I apologize if this should go in another section, but I need some advice. Last week one of my clients (one I usually get along with very well) asked me to put together a few quick pages for an experimental website--he said not to worry too much about it. I quoted him a very low price because it sounded like a quick project. I decided to start with one page to make sure the client was getting what he wanted before taking on the rest of the pages (which, you will see, turned out to be smart). The first attempt: content fine, needs to be longer The second attempt: content fine, still needs to be longer The third attempt: content perfectly fine, STILL needs to be longer (a few paragraphs more) The fourth attempt: length fine, content needs to be rearranged. The fifth attempt: length fine, now asking for a total rewrite. What should I do? The original quote doesn't begin to cover the time I've already spent on just this one page and the idea of going through this again for another few pages--well, to say that I am getting frustrated would be an understatement. I've sent email asking for clarification and have tried to reach the client on MSN but am not getting a reply beyond "no" or "not right either" and saying that what I am doing "won't cut it." No money has exchanged hands for the project yet, but I don't want to scrap it as I need the $$ for rent (this has been a slow month, I'll take pretty much whatever project comes my way). I want to be professional and I want to keep this client but...ouch! My time!
Hi Snarke, Many of us have found ourselves in this sort of position before, I feel for you. You need to tell the client that the scope of the project has increased dramatically and that the initial quote covered the first portion. Explain why (research, planning, editing, or whatever) in a logical and straight-forward way. If he/she balks or gets upset, don't be scared to walk away. Clients like this can be fool's gold, you are better off without them. Spend the oodles of time you are spending on this project to find new clients - they are out there.
I agree. Do not be afraid of walking away from a deal if it is not going anywhere. I suggest you be candid and discuss your worries and come up with suitable solution.
You can approach it in two ways 1] put up with it. finish it and tell him that it was harder than you thought, don't ask for extra money. Take it as a learning experience. 2] Tell him, that the project is harder and more time consuming and you miscalculated the price. Apologise and ask for something extra.
I just thought I would follow up since you guys were so great with your advice. I haven't done any more drafts and instead opted to get more information about the project and making a couple of suggestions as to how I could improve the work I had already done. Eventually my client decided that he didn't want me to do the project and informed me that he wouldn't be paying me for the time that I had spent on it so far. I won't go into anymore detail than that because that would be too unprofessional (not that venting about it here really speaks to my professionalism, lol) but suffice it to say that we will not be working together anymore. I am kind of sad because we had gotten along quite nicely until this project and I tried my best to keep him happy and give him what he wanted. I guess, as lightless said, it is a learning experience. Anybody want to hire me?
I happens. I am sorry. But at some point we've all been there. There are some people you simply cannot make happy. It probably not you. What really doesn't say much for him at all is that he paid you nothing. You are clearly not a shark. By the way. Take this opportunity to create a "creative brief" that outlines questions for what you need to know prior to tackling a project. It will prevent some of these from happening in the future.
My friend... don't take it too bad. It happend to the best of us, If I were you i wouldn't count on one project only to pay my bills. Just a little story to help you better understand were i m coming from. I used to own a restaurant and many of my friends will come all the time and enjoy free food and drinks, some of them borrowed money from me that "some" never paid back. One day things started going bad for me, i couldn't make it no more i wasn't making no money so i turned to my so called friends to help me out, they ll turned their back stoped answering my phone calls. Utilities were getting turned of at my house, checks returned and the whole 9 yards. I almost found myself out of my house. Since then I started saving a dollars for evey 2 dollars i spend. It was the best experience i ever had. Now thank god, I m doing good, but if it wasn't to that experience I would have found myself in worse situation. As we say in morocco the stick that doesn't break your back will make you stronger. Good luck
I'm sorry to hear that. You're right, take it as a major learning experience (albeit a very big, painful one). I'm sure karma will hit your client in the end
if i were you, i'll QUIT a long time ago before this > The second attempt: content fine, still needs to be longer. for me, that's just lame and stupid excuse on your client's behalf.
My sympathies, snarke. I too had a client like this: I pitched some ideas in response to an ad, he was interested in two of them. I wrote two articles, one he was not interested in, the second he wanted re-writing. I re-wrote the one article, he asked for a further re-write. I walked away, as he was only paying $20 per article. You don't always know when you take a job on how much time it will take. If something proves to be too time consuming for the money, I either walk away or re-negotiate.
In your sig it's supposed to be "freelance" not "freeland". Writers are expected not to make such mistakes P.S Or is that intentional
HI I understand your situation but you should be responsible and professional with your job, Your client wait that you finish this project on time, you should have consider these factors.
Lightless-- Um. Yes! Yes it was on purpose! ....you believe me....right? Again, I have to thank everybody for being so nice and supportive. I wasn't sure if I would get much of a response, but you people are awesome!
1. Explain all this to him politely. Try to explain. But don't show as if you're begging for money and wouldn't be able to survive another day if he doesn't pay up. 2. If he agress, well and good, it would be great for you (send my comission to my paypal :-p) 3. If he doesn't, just tell him that this wont be a problem, finish his project quickly, and from next time, finalize all details beforehand. Good Luck with what you do.