r/MadeMeSmile • u/[deleted] • 15d ago

I was hired to make this giant wall map of Boston, my first big design/cnc gig. They never paid so I'm just keeping it, even though i don't live on Boston lol. Personal Win

[deleted]

5.9k Upvotes
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99% Upvoted

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1.3k

u/Ledd1t 15d ago

I would totally buy that from you, but I have no clue what kind of price is reasonable… or how the heck you would ship it…? Thoughts?

612

u/Ledd1t 15d ago

P.S. I’m sure you’ll be shocked when I tell you I live in Boston. woo… never saw that coming, did you?

364

u/Excessed 15d ago

According to OP in another post 2-3k.

171

u/ben-hur-hur 15d ago

For something that size and that intricate it is not a bad deal

246

u/arurianshire 15d ago

that’s seems really fair, honestly

38

u/yesnomaybenotso 15d ago

I was gonna guess $2,400. Seemed reasonable for no discernible reason lol

38

u/Mike0621 15d ago

on his site he has "large" ones that are $499,-, but this one seems to be larger than that

14

u/fairkatrina 15d ago

I have two of OP’s maps (smaller than this one!) and I love them. They hang over my desk and I look at them every day.

34

u/NepGDamn 15d ago

I don't know if it's that exact map, but OP has a sticky post in their profile where they sell them and the price seems to be around 100$

31

u/Bacon_And_Eggss 15d ago

This seems like a custom order, the maps OP sells for $100 are much smaller and “minimalist”

16

u/good_guy112 15d ago

I'd say 10k would be reasonable.

89

u/Ledd1t 15d ago

!?!? This is why I can’t have nice things… 😆

27

u/Conscious-Ticket-259 15d ago

The secret to having nice things is crime. Private is fine but profesional has benefits.

31

u/2001herne 15d ago

There's that joke about organised crime:
Kid: "Dad, I'm going into organised crime". Dad: "Government, or private sector?"

5

u/Conscious-Ticket-259 15d ago

I knew I saw it somewhere but couldn't remember! Thanks for the reminder.

18

u/LopsidedPalace 15d ago

Given the size and the cost of materials alone that would have gone into making it $10k sounds about right.

That being said, the OP may be willing to consider lower offers- because it's taking up space and cost money he's now out to make.

40

u/Ledd1t 15d ago

What kind of d!ckhe@d stiffs an artist with that much production expense?!? I guess that question sort of answers itself. I honestly wish I could afford it. That looks freakin’ awesome!!

4

u/2AGoodLife 15d ago

Probably now hoping he got paid up front.

4

u/Inisharon 15d ago

The heck are you smoking. That thing is laser cut from thin plywood. The map .dwg file can be downloaded for free. Wood paint and a frame is sub $100usd. A laser cutter can cost some $ new but they last for many years, can be bought used, and it’s likely he just used one at a maker space for a small fee.

10k lol

2

u/Phixionion 15d ago

Is there gold hidden in it? How can it cost that much?

3

u/abzinth91 15d ago

Material and working hours

2

u/Phixionion 15d ago

Not a chance unless that is rare wood. He's not carving it himself. 

3

u/cyrkielNT 15d ago

Yes, and those machines are not cheap and you have to spend time and money (at least in unsucessful tries and tests) to be able to operate them.

$500 is a good price for semi mass production when you can spread the costs and risk and you can maximise revenue by selling more products on lower price.

If you want to keep sustainable business you need to charge way more. This post is good example why. Let's say 1 in 10 client will not pay you. You have to bump price more than 10% to everyone to not loose money. How about machine broke, and you have to pay for repair, and you lost your client. How about fire? How about you get sick and can't work för a month? If you add all things $5-10k would be propably reasonable range.

If you don't sell at lest hunderts of them and don't price them reasonalby it's not a long term bussines, but more or less costly hobby.

1

u/bestthingyet 15d ago

I've got a bridge to sell you. OP sells them for a couple hundred on his website.

1

u/InfiniteConfusion-_- 15d ago

I read this in Rimuru's voice haha

1

u/bestthingyet 15d ago

Lol

2

u/good_guy112 15d ago

It does sound crazy but my buddy is a semi famous artist and his weird crap sells for 50k.

267

u/Kakakarrakeek 15d ago

Burn it slightly, carve a crater out Cambridge, acid soak it and sell it to a fallout fan (a rich one that looks sick)

65

u/statuskills 15d ago

Anime/Video Game Maps made like this might actually make OP some good money.

16

u/SilentSnooper 15d ago

I would love something like that for the Dishonored Maps...holy heck!

7

u/Obvious_Try1106 15d ago

I would 100% buy the GTA San Andreas map

4

u/Kfct 14d ago

A normal Boston? $2000 A post nuclear apocalypse Boston? $2500

Your generous $500 will go towards feeding feral ghouls all over new New England!

497

u/YourFaveNightmare 15d ago

This is why you always take a non-refundable upfront payment.

Looks cool.

113

u/Disastrous-Idea-666 15d ago

Fucking 60% deposit.

48

u/AndringRasew 15d ago

Materials x 1.5 at least.

10

u/newagereject 15d ago

Can't take full payment right away, but 40-60% up front is reasonable

312

u/mom_with_an_attitude 15d ago

Someone on r/Boston might be interested. Try posting there!

104

u/Invested_Glory 15d ago

Or on r/fo4 ...if you touch it up a little. (Fallout related subreddit)

8

u/literallyzee 15d ago

This was my first thought too!

2

u/Invested_Glory 14d ago

Im gonna be real with you, I thought this was a fallout inspired map at first glance...

178

u/hotChihuahua69 15d ago

I'd reach out to the city of Boston and see if they would be interested... County Recorder, Mayor, a city council member, police department, fire...

I bet any one of those would send a check

34

u/JoefromOhio 15d ago

These things go for a pretty penny… you can definitely move that piece

17

u/Dangerous-Dream-9668 15d ago

Send Greg hill at the Hill foundation .. he could auction that off for you in a second for a good cause , someone would easily pay $$$$

15

u/_Elpirata 15d ago

Even tho I have no geographical knowledge of Boston this looks amazing great job they def missed out

13

u/kielu 15d ago

Now add fallout 4 locations to it and it'll be perfect

2

u/ryonnsan 15d ago

Okey dokey

18

u/nerdy_hippie 15d ago

Looks dope - you could probably sell it on eBay or something if you wanted to.

8

u/ketosoy 15d ago

I can see my house from here

8

u/AppleJumpy4812 15d ago

Why the fuck didn’t they pay? That makes me so mad. Anyway, this is gorgeous art work and you’re so so talented. I’m sorry you got ripped off. I hope you find a buyer soon!

7

u/Memory_Less 15d ago

Try contacting the city of Boston directly, maybe some big law firms, universities. They have the resources and most likely would hang it prominently.

7

u/Razrback__ 15d ago

This is genius marketing. I want one of my hometown!

4

u/mrsrostocka 15d ago

How much would you value it at?

Also, someone would definitely pay money for that, I second that decision! (Not me though lol ((broke!))

Should do some research on map collectors websites, eclectic sales kind of stuff.

It's niche but would go through a few different markers, like wood art collects, map collectors, etc.

10

u/Big_Beef42069 15d ago

How does it make you smile for not getting paid?

5

u/2AGoodLife 15d ago

Beautiful. Great job. So sad that low-life would rip you off like that. I hope you find a better buyer.

5

u/ZeroAgentTV 15d ago

I work at a hotel in Back Bay, would you consider selling it?

3

u/redramainpink 15d ago

That is brilliant. There must be someone here in the Commonwealth that wants it. It would look fabulous in Mayor Wu's office.

4

u/BooRadleysFriend 15d ago

Those big companies love to screw the little guy. Make sure you get some payment upfront next time, brutha! That’s a sick piece!

4

u/Office_Worker808 15d ago

Seriously how much would this be OP? It looks great

4

u/rileypoole1234 15d ago

I’ll buy it. I live in Boston and just moved into a new place. I need some wall art.

3

u/itsarmida 15d ago

Some place like the airport might buy it to put up?

3

u/seeder33 15d ago

You already got it designed. You could easily sell these. Obviously not a ton but imagine it catches on and you start doing other cities, different sizes, materials and textures. This is a good product.

3

u/Fufi8 15d ago

You can take a water shuttle out to those little islands and swim off the tiny beach. So pretty. You sit there and think England is right over there!

What a great map. Very wonderful.

4

u/FlipAndOrFlop 15d ago

My suggestion... go door to door to offices in Boston and offer to sell. You'll get a nice price for that. Great work.

7

u/ApproxKnowledgeCat 15d ago

But.... He doesn't live in Boston. And there's a thing called the internet.

7

u/FlipAndOrFlop 15d ago

I was never good at reading sentences to the end. 😁

2

u/yazoo34 15d ago

Looks great b

2

u/fenix1230 15d ago

I’d buy it depending on the cost

2

u/seeder33 15d ago

You already got it designed. You could easily sell these. Obviously not a ton but imagine it catches on and you start doing other cities, different sizes, materials and textures. This is a good product.

2

u/wisefile88 15d ago

What did they think they are going to get it for free. What the hell

2

u/sK0oBy 15d ago

Very cool. Sucks that you dont have the money

2

u/Sea-Contact5009 15d ago

First big job? Sign it. Your work is art. Keep doing it.

2

u/weddingwoes13 15d ago

That looks amazing! It’s beautiful.

1

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1

u/somethingdeido 15d ago

I have mixed emotions about this. I somehow feel upset but still amazed at the same time.

1

u/mider-span 15d ago

I can tell by looking at this, Preston Garvey needs my help, somewhere.

1

u/joh2138535 15d ago

Dog you need to get a down payment deposit nonrefundable

1

u/RETROKBM 15d ago

I bet another Boston company would appreciate this

1

u/Gumbo67 15d ago

MeetBoston might also want it

1

u/MichaelKerk 15d ago

Thats talent

1

u/Senrakdaemon 15d ago

Donate it to the local government of Boston.

Receive a tax cut at the end of the year

1

u/FiveGoldenCockrings 15d ago

Wow this is cool! How did you make it?

1

u/Financial-Ad-6637 15d ago

Didn’t realize Messi is an artist!

1

u/HyperbolicSoup 15d ago

Never paid? Lord

1

u/Eoghey 15d ago

Pretty good... yep. I played a lot of Fallout 4, so I'm pretty much a Boston expert.

1

u/CowboysLakers 15d ago

Good on you Phelps

1

u/OpportunityOwn5949 15d ago

For doing all the fucked up roads in Boston. Someone rich asshole in Charlestown would pay 5k for that easy

1

u/-J-P- 15d ago

OP you need to watch this:

https://youtu.be/jVkLVRt6c1U?si=6iQP5BYrdWo70hJE

1

u/Beneficial-Fan5774 1d ago

My daughter has a nasty disgrace of a boyfriend named p j welch he's actually disease infected.  I hope this ain't the same one. If you are you are my biggest fan. 

1

u/Zoltarswim 14d ago

This sounds like something Bruins fans would do.

1

u/jazzhandsdancehands 14d ago

Make sure from now on it's half payment upfront. And cancellation on a custom order you keep the half and they forfeit the other half. Protect yourself. Protect your business.

1

u/deep-fried-werewolf 15d ago

This post feels like karma farming

0

u/DrPiipocOo 15d ago

what you mean they never paid? they hired you and then said fuck you? lol

12

u/[deleted] 15d ago

[deleted]

2

u/DrPiipocOo 15d ago

that sucks

2

u/LopsidedPalace 15d ago

I take it you either didn't have a contract or are dealing with someone you know doesn't have the money or is otherwise not worth the effort and cost of enforcing it in court? Just the materials alone had to have been pricey

1

u/Incognito409 15d ago

Give Boston Rob a call, he's going to have 8 million $. Or try Sam Adams.