So Etsy, the site where I sell (or try to sell) my hand made goods has just come out with a forum where people can request custom orders. It is called alchemy and it allows potential buyers to name their price and describe the item they want created for them. The sellers then make bids stating how much their item will be and how exactly they plan to make it. The seller then gets to choose from several bids. Apparently this was a feature on Etsy before but it went away so they could fix some bugs and now it is back.
I am excited about this feature but also a little nervous. When a buyer is saying exactly what they want and has an idea of what they want in their head I think it is harder to satisfy them. So far I have only made one bid for a cable knit hat mittens and scarf set that I feel pretty confident about. Other requests I have almost bid on but then I second guess myself. The other thing is that for knit goods so many people make bids compared to other requests so competition is definitely fierce.
I was thinking about doing an alchemy entry too, I wonder how many blog entries there have been on this subject today!
In regards to your comment about it being harder to satisfy the buyer because they already have a fixed idea on what they want, well, I’d never thought about it in that context but realised that I was subconciously weary about it! .. all the requests I have bidded on so far are ones where the buyer doesn’t really know what they want and wanted to see what we, the sellers, request! .. I guess I feel more comfortable with that.
I’ve been avoiding Alchemy for the same reasons – can I successfully deliver what a buyer wants when they have a fixed idea of what they want. Mostly do I have the skills.
Usually, when I do custom orders it’s with customers I have already developed a relationship with and who trust me to come up with a design. So far that’s worked out.