how much should customs really be sold for?

[Creation88]

just wanted to ask. a lot of customizers sell their customs for anywhere up to $85 but most (even the best ones) sell for around $50-60 on ebay sometimes (occassionally up to $100+).

does this mean that customizers over charge since they sell over market value or it is a personal thing?

[coggsnyrnyg]

Even the best stuff on EBay is nowhere close to the quality that most of the guys on jomo's board put out. If someone is willing to sell their customs on EBay and start the bidding at $10, it tells me they really didn't put as much time into it as they should.

[Rexy]

Most are overpriced.

[Chevy Man 22]

I'd say $50 would be the max if the buyer is suplying the fig and $60 if the customizer is suplying it anything over that I'd consider overpriced but each person knows how much they willing to spend on one so the market kind of sets the price for itself.

[rafprop]

Ebay prices really don't give you a true idea of the value of customs. There are a lot of really crappy customs on Ebay and many buyers stay clear of Ebay customs because of that. Also, with anything on Ebay, an item that sells for $25 this week could sell for $50 or more next week.

Ther truth is that most customizers, if you truly look at all the costs materials and the time put into a custom, make very little at all. The vast majority would make more with a minimum wage fast food job.

[nucksfan]

I think it's very subjective, it's supply and demand to a point and always becomes what you are willing to pay to get the custom what you want. You can go out and find a customizer who will charge $50 for example and another who charges $70. Most of the time, you get what you pay for. Another reason why it's so subjective is that customs vary from sport to sport. For example I have a certain price that I charge for a custom hockey player. That is my benchmark. I charge more for a custom goalie because there is alot more time and effort into making them. I charge less for football and baseball because they take less time and effort. Rafprop is alo correct, the profit margin is very small once supplies are calculated.

[customs4you]

Im not the greatest by far on jomos board ,most on there charge around 55.00 to 85.00. I my self charge for a repaint like 40.00 sculping added depending how much 55.00. Like i said jomos board has a ton of great customizers on there.. I sell alot of my stuff on ebay and i don't consider it crap. There is alot of crappy customizers on there though. I think my prices are fair for the work i do.

raf hit it best most of the time you don't make $$$ on customs. Sometimes you put alot of work into a piece that goes for $35.00 and you do a simple repaint and it goes for $ 70.00 .

[ShakesO]

I think it's very subjective, it's supply and demand to a point and always becomes what you are willing to pay to get the custom what you want. You can go out and find a customizer who will charge $50 for example and another who charges $70. Most of the time, you get what you pay for. Another reason why it's so subjective is that customs vary from sport to sport. For example I have a certain price that I charge for a custom hockey player. That is my benchmark. I charge more for a custom goalie because there is alot more time and effort into making them. I charge less for football and baseball because they take less time and effort. Rafprop is alo correct, the profit margin is very small once supplies are calculated.

My thoughts exactly. Considering the time put in, these are not a hugely profitable. Consider the assembly line production mcfarlane has, They charge only $13 for their figures... so for one guy to do a one shot figure, i doubt the efficiencies are anywhere close...

[jweber26]

Not this thread again. According the last poll - most people on this board decided that they would pay between $35 & $45 a custom.

Even at $60, after materials - a customizer is only making about $1 or $2/hr. So a lot of it comes down to how valuable is their time. I've got a family so it's going to take more for me to spend my freetime on the workbench.

If you think $50 is the max someone should pay for a custom than I suggest trying to make one yourself as accurately as possible and see if it's worth your time.

[customs4you]

Jweb hit it right, do one for your self and see. Like i said i don't make much on mine. I have been of work for 3 months tis year already so the xtra time i have.

[etc22]

For all those on here that want to spend no more than $40-50 on a custom - please contact Ideamine, I'm sure he will gladly take the work.

[Dont taze me bro]

Not this thread again. According the last poll - most people on this board decided that they would pay between $35 & $45 a custom.

Even at $60, after materials - a customizer is only making about $1 or $2/hr. So a lot of it comes down to how valuable is their time. I've got a family so it's going to take more for me to spend my freetime on the workbench.

If you think $50 is the max someone should pay for a custom than I suggest trying to make one yourself as accurately as possible and see if it's worth your time.

B-b-b-b-ut I don't have any artistic skills....

[nucksfan]

lol, exactly
For all those on here that want to spend no more than $40-50 on a custom - please contact Ideamine, I'm sure he will gladly take the work.

[Zildjian]

Even the best stuff on EBay is nowhere close to the quality that most of the guys on jomo's board put out. If someone is willing to sell their customs on EBay and start the bidding at $10, it tells me they really didn't put as much time into it as they should.

Really? What if someone ONLY sells on eBay? I sell exclusively on eBay and start my auctions at $0.99.

Guess I don't put enough time into my customs.

[madcracker]

If these things are just not profitable, why are you guys still making them?

The effort put in and the attention to detail and quality of work is too high to expect these things to be sold for $40.

[Zildjian]

Not this thread again. According the last poll - most people on this board decided that they would pay between $35 & $45 a custom.

Even at $60, after materials - a customizer is only making about $1 or $2/hr. So a lot of it comes down to how valuable is their time. I've got a family so it's going to take more for me to spend my freetime on the workbench.

If you think $50 is the max someone should pay for a custom than I suggest trying to make one yourself as accurately as possible and see if it's worth your time.

Exactly......... I would love for some of the people that think the GOOD customs are worth only $35.00-$50.00 to try and make one themselves. Gather all of the paint, paint brushes, airbrushes, decal paper, sculpting compound, reference photos, etc...... add those costs, then add a value to the time spent actually doing on...... It is really laughable when people have absolutely no perspective to base their opinions on.

[Zildjian]

If these things are just not profitable, why are you guys still making them?

The effort put in and the attention to detail and quality of work is too high to expect these things to be sold for $40.

A hobby.

Most of us have artistic backgrounds...... this is just another outlet for that creativity. I myself paint.... just finished up my 3rd mural for a repeat customer.

[coggsnyrnyg]

Really? What if someone ONLY sells on eBay? I sell exclusively on eBay and start my auctions at $0.99.

Guess I don't put enough time into my customs.Really? Then I stand corrected. Your work is top notch. Why start it so low? Do you set reserves?

[McFanatic78]

I have done a few customs myself, although I would not in a million years consider myself "one of the best", I can speak from experience and first hand knowledge that it is NOT cheap to make a one shot custom figure.........especially when slot of the better guys do sculpting work some do custom bases etc.

I myself have only done basic repaints thus far and I have charged in the neighborhood of $40 for each one I have done so far, basically because I am a newbie and as stated I am nowhere near the level of alot of the best guys, ptrac, jweber, jomo, etc. etc. I figure if those guys charge $90-$100 then I can be comfortable charging $40, still do good work however with them you get a much better product for the extra $$.

sorry to burst the bubble of all the naive people out there who think it is so easy to make a custom......probably because they see some people pumping them out like clockwork that they think a custom can be done and done well in a short period of time.

I have completed roughly 5-6 customs so far, and just calculating the time spent working on them (not including cost of materials etc.) charging $50 for a custom is a bargain on any day of the week........lets say the materials cost $15 (just an estimate) then the shipping is another $7, that means the person doing the work is making $28 out of that $50 pricetag.........

now let's say for example that customizer spends 8-10 hours doing the work (sometimes longer maybe)......

$28 divided by 10 is $2.80 per hour.........

now the next time you think customs prices are overcharged, go sit somewhere and ask yourself, would YOU work for $2.80 an hour??

[coggsnyrnyg]

Not this thread again. According the last poll - most people on this board decided that they would pay between $35 & $45 a custom.

Even at $60, after materials - a customizer is only making about $1 or $2/hr. So a lot of it comes down to how valuable is their time. I've got a family so it's going to take more for me to spend my freetime on the workbench.

If you think $50 is the max someone should pay for a custom than I suggest trying to make one yourself as accurately as possible and see if it's worth your time.
Exactly. A HS or college kid who is just looking for some extra spending money may find it worth his time to buy a figure for $10 or so, spend a few dollars on supplies (paint, brushes, decal paper, printer ink) spend the time to make a custom and sell it for $30, $35, $40 and feel it is worth it.

In the past week I have had 5 people contact me about making figs. One of them I wasn't interested in doing. As for the other 4, they gave me an idea about what they looking to have done, I told them what I could do and the price. 2 didn't want to pay what I wanted and wanted me to cut the price and I declined. Another guy didn't want to pay 1/2 up front, told him that is the only way I would take the job, so we parted ways. The last guy is interested, but didn't expect the price to be so high. I explained why I set the price as I do, he understood and was going to let me know in a few days. Said he is not sure if he really wants to spend that much money. That's fine, if he wants to pay me I'll gladly do the piece, if not, so be it.

[coggsnyrnyg]

If these things are just not profitable, why are you guys still making them?

I make most for myself or as presents to my brothers. I have done a few for customers, but it was more about the challenge of the piece than the money. The money is just something so when my wife nags me about my stuff being everywhere and me spending so much time with it, I can tell her I made X amount of dollars. Taking on a project for my old High School to do figures for the seniors on the football team. Football meant the world to me when I was in HS, so part of it is my way of giving back. Again however, need a little something for my time.

[Celtic007]

Like a lot of things, customs should be sold for whatever someones willing to pay. If someone charges 50 bucks and no one buys it, i guess it shouldn't be sold for that much then. It also depends on qualitiy and demand. You make a nice custom that a lot of people want, that should get a decent amount.

[IronLungs31]

No custom in your collection should be cheap. You want a cheap custom that falls apart and paints starts to chip in a few years. Then be my guest and buy that cheap custom, but if you want something worth adding to your collection then you will pay for quailty. But, that's the point is that most want to add a great pieces to their collection for little or no cost at all. Well for all of you that want that kind of stuff in your collection? More power to you, because I'm not going to settle for second best product. That's the main reason that I stopped buying SP's!

Good luck in any which way you collection endeavours takes you...

[DRYDEN29]

I really don't know why they still do them. I have been doing some crazy zombie type things, but they are NOWHERE near as involved as the research, time, and materials that goes into a sports figure. The zombies are for fun,actually, a LOT MORE FUN, but the sports customs, even at $100 + are just not worth the time. I don't know how or why guys do them for $20 which I have seen.I still do the sports for our own collection, but I can't sell my time for what is worth. People are sometimes of the opinion that because a mass produced SP is around $15.00, customs shouldn't be much more. Not everyone, but some. Now before anyone starts with the quality sells stuff, even awesome customizers like Jomo,Nucksfan and the rest are not getting paid NEARLY ENOUGH for the time they spend on these. Can you imagine if some said "Tell ya what I'm going to do. I want a one of a kind portrait of my dog fluffy and I want ya to spend 30 plus hours on it and I want ya to spend $20.00 plus in materials and just because I like ya, I'm going to give $1 or less per EACH and EVERY hour that you work on it!!"
Uhh Uhh. Not going to happen. But some how it does with customs.
Thank you . I feel much better!:D

If these things are just not profitable, why are you guys still making them?

The effort put in and the attention to detail and quality of work is too high to expect these things to be sold for $40.

[TheCollectorStop]

By definition, you cannot charge over market price if you make a sale.

[jweber26]

Why do I keep doing them?

It fills the artistic void that my graphic design career has left me. It's relaxing. I do a lot for myself. The ones that are sold are for customers that were willing to meet my price. I'm not cheap but there is a high value on my free time and my customer is going to get a fantastic piece.

I just don't make a lot for guys on here.

My next figure is being done for Lance Alworth, requested by Lance Alworth after he saw one I made for his teammate. That's why I still make customs.

[DRYDEN29]

Those are the ones that are the most rewarding. I have done LOT for free or next to nothing just because I happen to like the person they are going to. It's not really about the money in a lot of cases. My response to the question , I guess was from a strictly selling point of view.
Why do I keep doing them?

It fills the artistic void that my graphic design career has left me. It's relaxing. I do a lot for myself. The ones that are sold are for customers that were willing to meet my price. I'm not cheap but there is a high value on my free time and my customer is going to get a fantastic piece.

I just don't make a lot for guys on here.

My next figure is being done for Lance Alworth, requested by Lance Alworth after he saw one I made for his teammate. That's why I still make customs.

[Purdue_Pete]

I think for some of the ones like ptrac, etc do that are that so clean (better than a factory SP) with custom parts, even $100+ is fair value for the time and effort they put in.

This is America, so for now at least, we'll let eBay and the market decide. :)

[right between the eyes]

I think this hobby was way overdue for some changes, 75.00-85.00 should get you a straight re-paint. There's alot of work that goes into some of these peices.... sculting, tattoos, gloves and cleats are photo matched. I would have paid 150.00 for Patricks Darnell Dockette he did a few weeks ago if it was available. Its good to see some of these guys (customsbyjomo customizers) getting some recognition now, most are busy dealing with the players directly now and are backed up for months.

[bnb_16]

It varies per figure-

This is one I sold for $100-

http://www.frontrowfigures.com/images/cook1.jpg

I didn't charge $100- I charged $70 shipped- str8 easy repaint, but my 'income' goes directly to the MSAA- and the customer paid $100 instead..

______


This was $115 shipped- and that was the price I quoted


http://www.frontrowfigures.com/images/swm4.jpg

____


This was zero-

http://www.frontrowfigures.com/images/foowdorp1.jpg

Part of my annual high school tribute...

____


No idea what this went for, depends on how many raffle tickets the winner bought-

http://www.frontrowfigures.com/images/foosneed2_lnj6.jpg

[lloydchristmas81]

just wanted to ask. a lot of customizers sell their customs for anywhere up to $85 but most (even the best ones) sell for around $50-60 on ebay sometimes (occassionally up to $100+).

does this mean that customizers over charge since they sell over market value or it is a personal thing?

So what did you expect to pay for a top notch custom figure??

[Steelcurtain1933]

Speaking of customs, how much does the price change from a 6" to a 12" sp? I have a extra Bettis 12" that I would love to get painted in the road uni, but what would be a fair deal? Just curious.....

[Steve G.]

I am looking for a Rod Carew Angels custum.

[Steve G.]

Also a lilly

[Creation88]

sheesh, some of you guys get so easily offended. the "why don't you try to make one" argument is great. first off, i didn't ask or want to customize one, i never said it was easy. i just wanted to ask fair and honesty opinions on what custom prices should be.

i want top-notch customs and those usually cost around $80 but when i see those same customs (sometimes by the same customizer) go for $20-30 LESS then i wonder if they should really be priced at the $80 price tag.

[etc22]

So when you you see the "top quality" custom you've been wanting on ebay for $40 you better snatch it up.
But if what you want isn't on ebay and you have to go someplace and request it - you better be ready to pay for what you want.

[Eddie20]

I think this tidbit applies.

If you want to get a custom made that is high quality and cheap, you aren't going to get it quick.
If you want to get a custom made that is cheap and finished quickly, it isn't going to be high quality.
If you want to get a custom made that is finished quickly and is of high quality, it isn't going to be cheap.

There are always exceptions to the rule, but on the whole, you sacrifice one of those 3 things, be it quality, speed, or price.

[madcracker]

Well-explained, Eddie.

[customs4you]

I have this on ebay now for a starting bid on 34.99 to cheap maybe. I think it's a quality custom and the paints i use are quality paints ,and i seal my figures well . Will it sell maybe , maybe not. Chance i take making it. I just got a 6 piece order to change just the jersey tops on 5 of them i charged him 40.00 and he provided the pcs.
http://i.ebayimg.com/24/!BUrMeewCGk~$(KGrHgoH-DQEjlLlt51ZBKOq09CINw~~_3.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/15/!BUrMhUgBmk~$(KGrHgoH-D!EjlLlz,uWBKOq1Hgwb!~~_3.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/23/!BUrMk(wBWk~$(KGrHgoH-DQEjlLlt51ZBKOq1SZHjg~~_3.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/12/!BUrMnZgBWk~$(KGrHgoH-CEEjlLly3cCBKOq1cy()w~~_3.JPG

[rafprop]

sheesh, some of you guys get so easily offended. the "why don't you try to make one" argument is great. first off, i didn't ask or want to customize one, i never said it was easy. i just wanted to ask fair and honesty opinions on what custom prices should be.

i want top-notch customs and those usually cost around $80 but when i see those same customs (sometimes by the same customizer) go for $20-30 LESS then i wonder if they should really be priced at the $80 price tag.

A top quality custom from a good customizer can easily run $80. It's very subjective because every customizer decides the value of their work. There are also a lot of variables from the sport, the player, the detail, and the cost of the base figure (among other things). Whether it's worth it is up to you.

If you are asking why a customizer will require $80 for a custom, but they will accept less when selling on Ebay the answer is simple. They hope to get more. It's just like anything else that sells on Ebay. Sometimes it sells for more than you expected and sometimes it sells for less. That's the chance you take. But you can't expect them to set their normal rates at the lowest Ebay selling price.

[Jason62]

A hobby.

Most of us have artistic backgrounds...... this is just another outlet for that creativity. I myself paint.... just finished up my 3rd mural for a repeat customer.

any pics of your artwork?

[mrclean08]

Let me start off by saying I'm probably going to get flamed and ganged up for this response, but whatever. I find it an insult to pay $50-80 for a custom, especially if the work is A-class good.

There are obviously different levels of customizers on the board and on eBay. What I mean by levels is there are apparent "for the fans, by a fan" type customizers who will dissect every detail from helmet brand/model to tattoos, to the ever more apparent "hey i can make a few dollars by quickly putting one together in a day or so [without any research]."

As stated in other responses above, the really detailed customs usually don't make much of a profit. Most of the A-class customs are made from a variety of different players' body parts, requiring multiple figures. So expecting something for $30-50 already puts the seller in the hole. Not to mention eBay/Paypal fees?

The fact is that customs in this hobby are actually farrrrrrrrrrrrrr inexpensive than customs in other brands like Transformers or G.I. Joe, etc. A solid Transformer custom can start from the low hundreds ($300) to lower thousands ($3,000+) Don't believe me? Start looking at ended auctions throughout the year on Transformer customs. And even Transformers customizers don't make much of a profit too like SP customs because of the sheer amount of time and energy it takes to re-engineer those types of toys. But that's why there's a wider variance in ending price versus the TF's and SP's. However, that's another topic altogether.

Here's where I know I will get drilled but I don't give a rat's ***.. because I'll say it from the heart. If I were to personally purchase from another customizer who can nail almost every detail I am expecting, I would easily fork out $150+. If it involves packaging (and no, not the ink jet printer Microsoft word template paper inserts with a suspect quality player .jpg photo in packaging types), custom sculpting and really finicky unique work, I wouldn't even have a problem paying up to $300-$400+ for one. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a barrel role of thread responses like, "what do you think we are made of, $$$?", "in this economy?", "LOL", "dream on", "what do you know?", "who are you to talk?" etc. But when you truly understand the economics involved of how expensive casting, sculpting and higher end customizing materials cost (I'm not talking about the lesser priced/quality Folk Art or Apple Barrel Wal-Mart paints either.), those price ranges are no longer unreasonable. Anyone who has the least bit casting/molding experience with resin & silicone knows what I'm talking about.

The gist of what I'm trying to get across is that the current average of custom pricing is far too undermining to what the actual costs even require. So most if not all customizers are doing this more as a labor of love. Very few can make a "killing" or profit, especially now.

[jweber26]

Let me start off by saying I'm probably going to get flamed and ganged up for this response, but whatever. I find it an insult to pay $50-80 for a custom, especially if the work is A-class good.

There are obviously different levels of customizers on the board and on eBay. What I mean by levels is there are apparent "for the fans, by a fan" type customizers who will dissect every detail from helmet brand/model to tattoos, to the ever more apparent "hey i can make a few dollars by quickly putting one together in a day or so [without any research]."

As stated in other responses above, the really detailed customs usually don't make much of a profit. Most of the A-class customs are made from a variety of different players' body parts, requiring multiple figures. So expecting something for $30-50 already puts the seller in the hole. Not to mention eBay/Paypal fees?

The fact is that customs in this hobby are actually farrrrrrrrrrrrrr inexpensive than customs in other brands like Transformers or G.I. Joe, etc. A solid Transformer custom can start from the low hundreds ($300) to lower thousands ($3,000+) Don't believe me? Start looking at ended auctions throughout the year on Transformer customs. And even Transformers customizers don't make much of a profit too like SP customs because of the sheer amount of time and energy it takes to re-engineer those types of toys. But that's why there's a wider variance in ending price versus the TF's and SP's. However, that's another topic altogether.

Here's where I know I will get drilled but I don't give a rat's ***.. because I'll say it from the heart. If I were to personally purchase from another customizer who can nail almost every detail I am expecting, I would easily fork out $150+. If it involves packaging (and no, not the ink jet printer Microsoft word template paper inserts with a suspect quality player .jpg photo in packaging types), custom sculpting and really finicky unique work, I wouldn't even have a problem paying up to $300-$400+ for one. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a barrel role of thread responses like, "what do you think we are made of, $$$?", "in this economy?", "LOL", "dream on", "what do you know?", "who are you to talk?" etc. But when you truly understand the economics involved of how expensive casting, sculpting and higher end customizing materials cost (I'm not talking about the lesser priced/quality Folk Art or Apple Barrel Wal-Mart paints either.), those price ranges are no longer unreasonable. Anyone who has the least bit casting/molding experience with resin & silicone knows what I'm talking about.

The gist of what I'm trying to get across is that the current average of custom pricing is far too undermining to what the actual costs even require. So most if not all customizers are doing this more as a labor of love. Very few can make a "killing" or profit, especially now.

Well said.

[coggsnyrnyg]

The fact is that customs in this hobby are actually farrrrrrrrrrrrr inexpensive than customs in other brands like Transformers or G.I. Joe, etc.
Well said. My best friend makes construction equipment/trucks models from scratch. The sizes he makes vary from match-box size to tonka truck size and everything in between. He gets $350 and up for his. Most he ever got was $7,000. He has someone he knows in Montreal that gets $1,000 and up.

[right between the eyes]

Let me start off by saying I'm probably going to get flamed and ganged up for this response, but whatever. I find it an insult to pay $50-80 for a custom, especially if the work is A-class good.

There are obviously different levels of customizers on the board and on eBay. What I mean by levels is there are apparent "for the fans, by a fan" type customizers who will dissect every detail from helmet brand/model to tattoos, to the ever more apparent "hey i can make a few dollars by quickly putting one together in a day or so [without any research]."

As stated in other responses above, the really detailed customs usually don't make much of a profit. Most of the A-class customs are made from a variety of different players' body parts, requiring multiple figures. So expecting something for $30-50 already puts the seller in the hole. Not to mention eBay/Paypal fees?

The fact is that customs in this hobby are actually farrrrrrrrrrrrrr inexpensive than customs in other brands like Transformers or G.I. Joe, etc. A solid Transformer custom can start from the low hundreds ($300) to lower thousands ($3,000+) Don't believe me? Start looking at ended auctions throughout the year on Transformer customs. And even Transformers customizers don't make much of a profit too like SP customs because of the sheer amount of time and energy it takes to re-engineer those types of toys. But that's why there's a wider variance in ending price versus the TF's and SP's. However, that's another topic altogether.

Here's where I know I will get drilled but I don't give a rat's ***.. because I'll say it from the heart. If I were to personally purchase from another customizer who can nail almost every detail I am expecting, I would easily fork out $150+. If it involves packaging (and no, not the ink jet printer Microsoft word template paper inserts with a suspect quality player .jpg photo in packaging types), custom sculpting and really finicky unique work, I wouldn't even have a problem paying up to $300-$400+ for one. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a barrel role of thread responses like, "what do you think we are made of, $$$?", "in this economy?", "LOL", "dream on", "what do you know?", "who are you to talk?" etc. But when you truly understand the economics involved of how expensive casting, sculpting and higher end customizing materials cost (I'm not talking about the lesser priced/quality Folk Art or Apple Barrel Wal-Mart paints either.), those price ranges are no longer unreasonable. Anyone who has the least bit casting/molding experience with resin & silicone knows what I'm talking about.

The gist of what I'm trying to get across is that the current average of custom pricing is far too undermining to what the actual costs even require. So most if not all customizers are doing this more as a labor of love. Very few can make a "killing" or profit, especially now.

Well said sir.

[jomo3640]

sheesh, some of you guys get so easily offended. the "why don't you try to make one" argument is great. first off, i didn't ask or want to customize one, i never said it was easy. i just wanted to ask fair and honesty opinions on what custom prices should be.

i want top-notch customs and those usually cost around $80 but when i see those same customs (sometimes by the same customizer) go for $20-30 LESS then i wonder if they should really be priced at the $80 price tag.

Fair question, and I can explain in a couple sentences. When you see something on eBay, unless it was something your were specifically looking for - you may say to yourself "hey, they custom looks pretty good - I like the team/player, etc, and if I can get that for $50, I'll buy it". However, when you have decided that you want something made for youself to put in YOUR collection, where you have some input to how it is made, you may be willing to pay double that.
Add to that, that most of the best customizers are extremely busy, and the market for those guys work will drive up the cost of their work.
If ptrac, and the guys on my board, for example sold their stuff for $40 each - folks would order 10 at a time. Everyone has a limited amount of time, and can only do a limited amount.
I have done figures for my neighbors and coworkers for nothing, but they all told me that they would pay $100 plus for their kid in his football/baseball/basketball team uniform for graduation. Money is a discriminator - a couple parents may pay $150, 8-10 may pay $50. Sometimes you may be of the mind the do 10 players for $500, or sometimes 5 players for $500. All depends on the timing, work and relationship with the folks asking.
Personally, I have done well over a 1000 of these over the past 5 years, and I still don't know if I am in the black (cost wise), I think so, but that's not including labor. Why do I do it - after a hard days work - it an outlet for stress. I sell them, becuase I ran out of places to put them. Before this I used to build models and paint vinyl figures - I have a crawl space full of those, that I can't find anywhere to display! As I have stated on my message board, when the custom sports figure craze ends, I think I will paint custom Breyer horses for folks. Horse owneres will pay hundreds to have "their" horse preserved as a miniature custom, and without the logos, etc - they are really much easier!

[etc22]

Let me start off by saying I'm probably going to get flamed and ganged up for this response, but whatever. I find it an insult to pay $50-80 for a custom, especially if the work is A-class good.

The gist of what I'm trying to get across is that the current average of custom pricing is far too undermining to what the actual costs even require. So most if not all customizers are doing this more as a labor of love. Very few can make a "killing" or profit, especially now.

The voice of reason.....

Are you sure you're allowed on this board? ;)

[dwash86]

All I know is that my prices just went up.

[human_anomaly]

Personally, I think customizers get screwed.
I'm not speaking from experience, I've only made 2 customs that were for sale and I charged a reasonable price considering I was still learning.

But in general, for hockey ones anyway(wouldn't know bout football or basketball because I haven't done any) but for hockey I'd say a minimum $90 is fair depending on the jersey.
Anything with too many lines, or thin lines, difficult patterns etc should be more, a lot of those take a lot of time and following the contours of the figure can be difficult.

Dunno, 90% of the customs I've made have been for myself, but if I'm going to make a custom for profit I probably wouldn't do it for $50-$70 if it's not a simple jersey( simple would be the Kings new third)

There's a lot of crap(literal) on ebay going for the same price, just doesn't feel right to sell something with quality for the same price(for example something by nucksfan going for $70 and then an ideamine one going for the same price, that's ridiculous in my head considering the quality, time and detail nucks puts into them)

[utgrad92]

Fair question, and I can explain in a couple sentences. When you see something on eBay, unless it was something your were specifically looking for - you may say to yourself "hey, they custom looks pretty good - I like the team/player, etc, and if I can get that for $50, I'll buy it". However, when you have decided that you want something made for youself to put in YOUR collection, where you have some input to how it is made, you may be willing to pay double that.
Add to that, that most of the best customizers are extremely busy, and the market for those guys work will drive up the cost of their work.
If ptrac, and the guys on my board, for example sold their stuff for $40 each - folks would order 10 at a time. Everyone has a limited amount of time, and can only do a limited amount.
I have done figures for my neighbors and coworkers for nothing, but they all told me that they would pay $100 plus for their kid in his football/baseball/basketball team uniform for graduation. Money is a discriminator - a couple parents may pay $150, 8-10 may pay $50. Sometimes you may be of the mind the do 10 players for $500, or sometimes 5 players for $500. All depends on the timing, work and relationship with the folks asking.
Personally, I have done well over a 1000 of these over the past 5 years, and I still don't know if I am in the black (cost wise), I think so, but that's not including labor. Why do I do it - after a hard days work - it an outlet for stress. I sell them, becuase I ran out of places to put them. Before this I used to build models and paint vinyl figures - I have a crawl space full of those, that I can't find anywhere to display! As I have stated on my message board, when the custom sports figure craze ends, I think I will paint custom Breyer horses for folks. Horse owneres will pay hundreds to have "their" horse preserved as a miniature custom, and without the logos, etc - they are really much easier!

God has spoken... :D

[customs4you]

I think joe hit it perfect.

[Wrestling Fan]

If the guys on these boards overcharged, they wouldn't get as much business. Chris (nucksfan) whom I often get work done by charges what I think is a fair price considering how much work gets up into each figure, and thats why I keep going back to him

[crc-customs]

When I sell on eBay, the cost is determined by the bidders, simple as that. I start all mine at $5 with no reserve.

[coggsnyrnyg]

crc, are you usually satisfied with what you get for your customs on EBay or disappointed?

[jweber26]

If the guys on these boards overcharged, they wouldn't get as much business. Chris (nucksfan) whom I often get work done by charges what I think is a fair price considering how much work gets up into each figure, and thats why I keep going back to him

Trust me, our business is not limited to this board. Far from it.

[mrclean08]

Trust me, our business is not limited to this board. Far from it.

100% agreed. And especially not limited to eBay. Thank goodness. :)

[customs4you]

Yea this board has really no one who orders on it.

[etc22]

Yea this board has really no one who orders on it.

It does have lots who ask for prices and don't like them though......

[alphawhite]

When I sell on eBay, the cost is determined by the bidders, simple as that. I start all mine at $5 with no reserve.
And to this day I feel guilty for winning that pinstripe Rich Hill for $20:o

[dwash86]

Joe is exactly right. People do try to order 20 at a time.

[nucksfan]

I wouldn't say that. I get alot of buisness from the Spawn boardies and alot of return customers who don't have an issue paying what I ask after seeing the work they get. It's like I said earlier, prices are subjective. I have alot of customers tell me I don't charge enough for the work I do, and that's not a case of bragging, it's what they tell me, which is nice, especailly when I see some non hockey customs, which are usually 1 or 2 colours, with limited striping and maybe 9 or 10 decals total sell for as much as I charge for a hockey figure which are almost always 3 colours with multiple stripes of various size often with a minimum of 15-20 decals.
It seems to me that hockey customs are like the NHL in the USA, it's a niche market with a small but rabid fan base, there are a select few who make quality hockey customs and this is one place to find them, pardon the expression, but football customizer are a dime a dozen it seems, but the good ones, the quality football customizers always get buisness. People will pay for quality.

Yea this board has really no one who orders on it.

[bnb_16]

I like it when people ask for a quantity discount!

I'd say 90% or more of my orders are high school football, and ordered by parents or loved ones as gift for the recipient (graduation, birthday, Christmas, State Championship etc...). And like said above, almost everyone says that I don't charge enough after getting the figure.

I think I have had 3 or 4 ordered from the Spawn board, or people who found me because of it... but as said earlier- I get a lot of requests from this board and most don't respond after they find out that its close to $80 for me to pick up a paint brush on a str8 repaint. Which is fine with me, I'd rather do high school customs where I know the recipient appreciates it and would never think of trying to re-sell it on Ebay or on here...

[crc-customs]

crc, are you usually satisfied with what you get for your customs on EBay or disappointed?

It depends on the custom. Sometimes I expect them to go higher than what they do, other times I'm pleasantly surprised. More times than not I'm satisfied.

[brian c]

If someone is willing to pay $100 it's worth $100, is someone's willing to pay $80 it's worth $80. If someone's willing to pay $40 it's worth $40. If someone's willing top pay $150 it's worth $150.

The real price is what people are willing to pay.

[Dont taze me bro]

*** would you guys do if this hobby was restricted to garage kits, and you had to buy the casting, then pay to have it painted?

[Zildjian]

Wow.... I just realized that this may be the only thread on the board that Spawnomite HAS NOT posted in!! ;)

[jweber26]

If someone is willing to pay $100 it's worth $100, is someone's willing to pay $80 it's worth $80. If someone's willing to pay $40 it's worth $40. If someone's willing top pay $150 it's worth $150.

The real price is what people are willing to pay.

That is the true determination of worth.

It's finding a customizer that is willing to do it for that little. For $40 it's not worth my time to do it. For $150 it's definitely worth my time to do it.

I have no problem with people paying $40 a custom. If they can find a customizer that does top-notch work and is willing to do it, great for the customer.

[coggsnyrnyg]

What we haven't considered is does the $40 custom, is that with the standard gratuity included?

[ShakesO]

Hey, you fools that say you can be charging more - why aren't you upping your prices? :) Don't read that as a shot, but take credit for what you've done, and charge accordingly. Art isn't always about starving!

[Purdue_Pete]

For what it's worth, one of my favorite SPs in my collection is a Danny White by etc22. I won't say how much I gave for it, but I think I got a great deal and the quality is probably quite a bit better than from a factory TMP paint job. Plus there was custom sculpting with the sleeves.

I am thinking of getting a Fouts or Dorestt next and if the quality if similar, I am comfortable in paying quite a bit more. As someone who has made custom decals and painted slot cars for friends I race with I understand it's part hobby. I have charged people $20 or $30 for a custom painted car and decals applied and the car has in reality taken me 10+ hours to complete. $3.00 per hour (more like $1 after paint supplies, printer decal paper, etc) isn't worth it - BUT people won't pay much more than that plus I love doing it. Friends love their cars too and thank me almost every time I see them.

Just my 2 cents. :) Thanks! You customizers are great and many of the customs I have seen should be in the $200-300 range for the quality and time that went into them.

You should know (like in the case of my Danny White) the great joy having a custom figure brings to collectors. Countless people have passed by my office and said DANNY WHITE!?! I remember him, where'd you get that. :)

[coggsnyrnyg]

As someone who has made custom decals and painted slot cars for friends I race with I understand it's part hobby. I have charged people $20 or $30 for a custom painted car and decals applied and the car has in reality taken me 10+ hours to complete. $3.00 per hour (more like $1 after paint supplies, printer decal paper, etc) isn't worth it - BUT people won't pay much more than that plus I love doing it. Friends love their cars too and thank me almost every time I see them.
I think for friends it is a little different. If a friend of mine asks me to make one or a guy I played football with in HS sees the one I did of myself and asks me to make one, I'd probably do it for whatever the figure costs me.

[owenstar]

coltsfan16 charged me way to little for the awesome Ken Norton he made me

The fair price is whatever the consumer is willing to pay

[Mozam]

coltsfan16 charged me way to little for the awesome Ken Norton he made me

The fair price is whatever the consumer is willing to pay

then you could have tipped him let him know your appreciation! :cool::D:D:D:D;););););););)

(Is that enough smilies to let everyone know I am kidding?)

[jweber26]

then you could have tipped him let him know your appreciation! :cool::D:D:D:D;););););););)

(Is that enough smilies to let everyone know I am kidding?)

One more smilie outta do it. :D

[Spawnomite]

Wow.... I just realized that this may be the only thread on the board that Spawnomite HAS NOT posted in!! ;)Now I have. ;)

[Pittsbball20]

This is America, so for now at least, we'll let eBay and the market decide. :)

I hope everyone is ready to start paying more for customs now. :D

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=230351621113

[Mozam]

I hope everyone is ready to start paying more for customs now. :D

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=230351621113

Wow, time to raise my prices. America has spoken!! The market is set

[Eazy-D66]

Big Ol' Price right there ol'man.

[etc22]

Wow - with the tip you should make out pretty well.