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AIBU?

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Original poster

Artist bill is nearly twice what I was quoted!

242 replies

krustykittens · 28/03/2019 13:01

Hi all, I have commissioned stuff from an artist in the past whose work I really like. I tell her what I am after, she quotes me a price, sometimes the bill is £5 or £10 higher because of materials but no problem. I commissioned something from her for my daughter's birthday (my daughter knows she is getting it). She quoted me a price and has just come back to me today. The work is done, she bit a bit more work into it than we agreed, the final price is now nearly DOUBLE the quote! I don't want to offend her, I would like to be able to commission from her again, but I do feel really a bit pissed off that the price has increased so much! I was going to offer to pay the difference in another month as I have the original price set aside but no more. But the truth is, I don't want to pay nearly double the quote and feel she shouldn't have put work in that wasn't agreed - or have come back to me if she felt the original quote wasn't going to be enough BEFORE she did the work. What would you guys say? I was thinking of some thing like, "The work is stunning, as usual, but a lot more than I had budgeted for, based on the quote. Can we come to some arrangement?" and leave the ball in her court?

OP posts:
RockinHippy · 28/03/2019 17:17

Curious I think that the artist had another buyer waiting in the wings is the give away that this was dodgy

Original poster
krustykittens · 28/03/2019 17:19

Curious I am trying to think the best of this lady, who has apologised twice now, but I don't think doing extra work and then just billing some one double an agreed price is ethical. If a builder did it, no one would think twice abut calling them dodgy. It's not on.

OP posts:
DarlingNikita · 28/03/2019 17:25

Curious, I've no idea and don't care whether the artist had another buyer lined up, or any of the other nasturtiums Grin being cast. I just don't think she's behaved very well, professionally, because she did almost twice the work agreed, with no heads-up, and seemed to expect the OP to pay up for it.

DarlingNikita · 28/03/2019 17:25

Curious, I've no idea and don't care whether the artist had another buyer lined up, or any of the other nasturtiums Grin being cast. I just don't think she's behaved very well, professionally, because she did almost twice the work agreed, with no heads-up, and seemed to expect the OP to pay up for it.

DarlingNikita · 28/03/2019 17:26

Oops, sorry for 2 posts; computer blip.

Spottyowl · 28/03/2019 17:27

Maybe @Curious is the artist 👀

If artists are being commissioned both parties need to agree on the specific brief, and a price based on that brief. If the type of work is such that risks the artist getting so 'carried away' that they 'accidentally' double their work/materials/price then perhaps they are better off steering clear of commissioned work and simply offering original pieces for sale once they are completed.

Piffle11 · 28/03/2019 17:37

I don't think you should pay it - she's clearly taking the mick! I don't No matter what line of work: if you quote a price to a client, you don't go ahead and do more/different work than was originally agreed without discussing it first. She decided to do the embroidery, so it really should fall on her to accept that she's not getting paid for the extra work. It's all very well showcasing your talents, but expecting you to pick up the bill when you never agreed to it is not on. Perhaps she thinks that seeing as how you have commissioned her before and have always paid up, she's probably going to get the money? I'll be honest, even if you get this sorted out to your satisfaction, there's no way in hell I'd be commissioning her again.

SnowyAlpsandPeaks · 28/03/2019 17:41

Please just a little idea of what it wasGrin

itswinetime · 28/03/2019 17:49

I think it's very odd that a piece of custom art designed by for a teenager is costing hundreds is easily sold on to a new buyer. That makes me question the artists motives yes because I can't imagine there are that many people who fit into the category of likes this type of art, has enough money to afford it and likes what teenagers like so Is that out of order to question if the op has been given the full story?

Original poster
krustykittens · 28/03/2019 17:51

Just wanted to clarify, it's not hundreds, more around £150, now wants £300. It might not sound like a lot to some people but we just don't have it, plus I didn't agree to £300!

OP posts:
NWQM · 28/03/2019 17:51

I suppose its difficult now because your DD doesn't actually like the finished product but I'm still unclear how if unique it was in the first place if a new buyer can be found.

TinselAndKnickers · 28/03/2019 18:24

What is it! Grin

CuriousaboutSamphire · 28/03/2019 18:32

I'm not the artist - I don't go over time / budget on my work, but I have been doing it a while!

And (I think) OP said her artist doing this to make money on the side, so she is not 'professional'. Chances are she will be learning some pretty scary lessons as she goes. This will be just one of them. One she hasn't learned as she is sounds a bit haphazard in her methods, like she is doing it for her own enjoyment as much as for making a profit.

And it really isn't unusual for any artist to have clients ready to buy finished pieces. I have a waiting list for one of my flower series. I can't finish them quick enough. I have a artist friend whosse acryllics fly out as soon as she has finished them too.

Piffle she did, a while back!

Actually.... I may be getting annoyed with her... if she is pricing in an ad hoc manner chances are she isn't charging the going rate and is possibly fuelling the 'cheap as chips, can get it cheaper at Primark / knitting yoghurt on Facebook' twonks!

For £150 the work should not take more than 4ish hours to make, allowing for expertise, creativity, time, materials, advertising/social media, postage and packing.

Hollowvictory · 28/03/2019 18:34

Lol at 'casting nasturtiums' 😂😂😂

Lweji · 28/03/2019 19:16

Just wanted to clarify, it's not hundreds, more around £150, now wants £300.

It wasn't hundreds, but it sure is now!

Original poster
krustykittens · 28/03/2019 19:40

It takes her a long time to get stuff down because she has a full time job and two very small children so she gets round to commissions when she has the time, which is probably why she didn't ask me for money up front. She is very talented and her work is lovely but I couldn't tell you how long it takes her to do something.

OP posts:
MotsDHeureGoussesRames · 28/03/2019 19:56

Casting nasturtiums 🤣🤣🤣

motherheroic · 28/03/2019 20:28

Do not compromise and don't 'give a token amount' for the extra work you didn't even ask for.

MrsNacho · 28/03/2019 20:33

I am dying to know what the piece is. I am thinking a dress but am probably do far wrong.

Glad you have come to a solution although I think she has been a CF!

motherheroic · 28/03/2019 20:35

Oh wait, it's resolved. Yay.

ShinyMe · 28/03/2019 20:42

The talk of textiles and embroidered art made me think of Josie Russell's gorgeous work. It can't be her though, as her work costs far more than £300 for a commissioned piece.

Glad you've (more or less) sorted it, OP.

greenlynx · 28/03/2019 21:34

You handled it great! I would give her a benefit of doubt, she probably didn’t have another customer, just said this. But it still was wrong.

RockinHippy · 28/03/2019 21:49

I'm thinking quilt, fancy clothing or handbag given the price

Redpriestandmozart · 28/03/2019 21:53

I'm an artist, but like most artists, I'm poor (from art income). I'd like to think she got carried away in a creative moment but the difference for me is that I would not have charged extra for it as I never clock my hours.

bridgetosomewhere · 28/03/2019 22:06

What is it what is it what's is it??