5 Steps to a Secure P2P Sale of Custom Fine Art Sculptures on CustomMade

5 Steps to a Secure P2P Sale of Custom Fine Art Sculptures on CustomMade

Selling custom fine art sculptures on CustomMade requires a proactive approach to security. By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to common P2P sale scams and ensure a safe and successful transaction for both buyer and seller.

1. Verify Buyer Legitimacy and Intent

• ✓ Scrutinize buyer profiles for consistent activity and genuine reviews.
• ✓ Be wary of buyers with newly created accounts or limited interaction history.
• ✓ If a buyer's story seems overly elaborate or urgent, it might be a sign of a scam.
• ✓ Directly address any suspicious inquiries about your portfolio or previous work; the 'Stolen Artisan Portfolio' scam involves fraudsters using copied images of established artists' work.

2. Guard Against Material Misrepresentation

Custom fine art sculptures often involve unique materials. Be vigilant against scams that misrepresent these materials.

• ✓ The 'Plated Metal vs Solid Gold' scam can occur if your sculpture incorporates metallic elements. Ensure clear descriptions and avoid accepting offers that seem too good to be true for what appears to be a precious metal.
• ✓ The 'Material Grade Downselling' scam involves a buyer claiming a lower quality material was used than agreed upon. Always have detailed material specifications in your listing and confirmation emails.

3. Combat Payment and Delivery Fraud

Secure payment and transparent delivery processes are crucial for a safe P2P transaction.

• ✓ Never agree to 'Off-Platform Deposit Requests.' All payments and deposits should be processed through CustomMade's secure system.
• ✓ Be cautious of 'Indefinite Production Delays' where a buyer might claim issues or request constant, unexplained postponements, potentially as a tactic to avoid full payment or dispute the transaction.
• ✓ The 'Sourced-from-China Resell' scam might appear if a buyer claims to be a reseller of your work, potentially attempting to devalue your art or obscure the transaction's origin. Be clear about your direct sales.
• ✓ The 'Fake CAD Rendering Bait' scam could involve a buyer presenting seemingly professional designs that are misleading or a precursor to a dispute about the final product.

4. Utilize Secure Payment and Verification

For higher-value custom fine art sculptures, exceeding $500, we strongly recommend using Safe Trade Services' Premium Plan for identity verification. This adds an extra layer of security by verifying both buyer and seller identities, mitigating the risk of impersonation and fraudulent transactions.

5. Document Everything and Use Platform Tools

• ✓ Maintain detailed records of all communication, design approvals, material specifications, and payment confirmations.
• ✓ Use CustomMade's messaging system for all correspondence.
• ✓ Take high-resolution photos and videos of the sculpture at various stages of completion and before shipping.
• ✓ Clearly outline your production timeline and any potential for 'Design Modification Ransom' where a buyer might try to extort changes or refunds after initial agreement.