Etiquette of selling commissioned sketch APs

[StevieV]

I have several AP sketches that I'm selling. I just got them done recently (within the last 4 months), and since then I've changed my mind about how I want to collect sketches (I'm new to collecting sketches in general). I was focusing on a particular set, but now I've changed to focusing on a few particular artists, regardless of the set. The problem I have is that I feel guilty. In chatting with the artists when I commissioned these I told them how excited I was and how much I'm a fan of their art, and now I go and sell them a short time later. I'm afraid of hurting feelings and looking like I lied to them, when I really didn't. I just changed my focus. And admittedly, I'm more than a bit fickle. I've already sold one of the APs and I feel like I may have hurt the artist's feelings as they removed the finished commission from their social media photos, directly after I listed it for sale.

Long story longer...is there an etiquette to selling commissioned APs? Is it the "right thing to do" to just keep them? Or since you paid the artist's price, are you then free to do whatever you wish with them afterwards, guilt free? Do artist's feelings get hurt when they see their APs sold, especially quickly after the work was done? I hate the idea of looking like a liar to these people, when I wasn't. It's just what I was into then is a bit different than now.

I appreciate any opinions.

[HiltonL]

Unless you cajoled, browbeat, pressured, lied to, forced an artist to undersell their APs, then don't feel bad. Collectors change their minds all the time.

There are some out there who guilt-trip artists into selling to them art for less than market value, which is bad in my opinion, but that's just my opinion.

[webjon]

If you are selling for a significant profit I can see how that could rankle the ire of some artists. . . Not that it would be your fault -- unless of course you begged them for a deal or begged them to sell something they weren't looking to sell.

Each artist is going to have their own feelings about it. . . As long as you didn't somehow pressure them to sell or pressure them for a deal there is nothing else you really owe the artist.

[StevieV]

Thanks for the comments. No I never pressured them to sell anything or got a discount or any of that stuff. I paid their asking price with no haggling. I just feel bad because I was all "I love your work! This is going to be such an awesome addition to my collection!". Then I turn around and sell a short time later. I look like a flipper who lied to them, when that was not my intention at all. At the time I did think I was going to keep everything.

[jrosales]

Originally Posted by HiltonL

Unless you cajoled, browbeat, pressured, lied to, forced an artist to undersell their APs, then don't feel bad. Collectors change their minds all the time.

There are some out there who guilt-trip artists into selling to them art for less than market value, which is bad in my opinion, but that's just my opinion.

Came here to say this.

I've been the victim of this practice - even recently. This is why I now price my APs highly so that people who truly appreciate my efforts will buy them.

[dd316]

They're yours, do what you want with them. I really don't know why artists get so upset about it. Yeah it sucks if you sell someone a card for $100 and the next day they list it for $500, but if the artist gets sour grapes about it they probably should've sold it for more than $100 initially.

Originally Posted by StevieV

Thanks for the comments. No I never pressured them to sell anything or got a discount or any of that stuff. I paid their asking price with no haggling. I just feel bad because I was all "I love your work! This is going to be such an awesome addition to my collection!". Then I turn around and sell a short time later. I look like a flipper who lied to them, when that was not my intention at all. At the time I did think I was going to keep everything.

If it's gonna bug you, tell them what's up.

[StevieV]

These were blanks that the artist advertised with their price for commissions and how many they had left. So I messaged them, told them what I would like drawn, and then paid their asking price. And just an FYI, I'm not selling them for any "profit" really. I just want to get my money back and not lose anything (which seems like is going to be difficult, truth be told).

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by StevieV

These were blanks that the artist advertised with their price for commissions and how many they had left. So I messaged them, told them what I would like drawn, and then paid their asking price. And just an FYI, I'm not selling them for any "profit" really. I just want to get my money back and not lose anything (which seems like is going to be difficult, truth be told).

No reason to feel guilty or badly, but if you do, try this:

Contact the artist again, explain what is going on and offer to sell it back to them for what you paid. If they decline sell it for as much as you can. The artist will still benefit from your selling it....you will be showing off their work to more of the public, which in turn could get them more commission work.

[Archangel1775]

Why don't you reach out to each artist and let them know that you are selling? However, if you bought them for $100 and have them priced at $350, for instance, the chances are you are just a flipper, whether you like it or not, and attempting to save face right now. Another option is to post them for trade.

[StevieV]

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

However, if you bought them for $100 and have them priced at $350, for instance, the chances are you are just a flipper, whether you like it or not, and attempting to save face right now.

Yeah none of that is true. I have them priced at basically break even after the fees. These are not high dollar highly sought after cards. All but one is $100 or less. I may contact the artists but I feel like they may already know they're listed (so that damage is done) and they make think I'm being a bit nutty and neurotic for 'asking their permission'. But we'll see. That's why I won't advertise who/what they are though. I'm just interested in how collectors and artists feel about selling commissions in general, especially so quickly after you got them done.

[dukestr89]

I look at this the same way as I do with celebrity autographs. It’s one thing if I’m getting the autograph for free. However, if I go to a convention and pay your signing fee, I can do whatever I want with my property. If I choose to turn around and make a profit off it, that’s my business. If a celebrity tries to force me to get something I’m paying for personalized, I just don’t get my item signed. That’s my choice. Once a transaction is agreed upon and completed, I can do what I want with my property. I can resell it, I can donate it to charity or I can destroy it if I was inclined to do so. This may be a hobby but the reality is that this is still a business. You are the client. The artist doesn’t have to accept your commission. As long as you paid them their asking price, you owe them nothing more. However, the artist is also under no obligation to do any further commissions for you. If they do, they may charge you more to do so. That’s the balancing act you need to consider. There’s absolutely no reason for you to feel guilty.

[mvp]

Honestly, I think artists underprice themselves on APs.

[cardbooker]

You purchased the cards with money, so you have every right to sell it for money. Understandably, gifts are a different story, but not purchased goods. You don’t owe anyone an explanation and definitely don’t need permission. Any artist that takes it personally, thinks too highly of themselves. How dare someone sell my art! Lol. Just do what you want. It is your card, not theirs.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by StevieV

Yeah none of that is true. I have them priced at basically break even after the fees.

I don't see a problem then. Life happens and people have to sell sometimes. If anything, its going to someone else that appreciates the art. Don't let it bother you.

[Rictor]

For 99% of sketch card commissions, you will lose money selling them anyway, so I don't see an issue.

[TimBuckTwo]

I purposely reached out to artists to buy APs of certain subjects in certain lines with the complete intent on flipping them. They got paid. I got paid. I came around for more APS.

[finfangfan]

Also keep in mind that the whole compensation structure for artists that do sketch cards is all screwy with the companies themselves only paying most sketch artists something like $10 a card.

The bulk of the sketch card compensation for most artists comes from commission $ they receive directly from fans via AP sales, not the companies. So while a sketch card might only be worth $10 as far as what a company will compensate an artist, a fan will in most cases pay 10-20 times more for each AP. Obviously prices will vary depending on popularity/talent of artist.

But I can’t really see any artist getting upset with you selling an AP since you likely paid them more for the AP sketch than the company paid them for each sketch card that was inserted in the set.

[dd316]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

Also keep in mind that the whole compensation structure for artists that do sketch cards is all screwy with the companies themselves only paying most sketch artists something like $10 a card.

I wish it were $10 a card! The industry standard is WAY lower from the big guys. Like, embarrassingly lower.

[dd316]

Originally Posted by TimBuckTwo

I purposely reached out to artists to buy APs of certain subjects in certain lines with the complete intent on flipping them. They got paid. I got paid. I came around for more APS.

Yeah as long as you paid what they're asking, I see no problem.

[CHaverlandArt]

Been awhile since I've been on here.... been away or offline in ways for close to a year handling health stuff, but back on the grind.

As for selling AP's... I'd say sell them for what you can get for them on the market. If you paid the commissioned rate to the artist, you should be able to turn around and sell them. No hassle....

Where I've run into issues with collectors, dealers or management is where a dealer will charge other collectors something like twice what was agreed on within an initial sketch op and the collector ends up getting ripped off in a sense or taken advantage of. Its basically a dealer or person repping that artist going around or behind an artists back and charging more than what should be charged initially. Instances like that I've had to put a stop to immediately. Its insane the lengths some dealers will go to in order to make a buck. As long as the collector isn't getting ripped off from the get go everything should be kosher. Now, there arent many sketch ops when it comes to sketch cards or trading cards...its not quite like the sketch covers, but theres still instances that may be similar. That is the kind of stuff to watch for.