What am I doing wrong?

[cricketdiane]

I give up. I don't know what is wrong with my work - I don't know why so little of it sells and I don't know what to do. It is really hard to paint another thing when most of it isn't selling and very few people even look at it. I've tried to be cavalier about it but I really am frustrated. Since October 06, I've probably listed over 500 pieces on the auctions and on my store. Whenever anyone has bought something - I do get it in the mail quickly and send it packaged well. Is there something so wrong with my art that people don't want it? I was doing different subjects but they weren't doing as well as the seascapes and I thought I would try some stylized mermaids - but I've only sold two. What do I need to do? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[cricketdiane]

Sorry about that - OOAK means one of a kind. It is confusing.

[art-by-darla-h]

OOAK means one of a kind Darlene

[art-by-darla-h]

lol oops

[soulfulpixie]

Cool. Thanks. All the info on this thread has been super helpful. Hopefully after I graduate I'll have time to launch something... a store and website. Thanks all.

[soulfulpixie]

haha I thought maybe it was some kind of elite group or something.

[soulfulpixie]

OOAK I mean... 🙂

[artistjillian]

I did see a group named that some time back. Last year I think. OOAK has been around long before that. Not sure how the group is going. Not even sure if it's related to art.

[cricketdiane]

There are some gorgeous OOAK dolls that are being created. I stumbled on them when I was selling Barbies. Some of them resculpt the Barbie face, repaint it in more of an anime style, and then create clothes for them that are extreme. I mean that in a wonderful sense. These are totally works of art. There are also fairies, mermaids and fantasy figures that are being sculpted with intricate detailing and gossamer wings, beautiful costuming that are listed as OOAK too. Some are out of polymer based clays, hand-rendered. Absolutely amazing and well worth taking a look at them. Most of them are truly stunning.

[poozybear]

"I know customers can get a refund, no questions asked (via PayPal) if there's no way to track the package. You can even have the PO receipt right in your hand, but that is not proof enough. - The customer will get "their" money back if you don't have a tracking number. (I found this out the hard way.)" Crap! I think this is about to happen to me, too. I sold a watch to someone in Brazil, shipped it in January and it never arrived. The buyer keeps emailing me and asking for a tracking number. When I shipped it at the P.O., they never mentioned that it could be insured or tracked (I shipped it Parcel Post). It's probably stuck in customs and I'll end up having to give this guy a refund. This is just another reason why I'm not going to ship packages internationally anymore, but I've never had a problem with letter post. This is one of the great things about ACEOs vs. large format art . . . very easy to ship. And I have to echo what Jillian said about customs to Canada . . . no need. I'm originally from Canada and constantly send letters to family with photos and things in them. I used to send one relative basball cards all the time and never declared a value. I don't see an ACEO as being any different. It's just a little thing I painted for someone. If customs were to open it, I doubt they would recognize it as something of value since it doesn't look like a traditional painting. That said, if I ever sold a card for really good money, I would follow Melody's advice and use registered mail. Sending out a $100 ACEO without some kind of tracking would worry me. Kathy

[cricketdiane]

Does that mean I need to use the paypal click and ship label to have any tracking info at all - rather than stamps or postage bought at the post office. I'm about to send these out today to UK and I do want a way to find them if anything happens other than smoothly. The fact is, any of us will likely refund a buyers money whether we have a tracking number or not - if they say they don't get it or it isn't right some way. But, with these cards and any art being very difficult to re-create and lost or damaged en route - I want a way to find it in the system. I'm guessing that if it does get stuck in customs somewhere - the buyer and I could only find out if we have some kind of tracking number. I was about to use USPS airmail letter post - I could pay for the postage here with paypal if that is better. Is that what you're saying?

[poozybear]

Need to add, Diane, I am USPS paranoid too. I've received some items in horrifying condition, so I tend to overpack, and use plenty of cardboard. This is a photo of a Priority Mail package that arrived looking like it had been run over by a truck. The item miraculously survived, but I took a photo of the box as a reminder of the power of inept postal workers.

[poozybear]

Oops . . . our posts crossed. I've probably gone and freaked you out with that photo, now. I'm not certain about Click n' Ship vs. stamps, but I don't think it matters with letter post. I don't believe a letter is trackable, unless like Melody said, it's sent registered. But again, I'm not 100% certain. Kathy

[suejo0101]

To Poozybear - there was an article in The Tampa Tribune about 2 years ago about a guy who bought a $5000 bracelet at a jewelry store here in town & mailed it to his girlfriend in England. He insured it at the Post Office. She never rec'd it. He went to the PO w/his receipt & the PO told him they do not insure jewelry. He says- but you sold it to me and charged me for it! They said oops - our mistake - but we do not insure jewelry. They refunded his money for the purchase of the insurance & he is out $5000 AND a bracelet. So - you really have to be careful - the more the Post Office charges the less service & knowledgable people work there - in my opinion of course! LOL

[aliceraygallery]

Diane, just my opinion, but I have sent out hundreds of ACEOs to the US as a letter and never get tracking. I have only had one buyer who didn`t receive her cards (in Holland) but gave her a refund and put it down to "one of those things". If I were to send a very expensive card then I would get tracking but normally buyers don`t want to pay the extra. I am sure it will be fine to send it as a letter, please don`t get stressed over it :-) Lynn x

[mreas]

The post office will say the same thing about art when you go to make a claim. They will offer replacement value of the materials used to create the work. The only reason I insure things is because I assume they will take better care of them. I had this great idea about insuring paintings for thousands of dollars and shipping them all over the place hoping for loss or damage and the insurance settlement. UPS won't insure art. USPS will, but will make you wish you hadn't.