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How does one avoid clients from hell? 2929 Responses
Last post: 2 months ago | Thread started: May 5, 08, 8:49 a.m.
- Iggyboo
Ok so as I ran into possibly one of worst clients recently I'd love to know how people avoid clients from hell. More importantly do people make a check list to protect themselves from... the miner's , the "I only work with spec-artists", I have two guys who could do this "in 24 hours" the "I don't really believe in 50% upfront so I am not going to hand this check until the very last possible moment and why haven't you started on my work" into you types?
I guess a bit of business education could have gone along way for me back in college but it seems I keep running into people who just don't get it, and it might possibly be me. But at the end of the day my question is how to find good clients. Who understand schedule, budget and ethics. I'd love to know if people have a checklist of things they try to make sure of before going any further... and if you do please post.
- May 5, 08, 8:49 a.m. – Permalink
- harlequino
It's OK to say "I'm sorry, this is how i work, and it's important for me to give you a realistic expectation. If that's outside your working parameters, that's ok, perhaps I can recommend someone else."
Watch them come back and agree to your terms. I've gone through this 3 times this year so far.
- Dog-earMay 5, 08, 9:06 a.m. – Permalink
- harlequino
Regarding them not wanting to pay up front:
"Ok, well I can tell you're not completely comfortable with my work quality or how I manage expectations."or
"Can we compromise on a 35% downpayment?"
or
"Partial payment upfront is standard practice in my field and experience level, and denotes trust between client/vendor, as well as faith in work quality. If that's still outside your parameters, that's ok, I would suggest seeking a vendor of a different caliber, and perhaps less experience who might not have an issue with that."
- Dog-earMay 5, 08, 9:11 a.m. – Permalink
- Josev
yeah, saying NO and being firm about it is the most important thing. And don't be afraid to turn work away. Anyone who is good won't put up with crap from people either. You don't need a business degree, you need to learn how to manage difficult people (something I'm not good at). There are people that always try to push beyond reasonable boundaries.
- Dog-earMay 5, 08, 10:37 a.m. – Permalink
- Josev
This is going to sound kind of weird, but I've been working on what I call a controls binder for dealing with calls and clients. I realized that I often bend when I'm on the phone with clients. So I made this small binder with some process notes for individual steps (accepting payments, etc.) and a list of responses for common questions or when client's start putting the pressure on (like the partial payment comment in Harlequino's post). I pull it out when a client calls.
- Dog-earMay 5, 08, 10:44 a.m. – Permalink
- harlequino
"I pull it out when a client calls."
I do that too.
Oh wait...was that weird?- Dog-earMay 5, 08, 10:46 a.m. – Permalink
- Iggyboo
This is important to keep track of Josev. I find that once you start to bend to an unreasonable client they jump on it. I think making exceptions is my biggest fault. I should have been more firm about the original price rather getting caught up of accepting some of the crap to get a signature on the contract and the 50% upfront.
- Dog-earMay 5, 08, 10:47 a.m. – Permalink
- designasaurus
No one does good work for cheap unless they:
a) need portfolio (which doesn't last long)
b) don't know their own value (which typically doesn't last long)
c) are floating around on a yacht designing for "the hell of it".Let them go to their budget crappy designer and do the work. Odds are someone at their company will have enough design sense to fire them because they "wasted company money on crap," in which case you will work for another project manager. If they love the crappy work then you don't want to work for them anyways because they obviously are going to be a pain to design for.
Good business is good design. If you are delivering a good product on a good timeline you deserve to get paid, otherwise they are just a crappy client and you should move on and find someone that isn't going to screw you.
- Dog-earMay 5, 08, 10:49 a.m. – Permalink
- harlequino
Something else to keep in mind:
People who don't want to fork over money often fall into one of three groups:
1. Already in a financial bind themselves, which means chances are they may fall apart and never pay you.2. The cheapskates. These have money but have gotten their money by being slimey fuckers. They will fuck you forever, and never ever be good to deal with.
3. Those who don't know. Oftentimes, a lot of clients (local yokels, not big brands) simply do not know how much things cost, or their little minions who are sent out to "find a designer" don't know. These types are actually not bad at all to work with, if you can find a way educate them and get them on your side.
A good approach: Treat them like #3, but prepare that they are #1 or #2.
- Dog-earMay 5, 08, 10:59 a.m. – Permalink
- mrdobolina
You have found that clients that do not pay the initial fee of 50% down generally have no vested interest in the project and tend to hold the project back. That fee is put in place to start the contract.
- Dog-earMay 5, 08, 11:28 a.m. – Permalink
