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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:
GottenGottenGotten · 28/03/2019 22:17

I think it's going to forever be 'casting nasturtiums' for me now! Love it!

RockinHippy · 28/03/2019 23:09

I agree Red,

I mostly make clothing, sometimes beaded & embroidered or painted & it is easy to get carried away in creative flow & over do it. Usually making the item unaffordable, so the experienced business minded artists knows not to do that unless you do it because you want to & it's free. You also learn that with custom made, you stick to what the customer asks for too or discuss changes first. So I can see that this artist isn't experienced/business savvy, but given that, it feels even more arrogant to suddenly presume it's okay to double the price 😐

Ellyess · 29/03/2019 17:46

krustykittens. She just can't do that. Sorry. I used to commission things from artist friends. They never asked for more. I used to treat them to a meal as an extra thank you.

However, in the past I have lost money to so many dishonest people until eventually I had to become tough and learn! She's taking advantage of you! I think you are a gentle and well mannered person and she knows how embarrassing it is for you to talk about money so she's trying it on. She tested you out in the past and it worked on lower sums so now she's aiming high. Sorry. I would simply say "I can only pay you what you said in the estimate." Then she talks.. "blah blah blah". and you say "I can only pay you what you said in the estimate." Then she talks "blah blah blah..." and you say "I can only pay you what you said in the estimate." etc. Either she accepts or she takes the piece away. But I would not give in, sorry. You have to stop being a push-over.

Good luck!

CoastalWave · 29/03/2019 17:50

Completely unprofessional of her.

As she worked, and realised the cost was going to be substantially more, she should have contacted you to ask whether she was ok to go ahead.

Some great suggestions on this thread for how to word it, but it's not your fault. It's hers.

viques · 29/03/2019 17:51

It's not painted on velvet is it? WIth big tearful eyes and your DD clutching a winsome puppy?

Ellyess · 29/03/2019 17:57

krustykittens
I'm glad your DD didn't like the elaborated version!
Sorry I don't know why I didn't see this page:
The more elaborate piece is going to be sold to some one else and she has said she will make a simpler one for my daughter at the price we agreed!
Have you thought of making your own?

Can you be sure she will keep to the price agreed?

TigerTooth · 29/03/2019 18:00

Maybe call her in person and discuss - can sound snipey in an email - just tell her it's stunning but if she had quoted that price originally, you wouldn't have commissioned it as it's more that you can afford for your DD's present. I'd pay her the original agreed price and offer the rest in installmnts - as you want to keep it friendly.

Justkeeprollingalong · 29/03/2019 18:06

Maybe read at least some of the thread @TigerTooth ?!

Dieu · 29/03/2019 18:11

I would stick to your guns. Presumably this is a personalised piece that would be of no use to anyone else anyway.

TigerTooth · 29/03/2019 18:15

Justkeeprollingalong

Maybe read at least some of the thread @TigerTooth ?
!Read a couple - there's 8 pages - I'm not that long on the loo!

Al2O3 · 29/03/2019 18:15

The story goes that Picasso was sitting in a Paris café when an admirer approached and asked if he would do a quick sketch on a paper napkin. Picasso politely agreed, swiftly executed the work, and handed back the napkin — but not before asking for a rather significant amount of money. The admirer was shocked: “How can you ask for so much? It took you a minute to draw this!” “No”, Picasso replied, “It took me 40 years”

Al2O3 · 29/03/2019 18:16

Maybe read at least some of the thread @TigerTooth ?!

It is not always possible. What is possible is to take the opening post and reply to it at face value.

itswinetime · 29/03/2019 18:20

Thread was in the hot topics email so prepare to be hit with pages and pages of don't pay stand your ground op by people who haven't read that it was all resolved yesterday!

If you don't want to read every post at least read the ops it's unlikely you can offer any useful advice without knowing what they have said!

sophe · 29/03/2019 18:20

The problem is you added extra work nullifying the original agreement. A court would have to judge how reasonable the hike is in relation to the extra work she had to put in. She would have to submit evidence to justify the new price. You may or may win enough of a reduction to make the litigation worthwhile.

Say you had not expected such an uplift and cannot afford to pay it in one hit. You would need to spread the extra over a couple of months at least. Either she agrees to this or she escalates the dispute. Or you just protest the price and ask to discuss it.

Osquito · 29/03/2019 18:21

I’m thinking... cool personalised denim jacket...?

NunoGoncalves · 29/03/2019 18:30

I always switch to 100 posts per page and scroll down looking for all posts made by OP (handily highlight in green) before replying to any thread.

Twofingers · 29/03/2019 18:34

I love that your teenage daughter wants a piece of commissioned art for her birthday.

GeeksCanBeMumsToo · 29/03/2019 18:38

What @Barrenfieldoffucks said

GeeksCanBeMumsToo · 29/03/2019 18:44

NunoGoncalves Sorry—clearly should have read the thread. How do I make OP comments show green (on my phone) please?

Original poster
krustykittens · 29/03/2019 18:48

Ellyess I really don't have the skill do it myself and seeing as we have had a previously good relationship, I would like to give her a chance to put things right. I am upset she just assumed I would cough up, though. It is also a bit embarrassing to have to say, "I can't afford it." But she has apologised three times now. As a PP pointed out, she is not a professional, perhaps some one else wound her up? I know when I was younger I blundered about a bit!

Viques Good lord, NO! It's nothing like that! Grin

TwoFiners I love that about her too! She loves art and is always drawing and painting. She loves the idea of owning some thing unique.

OP posts:
Justkeeprollingalong · 29/03/2019 18:53

@TigerTooth 😂💩

Lweji · 29/03/2019 18:55

I always switch to 100 posts per page

You're a snowflake. Dare you to choose 1000 posts per page. Wink

stofi · 29/03/2019 18:56

My mum was casting nasturtiums 60 years ago, I thought everyone said that.

EvaHarknessRose · 29/03/2019 19:02

She responded well I think, and will have learnt her lesson on establishing price upfront.

I imagine its likely she doesn’t always bill enough for her full time, but that is her look out (its hard to move from ‘starting out’ pricing to ‘fully valuing my work’ pricing.

Hopefully for future commissions she will be clearer upfront.

NunoGoncalves · 29/03/2019 19:03

How do I make OP comments show green (on my phone) please?

Um, I'm not sure because I don't use mumsnet on my phone. But I think I've seen it being discussed on "site stuff" before, so I think there is a way.

You're a snowflake. Dare you to choose 1000 posts per page

Is that possible on desktop? I'd use it if it was! Never seen it as an option though :(

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