I do some freelance web projects here and there. I do it because I usually enjoy it...but after this, I don't think I'll do it again. Not worth it. I made a website for this lady. She gave me 2 payments, $50 each time. I made her a really nice site for only $100, and made her site rank #4 on Google for her desired keywords. She wanted to be able to edit here website. Okay. But she wanted to edit it with Yahoo Site builder or page builder or whatever. Okay, my opinion of Yahoo software aside, we figured that she could edit her site with it. Of course, she wanted to be able to see the changes in real-time. Yahoo site/page builder is no Dreamweaver. This would not be possible by I said I would try and help her. At this point, I have already spent around 15hrs making her a site. She has a working website but is upset because she can't edit it and see the changes simultaneously in real-time, with her Yahoo software. Is this really my fault that she prefers crap software? So anyhow, she gets upset and puts her original site back up. Then she complains why she is no longer showing up on Google. No shit Sherlock, you tore down the site I made you and put your original junk back up. Did she actually think her original site would magically retain Google rank? Okay, on top of the web development, I also helped her with her logo. I even burnt her an illegal copy of Photoshop CS3 per her request...which she was not competent enough to be able to use. ---------- Now after all this, she wants her money back. I'm freaking busy, I don't have time to reply to her every email. Oh, and not to mention I drove to her home twice, which is a 10-20 min drive each time. I don't want to give it back. If you calculate the time I've spent, it would amount to less than $4 per hour. I made a big mistake of not making her sign some sort of contract. This is probably my first nutty client 'gone wrong' ...what the heck? Any ideas? Does she have any ground for actually forcing me to give her money back? I'd like to handle this professionally. I was just about to write her an email. Ideas/suggestions/comments/advice is appreciated. Thanks.
Personally, I'd just tell her to piss off and sue you! $100... get real. What a jerk man. Sorry you went through all that. If you want to be "professional" and all, tell her "no refunds". :O) $100? Come on man.
Keep the money. If it's just $100 she won't pursue it, and even if she does, you've done the work and for such a small price she's certainly got what she paid for. I've had idiot clients like this. At first I used to bend over backwards trying to please them, but these days I just tell them what's what. At the slightest hint that a new client is going to be a waste of my time, I drop them and suggest they contact one of my competitors 15 hours for $100 is crazy. You should bill her again for consulting on the Yahoo software BTW I love this expression, people don't use it enough
^Thanks for your advice/responses, I appreciate it. Yeah, $100 isn't much at all, I know, some days I make that in about an hour, but this just went wrong. I kept on thinking I could somehow fix it, but each time she became more demanding...I was about to burn her a copy of my Dreamweaver too. Anyhow, I will tell her no refund. It's a small town, so I have this thought in the back of my mind that "karma" will somehow come back to me or something. I just guess I've never had it happen. Oh well. Live and learn. I should be "so-not-successful" in this thread
In business you can stumble into unsatisfied clients from time to time even if you do all what's required from your side so forget about it and look forward. PS: Since you drove to her house. how was the chick ?
Learn from the mistake and ensure that you have a contract in place which includes a full scope of work. Wont stop people being idiots but at least assists in defense of any spurious claims. Personally wouldnt advertise the fact that you are also making illegal copies of software for people on a public forum!
$100 for all that is way too cheap. She is a nightmare customer and I would just kindly tell her to seek another developer. As far as a refund is concerned, you did the work so she can't sue you for it and win. I'm no lawyer but once you use someone's services unless they did not deliver anything or misled you in any way, you're on the hook and you must pay. So she's outta luck... --Steve
It's obvious that you did your job just fine for hunger fees, and that she is a tottal nutter or just an ugly person.. so the next logical thing to do is to take a steaming pile of dog shit in a paper bag put it infront of her door, set the bag on fire, knock and run and see from a good distance how she tries to put down the fire, stepping on it it's a bit childish, i know, but it's amazing how good it will make you feel
You did all that for $100? Damn, pass your number. In all seriousness, what is it your fault if she can't edit the site you made her? I wouldn't return any money. You did your job + some. In fact, I'd ask her for more money.
i say screw her and her dumb ass yahoo sitebuilder, if she cant see into new areas of software she deserves what comes her way. just because it probably took her a year to figure out sitebuilder. noooob