Sellers should supply models ready to go (just add light and camera)

So what you are saying is that seller should supply a tutorial how to use blender in your case?

Hello,

The first thing I would do is contact the seller to explain how to use the model. For example, I usually include detailed instructions for use when the materials are complex, and also for the rig. I think if the problem is the location of the images in another directory, you have 2 options: either place the images in the indicated directory (if it does not exist to create it), or change the path of the images to the directory where they really are, reloading the image.

Good luck.

Or you could google it like anyone else.

Us designers don't have the time to inform newbies on how to use what we make. If you buy a model, you are able to see what formats it comes in [even before buying] so you'll already know if things like textures for example, come separate to the other files.

No offence to you directly, but other sellers with agree with me here, in knowing that buyers expect a guide book with the models they buy, and this is ridiculous! If your paying money for models, we would generally expect you to know what your doing or else. why you would be spending X amount of money on models when you could play around with free ones instead?

to be honest it is probably reasonable to expect materials with textures to be applied to model. but. If i provide 3ds max scene plus fbx plus maya plus other formats, i have to have everything in separate folders and to duplicate SAME textures everywhere and it is so watchful. also if i have pbr textures they will not work with standard renderer in max (scaneline)
so then i have to make a scene that opens only with vray / mray and so on... so it gets messy...

You know sometimes 3d formats won't import and apply textures in the same time as the model, depending of the software and the file format. Usually most of 3D artists specify if they include a scene with lights and cameras.
Anyway, if you are planning to buy 3D models be sure to know how to use it ;)

The bottom line is that from now on I am going to buy only from artists who supply their models with textures already attached. There are least two (and probably more) wonderful artists here who do this.

And by the way, nowhere in my post did I ask for artists to give me a tutorial on how to use Blender. All I did was SUGGEST that artists be encouraged to supply their models with textures attached. Or perhaps the moderator of this forum could post public guidelines for newbies on how to connect textures to models to allow for those artists who choose to separate them. Or cite a page in the manual that explains how to do this. Or give a link to a video that explains how to do this. Who knows... maybe artists here would make more money if they made life easier for their customers. Interesting concept.

I’m all with what this buyer is telling and happy he does so, I salute you timmym, most would just silently get by and we do not get to know anything about what one’s thinking, would be nice more buyers would actually do give more feedback, it helps ;-)

Textures attached or not, people could better tel about it in the description.

Every artist has his own way, some go to great lengths to make things work out of the box, others may expect the buyer to know how to make things work.

You can probaly experience this randomness as a negative, but consider that the openness and maybe lack of direct control on this website also has a positive effect.

Websites that run heavy forms of control are twice and in some case triple as expensive for the sellers, and the sellers that do automatically deliver good quality need to pay for this extra cost regardless.

Usually those sellers put this needless extra cost on top of the product they are selling and so the product essentially gets more expensive with no apparent extra value added to the product (speaking of cases/artists that deliver quality by default).

Some services now go to extreme length to prevent those artists from adding the extra cost to the product but those sellers then disagree and make the content only available here (so best deals here).

You see, CGtrader uses a different strategy that is way more cost effective and thus this service is extremely cheap for the artists that automatically bring good quality and they now can bring this quality to you at most affordable price possible + you can communicate with them directly if there are problems.

CGtrader also lets the buyer community decide hoe is a good seller via providing a system of positive or negative feedback, you can also leave comments for next buyers, for example you could say, ”textures are not attached”, next buyer could find this interesting to know or maybe don't mind.

Anyways, usually the artists that go to great lengths to bring good quality also reflect this in the description, they give plenty of information about what can be expected and what not, and they provide best possible service in order to collect every positive feedback they can get.

So as a buyer you have some indicators to detect levels of quality there.

However, this system is relatively new so it needs some time to get solid readings, also lots of new artist coming in that do not jet have ratings.

Anyways, time and the masses will sort things out.

I don't agree with most of the comment here (except iterateCGI )

It is up to us (sellers) to offer products with as few actions as possible for the buyer,
especially when we offer products in native version.

The buyer must unzip the achive and the product must be ready to be used .
If special features or precautions are needed a readme.txt file must be provided.
It is inconceivable to provide products that need to be modified or adapted to work, even if it must be expensive in time for the seller.

imagine that you have to buy a jacket and that the buttons are sewing yourself .. must be dressmaker to wear a jacket ?
I want talking to all sellers who read this thread. Do not complain about losing sales if you do not make a small
effort to retain a seller - Just my 2 cents.

Thank you! I really did try myself. I even paid $30 for a month of tutorials at CGCOOKIE and worked my way through the intro, modeling, and texture sections. I understood it all, even plugging through UV unwrapping, painting textures using an external editor, and so forth. I studied the manual in depth. But even with all this, I was unable to combine the artist's textures with his model. None of these resources told me how to do it, even after spending almost an entire day trying everything I could think of. This was very frustrating.

Maybe if I find a model that I really want but that is separated, I could try emailing the artist to see if, for an extra fee, he/she would do it and send me the assembled model. Might work.

Thanks again.

You have contact model's creator and ask him\her resolve your problem, it's easy on CGTrader, so, why not?

Step 1. contact the seller and ask for product support. If seller doesn't help or doesn't respond, then step 2. contact cgtrader support and ask to investigate wether it's a. faulty model or b. it's you that missing basic knowledge how to use it. If case a. then you can ask for refund, if case b. cgtrader support may just help you to sort things out. As a paying customer, you have some rights here, don't be affraid to use them.

Good luck.

I did contact the seller, and he then spent quite a bit of time writing instructions for me to connect his textures to his model, far more than I expected or deserved. But English is not his native language, so I found it almost impossible to understand his instructions. Also, one thing I did get out of it is that a key initial step for linking his textures to his model was to use a program called Marmoset Toolbag, which I never heard of and did not want to install just to make his model work! It's too bad, because he did try. His model has many positive reviews, so I'm sure that the problem is me, not him. For that reason I am not going to give him a negative review; that would not be fair. But I also have a policy that I will not give a positive review to anyone who does not supply the model complete and intact. For the two other artists here who gave excellent complete models of a toad (amazing work!) and a lily pad, I not only gave a positive review but also a written comment on how lovely the work was.

@timmym if all buyers behaved like you it would be great

I think you have to give the buyer what is promised, so you have to be careful what you promise.
   Anyway, I think that here and now we are all learning, and many things that we do not even think about, will end up being the daily routine.
   The target of the seller is also important, if it offers models for professionals, it will take care of some aspects, and if it looks for users of video games, to give an example, it will take care of others.

If the only problem was textures in a different folder then there is a menu item for it.

File -> External Data -> Find Missing Files

Simple googling for "blender missing textures" will give you answer in a few seconds.