Some quote/commission tips:  

1.) Email your quote request! I don't give public quotes, and it helps me stay much more organized to have your email on record.  Gmail lets me search through old emails, so I can keep records forever.  Furthermore, it is best for everything to be neatly in one place.
A secondary note - As of this queue, I won't respond to establised commission correspondence in FA or DA notes.  Meaning that if we have a nice email dialogue going, and you suddenly continue the conversation in an FA or DA note, I will not reply to you there; or more likely, I will reply asking you to please email me instead.  I've had problems keeping track of necessary information because of people doing this.

2.) To qualify for the Artistic Liberty Discount: Don't submit concept art, just a written description, and let me interpret from that.  You agree to not nit-pick, although suggestions regarding preferences are allowed.
The more open (dare I say Vague) your description, the closer to the base price your costume will be.  Costumes that will be base-priced (fully discounted) are requests that are only concept-based, such as: "I would like you to make something based on the northern lights" or, "Please come up with a design based on the idea of "The Queen of the River".  I can promise that you will get a Very Cool Costume.

3.) If you're after something specific and you don't want to leave anything up to interpretation, concept art (or photo examples) is very helpful.  However, concept art alone is not enough - you must submit a detailed description or a list of features that you feel must be included on your costume, so that first, I can quote accordingly, and second, I don't overlook something and have to go back into it later.  Often, what might be key features end up not being very noticable, or can't be told apart from stylization - and visa-versa.  Seriously, describe every bit of your concept art that is remotely important, even if it seems totally obvious.
I also like personality descriptions of your character (if established), and other interesting information, as it allows me to put more personality into the costume.
Please don't send me stories to read, though.  Just descriptions and/or lists.
Also keep in mind that I can't replicate concept art exactly (unless I drew it, perhaps).  

4.) Just to drive this home, if you intend to submit concept art, submit it BEFORE you get on the queue.  Don't submit just a description (and worst yet, qualitfy yourself for the artistic liberty discount), only to turn around later and submit concept art.  From now on, if someone does this, I will not be held to the details of the concept art.
Same thing with descriptions - if your character has a particular feature or detail that you really want on the costume, be sure to tell me about it BEFORE you get on the queue.  Once again, if you leave out a feature in the description, then my interpretation (or misinterpretation) goes.
Of course, if you aren't yet on a queue, don't get too stressed if you forget something and have to send it to me in your third email or something, I'm not that mean.  Quotes aren't final until you've made your down payment, so the design and price can be changed around as many times as necessary before that time.

5.) As always, I accept payment in increments!  I need 30% up front at the beginning of the queue to reserve your space and begin, and after that, I can accept payment in increments of at least 10% per month, but no less than $100 per month.

6.) Please be prepared to take your measurements and make a duct tape dummy (if you're getting a full outfit), and get the dummy mailed within 7 days after the queue opens.  If you don't send it in that timeframe, I may have to cancel or postpone the project.  You don't need to rush ship or anything, but I can't really afford to do something like wait a full month for those things.

7.) Finally, quotes are valid for SIX MONTHS.  If your original quote is older than that, please email for a re-quote.