Who's skull is that? From the looks they did a great job. That seems to be a cursed prop. Several have tried to make them but it seems the run always fall through.
There are several things that go into the seller's cost such as, labor, talent, materials, shipping (if shipping is included) and of course any fees (Paypal). The math is simple, add everything up and price it accordingly. The only time I ask for a "Gift" payment is when I have an international...
I agree with Pixelpiper, one off custom commissions should require some upfront non-refundable money. Just make sure who you are dealing with and the time to completion. Before 45 days you have some recourse with Paypal after that you are on your own. Sometimes these things can be a gamble...
This may not work for everyone but, I pay all the upfront cost on my projects and I don't take any money until the person's item is ready to ship. This policy has worked great for me up to this point without a single dissatisfied customer. I don't plan on changing what works for me.
It's not one for sale. It's one I bought a couple of months ago. It's the MKII idol. I've been wanting an idol for some time and finally found one I like.