http://www.custommade.com/

[myxpykalix]

looks kind of like 100kgarages and might be another outlet for some of you to make stuff for people. I'm sure they take a fee which might account for some of the very high prices i see on there.

http://www.custommade.com/

[kartracer63]

$19.00/month

-or-

$199.00/year

plus 10% of every sale.

[wberminio]

Been with them 4 a year.
0 leads/ 0 $$$$ made.
They keep promising help but still not one sale.
Did get a few job inquiries but never amounted to any thing.

So far have not found one internet site that produces any sales.

[myxpykalix]

It would seem to me, and we have had this discussion before about this type of site, that the only type of site like this I would participate in was one that solely made money off of you based on the work they got you.

They are going to make money whether they generate any jobs for you or not, so there is less of an incentive to get out and find you work. If the extent of their outreach is just having the website where I as a customer click on it, well thats not much.

I used to have a couple used car lots in my younger days and had a couple salesmen. Late 70's and 80's and they started with this **** about wanting a "base salary" and other stuff and i explained that you could sit on your butt and not bother to sell anything and it comes out of my pocket. At that point I don't need you.
I gave them a choice, a slight increase in commission and no salary, or no job.

One quit, the other turned out to be my best salesman for the next 2 years and when i decided to sell the business I sold it to him and we both made money. No idea what happen to the quitter.

The point of the story is to illustrate that you need to give them an incentive to work for you, they make money, you make money. These guys in this deal have no incentive to do anything for you.:eek:

[bleeth]

I would like to hear from anyone who has had positive results from "Craft" sites that market their products along with other skilled craftspeople. This is just a matter of curiosity since my business model and product line is totally different and therefore that type of advertising, whether it works or not, is not for my company. Nevertheless my opinion is that they earn money for the site organizers and not the craftspeople. I'm perfectly willing to change my mind based on results from those who have made money.

[bob_reda]

I've been on Custom Made .com for a little over two years. I have been averageing over 6 jobs a year. I pay by the year, first job paid for the site, they just started taking the 10% comminssion. Don't know at this time how it will affect me.

Bob

[myxpykalix]

Hi Bob,
Can you give us insight into what you make for customers from this site, what you charge and do you add that into the end price of your product?

[bob_reda]

Hi Bob,
Can you give us insight into what you make for customers from this site, what you charge and do you add that into the end price of your product?
I've made quite a few different things, right now I'm making an urn in the shape of a guitar that is 4"x3"x3/4" deep, I just sent a cabinet to texas. I am active on what they call the job board where people post what projects they would like to have made. I do my normal estimate, then add the 10% There are some nice size projects on the board, alot is regional (looking for local craftman) But you have to be active by searching the job board, not just waiting for someone to contact you. The price seems high however they do national advertising to attract customers and it is not just woodworking, it is just about every type of craftsman from iron wook to jewerly.

[wberminio]

My issue is that you have 5-10 or more competing for the same project.
I it hasn't been effective for me at all.
I had some high hopes but no results so far.

[dlcw]

I was with them about 6 months after they opened their doors. I fired them about a year ago. No leads and no sales.

When I cancelled my subscription, I was told there were 4 leads waiting for me but would have to reinstate my subscription to get to them. This happened to many people (big thread on WOODWEB.COM)

Bait and switch? You decide.

[jTr]

Been on it for little over a year - one job per year so far, and those were clients seeking me/my type of work that got us connected under the original model of how this site was set up. Now, percentage based system changed picture entirely with the addition of a job posting option for clients. Why scroll through the makers, when you can anonymously post a description and price range, and watch the maker's battle for your project?
Problems:
1. You need to actively be watching job postings and responding constantly. I am unable to do this and keep up with my local levels of workload. If I was hungry, I could swing at these requests all day, however:
2. What I have noticed is most jobs are in larger markets. A request for work in my state almost never comes up. (MY problem, not custommade's fault)
3. Many of those requests are showing bargain barn budget numbers for custom work, meaning you have to educate many of these prospects on the value of custom work,.
4. My .com email address is dumped into spam folders most of the time. Only connected once this last year, by accident as that client confirmed my original response had to be extracted from her spam files. 99% of the time I get no reply at all on most of my responses to those posts requesting work.

If you decide to sign up, be mindful of the above as you choose what to post. I've posted too many roomfuls of cabinet/furniture systems, had some very interested prospects that were quickly squelched. When a client loves your work, but needs hands-on service/installation for a room full of furniture 3-5 states away, you've both wasted time communicating about it.

HOWEVER,
I had a great experience with my latest sale. It is a nice feeling knowing you're work is appreciated in more than just your own back yard. Hoping more of the good stuff keeps happening, just not sure how to correct the frustration of my responses going into trash bins most of the time. AND, when I have nothing better to do, I need to build some smaller, shipable items, set up photo shoot, resize/edit photos, write up descriptive copy for each, upload to site....

[michael_schwartz]

I have been thinking about giving it a try. It is still cheaper than taking out a decent sized add in my local newspaper for a couple weeks. One job would make it worthwhile.

The drawbacks that I see are that it looks like you end up advertising along side a lot of other people. The impression I get is that there are probably far more advertisers than buyers. I really doubt it would generate any leads in my local area.

Shipping furniture isn't too difficult but getting people to pay for shipping/crating, or blanket wrapped delivery is. Getting good freight rates takes time that you don't have if you are only shipping things occasionally.

I could see this concept working in certain parts of the country. It seems like another place to buy an add. Perhaps spending that money on google add words would be better though. Who knows.

[michael_schwartz]

I wonder if anybody can comment on what the job board looks like in the north east. Feel free to email me or pm if your not supposed to say anything publicly.

I wonder if other people are submitting detailed bids, and proposals on first contact. I suppose you would have to do that as well if you wanted any chance of competing with them.

Encouraging people to bid shop 10-20 guys wastes everybody's time.

[kevin]

I started a tread on this a few weeks back

I think with this site is waste of time Reason people will start call 5 numbers looking for the lowest price.

To make in this bussines you need people to hire you for your craftsman period.That your a head and shoulder above every body else

Micheal try some of the resot town in Quebec your close I use to live in Montreal .Your stuff would sell there alot more nicer than local .

Kevin
www.kdunphy.com (http://www.kdunphy.com)

[dmidkiff]

I too have been there about one year. I thought that it would be a good way to acquire a few jobs and even sell some ready made things. As the model changed I have changed my mind.

I have responded to several job posts with no reply back. Some were even close to me. I did 2 small jobs that did not even pay my subscription. One was from someone I knew and had worked with before.

The job board is a real turn off for me because of the 5-10 competitors even if CM tagged the job as a fit for me. Now that they have changed over to a commision of the job they want credit card info. That took me off the fence.