I was reading a thread from one guy that was looking to get paid a small amount of money and the other guy was saying wait. In this case, the amount was so small that there should be no excuse (go ask mom for some money). I dealt with a few clients that wanted to get paid by their client before paying me. They were delayed by a few months, I went along with it but soon noticed they were paying for other things without excuses and doing work for equity in another company when they could have been doing billable work. I soon determined that accounts payable from me were the same as the rent or their lunches out so I no longer make such personal favors. If you ever get asked to wait on a payment, refuse it or offer to take the delay with interest, say 3% per month. Maker sure they know they consider yourself as a business not their buddy.
that guy is full of crap. When i bought something, even i don't pay right away, i consider the fund is gone and off my book. How can you forget and spend the money.. and always half payment upfront, not matter how close that guy is..
Over the years I have learned never to extend credit. When someone says the cheque is in the mail, I ask for the cheque number and date it was mailed. People often find it hard to extend a "fake" excuse with an outright lie. In my business, when someone says they cannot pay right now, but need immediate access to my subscriber-based website, I simply point them in the direction of the handy credit card payment facility. No credit card? No problem. Once the cheque arrives and clears, the service will start. This policy applies equally to corporations and individuals. Over the years, the list of large companies to whom we will not even allow a grace period for payment has grown significantly. In one case, we have been waiting two years for payment and the guy still comes around from time asking why his account has not been set up. His company has annual sales between $50 and $100 million . . . so it is not a question of being capable of paying. Given the anonymity of the internet and the ease with which identities can be adopted and shed . . . prepayment of all or some is vital.
In a perfect world. I have clients that drag on payment and I am boom and bust anyway. I have had to pay someone here before that I asked to wait for exactly the reason you mentioned. Waiting for clients to pony up. The guy waited, got paid and we were both happy. I'd have no hesitation on buying from the guy again especially given his understanding during a dry period. It happens.
I usually get payment after work done,, if this happen to me so.. I would say.. unprofessional too. I guess he just have the wrong decision with the deal.
I have been given a service which I needed but was unable to pay for at the time. About a month later when I finally got my cheque from Google and had the funds to pay him back I did. I have no problems giving favours if they can't pay me straight away, if I feel they are honest and are going to pay the money back when they say they will. I guess I can see the good in people.
I once had a client who put off paying for his website for so long, his hosting ran out and all the work was lost. Result: I got paid half the amount. He got nothing. So I suppose it works out fairly that if they dont pay, they should lose more than the service provider.
That was really a horrible mistake by that guy . I think he must do something to make up for this mistake.