves a feedback, AND only 3 leaves positives, not many use the current rating system and I think it's very easy to use. But you could ask those buyers to leave feedback, either way you are not guaranteed to get it.

But I am up for a new rating system, whatever comes up I'll roll with it

 

[mightyq]

Case in point with what has happened recently with custom painter "darko"....not an overall good ending, still not over from what I have read. The forum needs this.

 

[SwedishHeat]

Case in point with what has happened recently with custom painter "darko"....not an overall good ending, still not over from what I have read. The forum needs this.

A rating system would not have helped in that situation. It was a brand new member offering a "too good to be true" price. He would have had no feedback and no information in the rating system. People were warned about the member in the thread, but most if not all people ignored those warnings and got burned.

 

[Hidden Jitsu]

Case in point with what has happened recently with custom painter "darko"....not an overall good ending, still not over from what I have read. The forum needs this.

I don't think he should have been able to trade in the first place.
I'm member or many retro video game forums , mountain bike and art forums.
And some of them require you have 300 plus honest posts , and have been a member for a while.
And not just registered and instantly start trading.
I think you should sort of build your way up to be worthy of trading.
Also some forums ask for your full address and phone number too.
Also I think a rating system is a god idea but I would prefer the customer to contact me first before any problems , so if they are not totally happy with the in hand paint job I always offer the, to send it back for a repaint.

 

[Invictus Sol]

This is what I posted in another thread months ago. They
were talking about time limits(30-45 days) or possible rating system.
I think it would apply here as well... What do think?

That's an excellent way of doing business, IKE. Very professional. Great post.

 

[robbiethepainter]

I don't agree with a limited time on customs. Its fine if some one is doing a few but some of us do full runs that are large in scale in our free time.

 

[agonistes86]

A rating system would not have helped in that situation. It was a brand new member offering a "too good to be true" price. He would have had no feedback and no information in the rating system. People were warned about the member in the thread, but most if not all people ignored those warnings and got burned.

Fully agreed. Everybody that sent him sculpts knew from the start that the guy had no prior feedback whatsoever. I also don't think Darko meant any harm in the beginning, he just got way, way over his head. Seeing how many sculpts were sent to him (some members even sent over 10 heads), he likely ended up with 30-something, perhaps even 50-something heads at the same time. Of course he should not have accepted that many at the same time, so it's mostly his fault. He bit off more than he could chew. But the buyers also must show some caution when dealing with a new member and are to blame to some extent as well IMO.

I think every customizer, or even every seller in general, having to provide the board (or Dave himself) their address, private e-mail, and perhaps even phone number would be a good start. It adds another layer of responsibility, and people can't just run off when the board has their private information to track them.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I don't think he should have been able to trade in the first place.
I'm member or many retro video game forums , mountain bike and art forums.
And some of them require you have 300 plus honest posts , and have been a member for a while.
And not just registered and instantly start trading.
I think you should sort of build your way up to be worthy of trading.
Also some forums ask for your full address and phone number too.
Also I think a rating system is a god idea but I would prefer the customer to contact me first before any problems , so if they are not totally happy with the in hand paint job I always offer the, to send it back for a repaint.

Yes, the new rule for all sales custom or otherwise will have to be posted by Premium Members will go a long way to solving this kind of thing.

But we can't protect people from themselves - if you're going to send your expensive custom heads to a 16 year old to get a $10 paint job...

That's an excellent way of doing business, IKE. Very professional. Great post.

Yes, I like the idea of a more detailed rating system. As I brought up earlier perhaps not just a rating system by customers, but a tracking system for all current projects would be valuable.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I don't agree with a limited time on customs. Its fine if some one is doing a few but some of us do full runs that are large in scale in our free time.

I understand this, but is there any compromise that you'd consider to give buyers more reassurance?

When you combine customizers requiring deposits up front AND an unwillingness to establish a deadline...isn't the buyer pretty much on the end of a string?

That reminds me, in the cases of repaints, where the monetary cost of a repaint is solely paint and paint brushes, I think its really unfair to charge a deposit considering a buyer isn't likely to send you a headsculpt and leave you high and dry. The buyer has his ***** in a vice at that point.

 

[pixletwin]

This is all good, but it seems a bit one sided. I think customizers should also be able to rank clients.

 

[ProgMatinee]

This is all good, but it seems a bit one sided. I think customizers should also be able to rank clients.

based on what?

"ProgMatinee got really annoying when I had his money and headsculpt for 21 months."

"Pixeltwin is the most patient customer I ever had. He didn't even complain when I leap frogged his single repaint 43 times."



I don't think customers should get rated based on their willingness to give customizers loans...or their willingness to forgive/turn the other way when they get screwed. Seems like a nice way for thiefs to find easy marks.

 

[pixletwin]

I was thinking something more along these lines:

"Pixletwin paid promptly and was easy to communicate with. Very reasonable."

and

"Prog was a total nightmare to work with. Sent me a head without asking if I was available and kept promising to pay me saying he was low on funds. When I offered to just send the head back he sent me death threats."

or

"Prog PM'd me 5 times a day from the day he sent the head till the day he received the head back from me (I had the head for 40 days). Prog is a real pain in the neck. He pays, but I recommend charging extra because he is a bit high maintenance."

That kind of differentiation is what I was talking about.

 

[Cheungkinmen]

I don't agree with a limited time on customs. Its fine if some one is doing a few but some of us do full runs that are large in scale in our free time.

I agree with Robbie.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I was thinking something more along these lines:

"Pixletwin paid promptly and was easy to communicate with. Very reasonable."

and

"Prog was a total nightmare to work with. Sent me a head without asking if I was available and kept promising to pay me saying he was low on funds. When I offered to just send the head back he sent me death threats."

or

"Prog PM'd me 5 times a day from the day he sent the head till the day he received the head back from me (I had the head for 40 days). Prog is a real pain in the neck. He pays, but I recommend charging extra because he is a bit high maintenance."

That kind of differentiation is what I was talking about.

None of those will ever happen......

 

[pixletwin]

None of those will ever happen......

Ummmm... well your assumption would be wrong.