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  • Professional pwnage.



    The best kind of pwn is when you can be a completely polite professional and still make the other party look like an idiot. This one was fairly short, but very sweet!

    Background: I make plush (and sometimes costume, but right now just plush) and I've produced another rather epic creation this week. (Link in my sig will lead you to where you can view it if you want.) I've gotten a lot of comments on it, and most have been entirely lovely. A few dillwads have turned up, but not too many.

    This guy though... he comments saying he'd like a similar one, but a different character, and how much would that be? I reply by saying that depending on the size and the style the price varies, and link to my price list.

    He doesn't follow the link, he just says that he wants the exact same size as the one I just made, and how much will it be?

    So I answer with the three-figures price. That he could have found without even scrolling down at that link, but whatever.

    His response is to tell me that he could make one just like it for a two-figures cost! He totally could, he insists, just as good, the only reason he doesn't is that he hasn't got the time to do so.

    At this point I honestly laughed out loud. And sweetly, politely, with utmost professionalism I refrained from saying "no shit Sherlock" and instead told him that yes, he was quite correct that the two-figure price he had named was what my materials cost, but of course this is my job and so of course I need to be paid for my time as well.

    I would be FLOORED if I actually get a sale out of this.

    Also it's probably a little arrogant of me, but I would also be pretty floored if he could actually make a plush as good as this. They are not as easy as they look, and I've had years of experience with getting to this skill level. There are certainly plush makers who are better than I am, (and many who do specific things that I fail completely at, like wire posed, or clothing for them, or whatever) but there aren't really that many of 'em.

    Edit: I got a response that apologized if he had offended me (+1) and then explained that when he makes things, he charges just barely more than the cost of materials, because he likes to make people happy. With the charming subtext that I am a horrible, money-grubbing troll for not wanting people to be happy. (-100)

    Look, pumpkin-sweetie-pie. It's nice that somebody else obviously pays your rent. That's lovely. Nobody else pays mine, I have to cover it myself. And my food, and all my medical expenses too, since this gig doesn't come with insurance. It would be lovely* if I could just charge the cost of things and make people happy, but this is the real world and I need to eat food, have a roof over my head, and get myself seen to when I'm sick. So I have to charge money for my time. This is how the world works.

    Second edit: Now he is asking me for advice about how to make real money sewing. I guess on second thought he'd like in on that money-grubbing trollish action! I really can't give much advice to somebody who hasn't got any examples of their work visible, and who doesn't have any specific questions, other than "behave like a professional, and advertise." Probably not the kind of instant-business-success tips he was looking for.

    *Actually while part of me would REALLY love to be able to just give my work away and make people happy, I'm not sure that's a good idea. My experience with giving away sketches leads me to believe that people don't value what they get for free, and if I handed plushes out to whoever asks, half of them would end up in a dumpster somewhere, or otherwise mistreated, because who cares, it was free. So even if I were wealthy I probably would still charge for them. I'd just make a lot more as presents for the friends I know do appreciate my work even when it's free, and a lot fewer for annoying customers.
    Last edited by spark; 02-22-2012, 04:02 AM.
    The best advice is this: Don't take advice and don't give advice. ~Author Unknown

    Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself. ~Cicero

    See the fuzzy - http://bladespark.livejournal.com/

  • #2
    I love the pictures!
    Mind if I add you on LJ so I can get update on my f-list?
    Teach a SC to fish... and they will whine about you not catching, filleting, frying, and serving it up on a silver platter for them. - EvilEmpryss

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    • #3
      I've seen enough pics of your work to know you're awesome.

      And I'm with you, I'd be amazed if he could produce anything even remotely like what you do. His attitude says it all. In my experience, anyone who actually could make anything even close to what they're admireing will be well aware of the time it takes to do so, and therefore, won't have that attitude.

      Madness takes it's toll....
      Please have exact change ready.

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      • #4
        You did a great job on the plush!!
        And yes, someone else MAYBE could do the same for less...if they had the time! Lol! But TIME is what you are paying for, besides materals and skill! The TIME it took the maker to get to that skill level, not just the time it took to make that one item.
        I no longer fear HELL.
        I work in RETAIL.

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        • #5
          Quoth OfficeSlug View Post
          I love the pictures!
          Mind if I add you on LJ so I can get update on my f-list?
          Feel free! The more the merrier and all that!
          The best advice is this: Don't take advice and don't give advice. ~Author Unknown

          Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself. ~Cicero

          See the fuzzy - http://bladespark.livejournal.com/

          Comment


          • #6
            Oh my gord. that is the cutest thing ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i just want to hug it.
            Coffee should be strong, black and chewy! It should strip paint and frighten small children.

            My blog Darkwynd's Musings

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            • #7
              Love them they are so adorable. Going to add you over on LJ also.
              Lay your hands upon me
              Like an angel from above
              Put your arms around me,
              'Cause you're fallin'

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              • #8
                Quoth spark View Post
                "behave like a professional, and advertise." Probably not the kind of instant-business-success tips he was looking for.
                I'm aware of two methods for making money.

                The first is just what you said.

                The second is 'defraud and cheat'.
                Seshat's self-help guide:
                1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
                2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
                3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
                4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

                "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

                Comment


                • #9
                  I have been in awe of your skills for a long time, and while I don't collect plush, I certainly enjoy your creations and am amazed at how talented you are!!!

                  One thing I once wondered looking at the ponies - I notice you have the mane/tail done in fabric too - this is just me being curious - is it possible for you to make them with the same kind of "silky hair" the toy ponies have so that it could actually be brushed/styled? Just an idea that might lead to some new creations/commissions for you
                  The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away.

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                  • #10
                    There are ways I can think of that she could do that; but I believe one of the things that Spark prides herself on is making durable, washable plushies.

                    Getting a source of 'hair' for the pony plushies that would be durable, washable, and in the appropriate colours would be difficult and possibly expensive. That said: Spark may just relish the challenge.
                    Seshat's self-help guide:
                    1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
                    2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
                    3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
                    4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

                    "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Gotta love the "I could do it as good/better in half the time/for half the cost/ IF ONLY ..." crowd.
                      Soooo ... why don't you?

                      Your creations are gorgeous!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Second edit: Now he is asking me for advice about how to make real money sewing. I guess on second thought he'd like in on that money-grubbing trollish action! I really can't give much advice to somebody who hasn't got any examples of their work visible, and who doesn't have any specific questions, other than "behave like a professional, and advertise." Probably not the kind of instant-business-success tips he was looking for.
                        reminds me of those web-design threads... where a customer wants to pay a tiny fraction of the fee. and when the answer is "no" they demand to be taught how to do it themselves so they don't have to pay for it.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Quoth Seshat View Post
                          I'm aware of two methods for making money.

                          The first is just what you said.

                          The second is 'defraud and cheat'.
                          Yeah, apparently this yahoo would rather the second, or something. :P He said he refused to have anything to do with the largest method of advertising in this market, so he wasn't going to advertise. Well, sucks to be him then is all I can say. I agree the site kind of blows sometimes, but if you want to make money it does occasionally require swallowing your pride and doing things anyway.

                          Quoth DeltaSierra View Post
                          One thing I once wondered looking at the ponies - I notice you have the mane/tail done in fabric too - this is just me being curious - is it possible for you to make them with the same kind of "silky hair" the toy ponies have so that it could actually be brushed/styled? Just an idea that might lead to some new creations/commissions for you
                          Possible yes. Do I want to? Noooooooooooo! It's a huge nightmare of extra work and loose hair everywhere.

                          Quoth Seshat View Post
                          There are ways I can think of that she could do that; but I believe one of the things that Spark prides herself on is making durable, washable plushies.

                          Getting a source of 'hair' for the pony plushies that would be durable, washable, and in the appropriate colours would be difficult and possibly expensive. That said: Spark may just relish the challenge.
                          "Difficult" is the barrier here. It has to be rooted in the plush securely. I don't *quite* have to do it one single hair at a time, but I can only do it one tiny hank at a time, and so it takes hours. And hours. And more hours. I can spend four or five hours re-rooting a customized MLP toy, the little four inch high things! Rooting a full size plush takes ridiculous amounts of time.
                          The best advice is this: Don't take advice and don't give advice. ~Author Unknown

                          Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself. ~Cicero

                          See the fuzzy - http://bladespark.livejournal.com/

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Okay: that's method 3.

                            I was thinking of using fringing, or of using already-rooted doll-wig material. And sourcing either of those which is up to your standards is likely to be a problem and a half on its own.

                            Plus doll-wig material is unlikely to be the right sort of hair for a plush's mane.

                            And fringing is far, far more likely to be suitable for fringing dresses (for those who don't know: think 'cowgirl outfits' or '1920s flapper dresses') than for manes and tails.
                            Seshat's self-help guide:
                            1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
                            2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
                            3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
                            4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

                            "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              speaking as someone who recently bought one of Sparks LOVELY plushes (an off the rack dragon I think she under charged me for), the pictures do not BEGIN to do it justice!

                              side note....spark....I'm almost scared of the eyes you used on the Dragon.....they follow me around the house.
                              It is by snark alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire 'tude, the lips acquire mouthiness, the glares become a warning.

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