vent

Off Topic
1

I just want to vent a minute about certain clients.

I am sorry but I think you guys should understand this and how do you handle this…

I get work through a copy store locally. This was our first job “together”

the lady came in on the 1st, asked for a 1 page site w info nothing big asap
did not get any info to us until the 3rd.

I had the basic one page that she wanted by that next morning
( I know the layout had much to be desired - but her choice)

THere was a problem w the video player - thanks to you guys it was fixed within 24 hours of notification of the issue (still less than 48 hrs of receiving the info she wanted in.

5 days later - she changed what she wanted - she wanted pictures added and to be able to edit the info…
of course then the server went down… ugh

By FRi / sat everything was done - thanks to Max and Webyep.

The price (150) she got was for a 1 page static info - wo the pictures and the webyep. and was not charged for the changes (except the webyep license fee)

I had exactly what she wanted in a timely manner. and added what she wanted quickly except webyep - had to have tech support to do it on an accordion

Thank you for letting me vent.

How would you guys handle this? WOuld you give her a refund also?

Julie

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2

There are plenty of clientele with that sort of attitude - and they’re
best avoided if you can suss them out first!

If you get saddled with one, be firm and make no more than a goodwill
offer (say 10% - 15%) if you think there is a just cause ( e.g. the
server going down, even if it’s not your fault).

Tell the client you want paying in 7 days, 28 days, or whatever and
if you don’t get any joy when payment is due, say you are going to
pull down the site in the next 48 hours. Then do it, if there’s no
money forthcoming.

Oh! Never get past a design template without agreement that a first
charge will be invoiced for the work producing it. Changes after that
are at the clients discretion - just make sure they know what’s being
charged for as you go along. You should ahve built in some leeway in
your estimate to allow for a few, anyway).

Best of all, draw up a set of general terms and conditions which the
client sees before any work is commissioned. It doesn’t have to be a
formal contract for small jobs, but it pays to make it clear what is
expected on both sides.

HTH Colin

On 15 Feb 2010, at 18:34, swimmer35 wrote:

I just want to vent a minute about certain clients.

I am sorry but I think you guys should understand this and how do
you handle this…

I get work through a copy store locally. This was our first job
“together”

the lady came in on the 1st, asked for a 1 page site w info nothing
big asap
did not get any info to us until the 3rd.

I had the basic one page that she wanted by that next morning
( I know the layout had much to be desired - but her choice)

THere was a problem w the video player - thanks to you guys it was
fixed within 24 hours of notification of the issue (still less than
48 hrs of receiving the info she wanted in.

5 days later - she changed what she wanted - she wanted pictures
added and to be able to edit the info…
of course then the server went down… ugh

By FRi / sat everything was done - thanks to Max and Webyep.

The price (150) she got was for a 1 page static info - wo the
pictures and the webyep. and was not charged for the changes
(except the webyep license fee)

I had exactly what she wanted in a timely manner. and added what she
wanted quickly except webyep - had to have tech support to do it on
an accordion

Thank you for letting me vent.

How would you guys handle this? WOuld you give her a refund also?

Julie

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3

Thanks Colin it does help.

I think part of the problem, is that we were dealing through the copy shop= not directly w each other.

ugh…

On to the next :wink:

Julie
On Feb 15, 2010, at 4:14 PM, Colin Alcock wrote:

There are plenty of clientele with that sort of attitude - and they’re best avoided if you can suss them out first!

If you get saddled with one, be firm and make no more than a goodwill offer (say 10% - 15%) if you think there is a just cause ( e.g. the server going down, even if it’s not your fault).

Tell the client you want paying in 7 days, 28 days, or whatever and if you don’t get any joy when payment is due, say you are going to pull down the site in the next 48 hours. Then do it, if there’s no money forthcoming.

Oh! Never get past a design template without agreement that a first charge will be invoiced for the work producing it. Changes after that are at the clients discretion - just make sure they know what’s being charged for as you go along. You should ahve built in some leeway in your estimate to allow for a few, anyway).

Best of all, draw up a set of general terms and conditions which the client sees before any work is commissioned. It doesn’t have to be a formal contract for small jobs, but it pays to make it clear what is expected on both sides.

HTH Colin

On 15 Feb 2010, at 18:34, swimmer35 wrote:

I just want to vent a minute about certain clients.

I am sorry but I think you guys should understand this and how do you handle this…

I get work through a copy store locally. This was our first job “together”

the lady came in on the 1st, asked for a 1 page site w info nothing big asap
did not get any info to us until the 3rd.

I had the basic one page that she wanted by that next morning
( I know the layout had much to be desired - but her choice)

THere was a problem w the video player - thanks to you guys it was fixed within 24 hours of notification of the issue (still less than 48 hrs of receiving the info she wanted in.

5 days later - she changed what she wanted - she wanted pictures added and to be able to edit the info…
of course then the server went down… ugh

By FRi / sat everything was done - thanks to Max and Webyep.

The price (150) she got was for a 1 page static info - wo the pictures and the webyep. and was not charged for the changes (except the webyep license fee)

I had exactly what she wanted in a timely manner. and added what she wanted quickly except webyep - had to have tech support to do it on an accordion

Thank you for letting me vent.

How would you guys handle this? WOuld you give her a refund also?

Julie

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4
  1. Never start without a bid, list the scope of work in detail.
  2. The client must sign the bid.
  3. Get an advance payment.
  4. If the client changes their mind issue a change order with the revised scope and how much it will cost extra.
  5. Balance due when the site goes live.

Marcel

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Thank you Marcel

On Feb 15, 2010, at 4:34 PM, Helveticus wrote:

  1. Never start without a bid, list the scope of work in detail.
  2. The client must sign the bid.
  3. Get an advance payment.
  4. If the client changes their mind issue a change order with the revised scope and how much it will cost extra.
  5. Balance due when the site goes live.

Marcel

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On Feb 15, 2010, at 3:14 PM, Colin Alcock wrote:

There are plenty of clientele with that sort of attitude - and
they’re best avoided if you can suss them out first!

This is a good point and not one to be taken lightly.

Here’s some advice that has stuck with me:

(I’m paraphrasing)
I expect a potential client to interview me (in a manner of speaking)
to get a sense of what I can do and who I am in order to, at least in
part, determine if I’ll be a good match for them and the project.
Obvious stuff, really. What some designers fail to realize is that the
process works both ways; they should also be conducting their own
interview of sorts. Despite the fact that we all want a gig sometimes
there are red flags that should be heeded when those PITA clients come
knocking. In short, sometimes we’re at fault for not being more
discriminating with regard to who we work with. Sometimes the gig just
isn’t worth the hassle.

I’m not saying this was the case for Julie, this time, but it is
something to keep in mind. Don’t be afraid to say no when things feel
“off”.

And use a TOA. Not having one is like working without a net.

Todd

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Thank you Todd.

The problem was that I did not speek to the client my self and she had
no contact w me. All communication went through the copy store

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 15, 2010, at 16:56, Todd email@hidden wrote:

On Feb 15, 2010, at 3:14 PM, Colin Alcock wrote:

There are plenty of clientele with that sort of attitude - and
they’re best avoided if you can suss them out first!

This is a good point and not one to be taken lightly.

Here’s some advice that has stuck with me:

(I’m paraphrasing)
I expect a potential client to interview me (in a manner of
speaking) to get a sense of what I can do and who I am in order to,
at least in part, determine if I’ll be a good match for them and the
project. Obvious stuff, really. What some designers fail to realize
is that the process works both ways; they should also be conducting
their own interview of sorts. Despite the fact that we all want a
gig sometimes there are red flags that should be heeded when those
PITA clients come knocking. In short, sometimes we’re at fault for
not being more discriminating with regard to who we work with.
Sometimes the gig just isn’t worth the hassle.

I’m not saying this was the case for Julie, this time, but it is
something to keep in mind. Don’t be afraid to say no when things
feel “off”.

And use a TOA. Not having one is like working without a net.

Todd

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8

In which case the copy store is your client and you should definitely
have agreed terms and conditions with it that protect you against the
whims and wherefores of its clients costing you money (unless of
course the fault really does stem from something only in your control).

If they supply you with regular work, just set out simple guidelines
of what you expect from the copy store and what they will get from you

  • and whether or not they sign a copy, stand there while they read it,
    before you take on the next job.

Colin

On 15 Feb 2010, at 22:57, Julie wrote:

Thank you Todd.

The problem was that I did not speek to the client my self and she
had no contact w me. All communication went through the copy store

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9

As per my previous off topic thread: http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/4-ways-to-kill-scope-creep/

s

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Thank you
That is great
On Feb 16, 2010, at 3:43 AM, seoras wrote:

As per my previous off topic thread: http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/4-ways-to-kill-scope-creep/

s

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