Help me understand how else Im supposed to know how much to save up to buy a mask? They all say DM me for inquiries but Ive seen more than a few posts that mirror this the past few years. It makes me hesitant to ever inquire
Yea I definitely agree this can be annoying. I can get why they say shit like this but again not everyone is just asking to ask like you said. I’ve been trying to get ahold of mdf to rehaul a pair of warlocks for me and the dude just refuses to answer me for I’m assuming the same reasons. Definitely sucks for the buyers but I can kinda understand their side too. This is why the super secretive what I charge for my mask/work shit really needs to stop and then people wouldn’t be bothering them asking
If only there was a way to avoid these kinds of questions. 
I don’t feel bad for the artist, I’m sorry.
If you’re going to be secretive about your pricing (which I understand and have defended), then you have to accept the added time spent volleying questions and inquiries. You can’t take it personally when someone doesn’t want to buy your item(s) after having asked a few questions and learning the price.
Also, by being secretive about your pricing and asking people to private message you about your prices, you’re literally REQUIRING people to ask you questions. Not only that, you are opening yourself up to conversations ABOUT your pricing, and this gives the buyer a sense of flexibility and/or further discussion regarding your prices.
Personally, I don’t want these conversations. I don’t haggle. My prices are set, and they are posted for everyone to see.
You can’t have it both ways. None of us are world-renowned artists here. We don’t have the luxury of people lining up for our pieces with a blank check in hand and no questions asked.
It’s like some of us forget…
we ain’t no frikin’ Banksy.
HEDGE
I guess when you inquire about a mask its a done deal and you should be ready to hand over the funds immediately.
I would take no offense to that post under one condition, the person typing it has never ever shopped in their life, and only then do they get a pass.
I think I said this in a similar but separate thread, people with this kind of attitude is what deters me from reaching out to them for pricing info. I don’t want people to feel like I’m just being a bother, and will tell them right up front when I’m just shopping around for quotes. But at the same time, it will feel like when you contact people like this, that they’re obligating you into a purchase.
Yeah, that’s an unfortunate part of buying and selling on Facebook groups. One party might feel the need to secure a sale… while the other may feel the need to haggle for a better price. I think some people forget this isn’t a car lot at a dealership. We’re a bunch of fanatics that like to talk about Halloween.
I really value people of a certain caliber… like Ryan over at Horror Express Studios. I can ask him a question about one of his pieces and he’ll end up telling me about 5 or 6 different projects he has going on. He just loves what he does and wants to share that passion with people. No pressure or expectations of a sale, just friendly conversation. I can’t speak highly enough of that guy. There are others, too, that will happily answer questions and offer advice/guidance in my experience. Rowland, Connor, Jimmy. All good people. I expect Nick is similar, although I haven’t reached out to him yet.
The hobby has plenty of awesome artists. If you want a good experience shopping around, talk to one of the guys I mentioned.
+1 on Ryan and Rowland. I haven’t dealt with Jimmy but have always heard good stuff. Ryan is amazingly enthusiastic, really good dude. Rowland is also sooo helpful and responsive.
Yeah there’s no need to treat a potential customer in that way.
I always wondered if they did that DM for Prices, So they could charge different amounts to people…Say more for this guy but less for that person? I don’t know, but yeah if your asking people to DM you be ready to answer their questions…It’s part of the business!!
100% this is what they are doing imo. If it was a set standard price for everyone they would have zero issues posting a price on their listings or project announcements the way guys like Jimmy, ahg etc do.
No reputable artist will treat a customer that way. However, I do feel it is rude for a person to ghost someone. A simple thank you goes a long way even if you’re not planning to buy. As for artists asking people to DM, I feel like the primary reason is obvious. It’s not artists switching prices around, it’s the fact that most are selling something they have no license for there for can not publicly advertise as such.
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Honestly I have thought about that possibility too because it has happened in the slipknot mask community but does anyone know of a single myers artist being sent a cease and desist because I personally have never heard of one.
Yep. The H40s off the top of my head. Thats why there are independents offering them
Oh wow ok I never heard about that
It happens from time to time, though its’s pretty rare. Heck, there was a time a while back when the whole board went private and selling masks was by PM only because Trancas (which DOES watch these boards, BTW) was C&Ding sculptors and sellers like crazy. They’ve always seem to turn a blind eye to the indie market before and since then so IDK what was going on. Maybe some new lawyer got overzealous or something. Who knows…
Absolutely yes. H40 masks were heavily cracked down on and Trancas nearly shut this site down way back when due to the making and sales of Indy Myers masks.
Saw this after I posted the above, but this ^^.
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Any artist that treats they’re customers like this is nothing but dog shit.
I 100% agree with the sentiment behind this post. The rule of thumb for selling indy cosplay stuff without a license is NEVER post a screenshot-able price for something you don’t have the legal rights to sell/create.
I prefer to take it to the messages personally, but man it sucks being ghosted after dropping the price on them. That’s how it goes though! anyone bitching about answering simple questions about a product you sell shouldn’t have customers.
I love this hobby and could ramble on for years, never hesitate to shoot me a message!
Happens to me all the time. Im a photographer and Ive been doing it 14 years. I know that every single message inquiring about a session has an 80% rate of “Thank you! Ill be in touch” and I never hear from them again. Then next week, they post their pictures taken by someone else. I dunno. I just dont expect an inquiry as automatic income. People inquire, and they ghost. No different than walking into a store, checking a price and walking out. Its all part of offering a service.