Friend overcharging for commission?

Question

I wanted to get my boyfriend a pair of custom Converse shoes for his birthday. I was going to commission a girl on Etsy who charges $80 which includes the shoes and the paint job and shipping. Unfortunately she informed me they would arrive a week after his birthday, not wanting to wait I commissioned a friend who lives in my building instead.

I purchased the shoes and then my friend told me I would also need to buy all the paints and supplies myself even though she is an art major who has all that stuff. But whatever, I agreed and got everything. Before she started I told her I set aside $50 for the job since the shoes themselves cost $55. She said she could only give me a total when she was done. Well, I got the total today: $89. Just to paint the shoes, nothing else. I shopped around Etsy and almost every other artist is charging about $80 but that includes the Converse and shipping.

I don't know what to do, she is a good friend of mine. We are both in college and money is pretty tight with both of us. I can see how to her this is her chance to get some spending money but I can't help but feel like she is taking advantage of me to do so. To make matters worse she is co-worker of mine so I really don't want to piss her off when we have to interact with her whether or not we stay friends. I simply can't afford to spend $144 plus the cost of supplies on a present like this but I also don't want to ruin our friendship.

Answer

wow i think i would ask mabe if you could give her a little now and a little later i would think that she would understand the way things are and its possible that she may be over charging you but i think it will be hard to sway her but you could ask her others who do the same thing with the shoes what their charging and what she is charging you she might need the money for something to so even the price difference would be different accordingly its for your boyfriend so much is been done already

Answer

Avoid conducting major business with friends and family, this is the sort of predicament you'll face inevitably as there's always some sense of exploitation by a party. Try to hold up your end of the bargain but next time look for alternatives which arrive on time, up front about the cost and well below your affordable margin.

By the way, most guys don't appreciate material gifts as much as... other things. Or meaningful things. They can and do acquire whimsical artefacts by themselves with ease.

Friend overcharging for commission?

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