Client of the Day

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  • monoboy0

    Just about every client I've worked with NEVER has a scalable vector of their logo, but a multitude of heavily compressed jpgs.

    Do they literally throw .eps files away when given them?

    • Absolutely. It's just something that clients never think of or understand. They can't open them in powerpoint so think they are not useful and bin them.Hayzilla
    • Love the Wall E analogy. haha.
      My favourite that happens LOADS is renaming a .jpg as .eps and sending me that. LOL.
      Hayzilla
    • The best (worst?) is when they place said compressed jpeg into a word document, distorted out of proportion, and give that to you.monospaced
    • My fave is the attached word document with a tiny 32k gif inserted into a table.monoboy
    • 'Can't you just photoshop it?' is the usual response to we can't print this.monoboy
    • ^ ha, mono. Your post didn't show as I was typing mine.monoboy
    • Ha. And then you realize they don't even know how to save files to their computers and have been taking screenshots the entire time.monospaced
    • Yup. Had that one before.monoboy
    • I just avoid the inevitable client idiocy and get the logo from their site - company reports and news PDF normally contain vector versions. Fuck em.face_melter
    • @face, I do that too, but I never tell themmonospaced
  • sofas1

  • BusterBoy3

    Had a client call me on Friday saying they were switching to another Agency that is in their own city...and he felt were technically superior and had a better grasp on technology than my firm does.

    Fair enough. Your call.

    Get an email from their new "super Agency" asking me what a nameserver is.

    Seriously felt like getting on the phone to these cunts and the client and telling them to BOTH get fucked.

    New site is this pissy little Wordpress themed site that I know has just been urchased from Themeforest. Have seen it before.

    Cocks.

    • technically superior =cheaperpablo28
    • ^ sorry, they're bitching you... Don't waste time with them, heal wounds and go aheadOBBTKN
    • Probably an uninformed opinion based on their customer experience. If clients can't see the value or take your advice, not worth wasting the time as OBB says.monoboy
    • Most clients want easy, simple, no hassle. Even when they're wrong. Push back with an informed opinion can be taken badly. Some(most)times you have to baby sit.monoboy
    • "I want X done by X" Not a good long-term idea, X will be a problem, do Y. "Don't care, do X." OK. "This has happened, it doesn't work, this your fault." etc.monoboy
    • Yeh I would never vent my true feelings to a client unless extreme circumstances.BusterBoy
    • It's a weird feeling when you lose a client to a new firm and they're kind of incompetent.noneck
    • You're a little miffed that the client chose them, but it kinda feels good to have confirmation that the client is wrong.noneck
    • feel free to ignore their calls, considering you're inferior to them technically and technologically.monospaced
  • canoe0

    Client refuses to be involved in the "Google Kingdom" so four of us are stuck working on one Excel doc with six different tabs for a 100 page webste... I can't imagine how this is going to go over...

    We used Dropbox Paper for copy and it worked well. But they have nothing for spreadsheets.

    Can you believe that - he'd rather fuck us all over because he's paranoid about Google getting into his life. Can't stand this client.

    • Bet he wants his site to be No1 in google searches though.HAYZ1LLLA
    • that sucksGnash
    • I thought you could do that with dropbox
      https://www.dropbox.…
      Gnash
    • not tried it myselfGnash
    • so... you bitch because the guy doesnt want to be a google sheep???? Baaaaaaaa (to you).pr2
    • why are you letting the client dictate software?doesnotexist
    • Why wouldn't a client have a right to insist its data not be hosted in places it doesn't trust?detritus
  • MrT0

    The story is about the brand "Océ"

    The text in all instances is "Oce"

    The client's correction "the c in Oce has to have an apostrophe on the top of it"

    Oh really? Which key do I press to get that?

    • Send them this: Oće
      Ask: "Are you sure?"
      imbecile
    • but she said apostrophe!!!!!!MrT
    • apostrophe is not over the character, it's used after the character, this way: "Oc’e" or "Oc'e"OBBTKN
  • OBBTKN1

    The client (a "competent" video studio): please, send us the logos, we need to do a demo

    Me: ok (i've sent them the logos on Ai and PDF)

    Client: we can not open the files in PS, please, send us a PSD file with the logos on it

    Me (Are you kidding me?): Opened the PDF file in PS, with transparent background (i know it's going to be the next...) and in hi-res, sent it

    Client: We need it on PNG, WITH transparent background

    Me (your are kidding me, mate): Opened the PSD, and saved like PNG...

    Now, i am waiting for another idiotic request from them, take the axe, get into my car...

    Please

    • 1st world problems. Saving in new formats, so difficult.bainbridge
    • yes, i know... never a problem mate, but the studio was not my final client, and they can make it by itself with the first file than stealing my time...OBBTKN
  • monoboy3

    "I really need to send out a newsletter to our members database today. We've only got a few days of the season left for this promotion."

    Erm. Sure but I'm not available today and these things take time to produce. Do you have content ready that fits the template?

    "Great. Today would be good."

    Sorry, I'm not available today. Do you have the content ready?

    "Yes, it's a simple version it shouldn't take you long."

    OK. If you send me the content today I might be able to take a look after 4pm. We should be able to send it out in the morning. I'm not available tomorrow afternoon.

    __

    Content arrives 12:30pm the next day.

    "Here it is, can you send it in the next hour?"

    Sorry, I'm not available this afternoon and this will need testing before we send it.

    "I really need it done today."

    I can take a look this evening so it's ready to go in the morning when people are more likely to open it.

    "OK, but today would be ideal."

    So I update a template, add the mailing list and send a test later on that evening.

    __

    10am. "Thanks for sorting that. Here are some changes."

    10.40am. New test sent for approval. No reply yet. Not answering her phone. It's now 2pm.

    __

    • fuck that shit.Bluejam
    • Yup. I've even given them a marketing plan with a calendar of events. Completely ignores it. Everything is an afterthought. Nothing is ever ready.monoboy
    • Also. How easy is it to use MailChimp or Campaign Monitor. Not for this numpty.monoboy
    • And. She sends me .xls scraped from a payment gateway to add to lists with no opt in. Total ramjet.monoboy
    • All whilst trying to finish a 36pp brochure for another client. I fucking hate this job sometimes.monoboy
    • Too busy for client work?bainbridge
  • hotroddy0

    If you told your client to meet 'next' monday on a tuesday--- would you interpret it as this coming monday? or following monday in 13 days?

    • I would clarify but it sounds like next Monday 7 dayssofakingback
    • The following Monday. Not 13 days...MrT
    • Ya, this coming Monday. Although, if I was your client I'd email you back asking for clarity, "you mean the 24th or the 31st?"Gnash
    • ok. thanks guyshotroddy
    • 'Next whatever day' is the next occurence of that day.
      'Whatever day week' is not the next occurence, but the one after that.
      BusterBoy
    • Clarify the day like Gnash saidOBBTKN
    • Obviously the exact "next" Monday.freedom
    • This monday is the following one. Next monday is the one after.set
    • Your client speaks proper Englishset
    • There's no need to ever say next monday for the following one. You just say on monday, or this monday. Next monday means the one AFTER the following monday.set
    • The next one along, not this one just coming.set
    • Set's English lesson for the day.set
  • set5

    Just had a client ask..

    'Can we maximise the RGB colours please?'

    No. No we can't.

    • lolmonospaced
    • you should max all the other colours, just to piss them off.Fax_Benson
    • what does that even mean?oey
    • No ideaset
    • https://www.pyimages…ETM
    • maximize efficiently to stay under budget.umbee54
    • product mgr at a record label once admonished me for not using 'all the colours' in a 4-colour ad magazine ad. "we payed for ALL the colours!"Gnash
    • GNASH:
      Bhahahahaha!
      I bet he felt so smart saying that
      Miguex
    • lolset
    • and it was for this album
      http://loudwire.com/…
      Gnash
    • Butterflies can see light that humans cannot see, should have asked if they were related.Maaku
    • send them a Set psb giffuturefood
    • Give them to a wider gamut! ... to nerdy!mugwart
  • BusterBoy0

    Spent hours of testing on a client site and had to put through a test transaction late Friday. Accidentally ran one through of $1,000 - sent them a polite email apologising and requesting the transaction be refunded.

    Get an email this morning from an angry young bookeeper telling me "not to do that again" and "this has caused me a LOT of extra work".

    Fuck me...I was moments away from getting on the phone and blasting this uppity little cunt. Sorry you need to click "refund transaction" from your gateway account...turd.

    Discretion got the better of me....had a strong cup of coffee. Still contemplating an email to the owner of the business who I know pretty well.

    • https://i.imgur.com/…
      be cool, like fonzy
      Gnash
    • :)BusterBoy
    • don't do it. at least for now. keep your cool. obviously this person doesn't know shit about how to test something.oey
    • and next time just ask the bookie to test it himself...hahahaha!oey
  • monoboy0

    Absolute cracker today.

    I get sent a rather curt email from a random competitor (agency) asking for details on the email hosting for one of my clients.

    The client has asked them to set up a new user mailbox.

    I phone the client to ask why they didn't ask me to do it, seeing as it's a five-minute job and I have control of the current hosting account.

    Turns out the client wanted to switch 'provider' because it's rubbish and keeps 'archiving her emails too often and quickly'.

    You mean your Outlook AutoArchive settings?

    Jesus.

    • I only offered to set it up originally to help them out. More hassle than it's worth.monoboy
    • I've always been really polite and courteous to peers when I'm taking over the work. No need to be a twat in addition to taking their client.noneck
    • I don't think she even realises it's her mistake or the time involved in migrating business critical communications.monoboy
    • More than happy to pass on the responsibility of hosting their email. But it's the total lack of understanding and curtesy that pisses me off.monoboy
  • aslip0

    Was given annual list of "100 Things to do" for local tourism client. In previous years, they had a list that read like body copy. Thinking of the reader/tourist, we categorized, labeled and broke apart the items.

    Client response: "We don't want things grouped and labeled. People like to hunt for their business or event to see if it made the list."

  • monoboy0

    Same geezer...

    Have you switched over my new email address on the website?

    ....Yes, we did it last month. I sent you a few test emails and you replied. MailChimp is also receiving new subscriptions OK.

    Thank god for Basecamp. Seriously.

    • I document every client interaction and post recaps in Basecamp for this exact reason. Has saved my ass countless times.Crack_Junkie
    • I hate crap like this when couldn't they just LOOK at their own website to check? Or submit a test contact form?ETM
    • He can't really use a computer. Verifying his email for MailChimp took a 30 minute phone call that felt like a scene from Airplane.monoboy
    • Wow... considering most grandparents now can email, browse the web and use Facebook without issue.ETM
  • SlashPeckham-1

    When your client sees his new logo for the first time:

  • HAYZ1LLLA0

    Once had a client who asked me to quote some work. Hadn't heard from them in a few years.

    The email he sent me asking for the quote was a RE: to our last communication we had in which I was informing him I was taking legal proceedings for not paying his bills.

  • sted2

    "We need someone that can do the back door stuff, make things work better etc"

    • ...
      ...
      ...anal? err...
      sofakingback
    • what a shitty thing to say!utopian
    • Chinese clients are the best, no chit-chat, straight to the point!sted
    • lol stedGnash
  • ShaneHolley5

    A while back an account director said:

    Her
    "Can we have vertical stripes on it, but have them going horizontally"

    Me
    " you mean horizontal stripes?"

    Her
    "No. They are vertical but on their side."

    I used horizontal stripes in said visual and she was very happy. Lovely.

    • vertizontal stripes are so hot right nowFax_Benson
    • I had a guy tell me lines were so last year. I asked, oh whats "in" this year?

      Dotted lines. *blank stare
      sofakingback
  • monoboy2

    Another classic today.

    I produced some illustrations last Monday, tight turnaround, client keen to get them done. No problem, I had a light week.

    The first draft goes up that afternoon, I get some minor positive feedback. I post back same day, ask a few questions, await further feedback.

    Nothing until 5pm on Friday. Then a huge long email arrives with a complete spec change and my mobile starts going. I don't answer.

    He then emails asking for it to be done today.

    Sorry mate, you missed your slot. I'm busy till Thursday.

    Have some respect for people's time for fucks sake.

    • (Sorry I sound like a moany bitch but good grief).monoboy
    • No you don't. I hate clients like this. They unburden themselves on a Friday so they can enjoy their weekend at the cost of yours.ETM
    • Clients try this all the time and I won't have it. Sorry, not unless I agreed ahead of time to work the weekend or they want to pay rush (double) rate.ETM
    • Got another today as well. Billboard artwork due last week, didn't get the spec I asked for until today. 'Can we have it today'.monoboy
    • Drives me up the fooking wall. This is also how mistakes get made.monoboy
    • this is exactly how mistakes get made and then somehow they blame the designer. i hate this shit.capn_ron
  • monoboy1

    Today I get an attached winmail.dat file that was supposed to contain a load of important files.

    I ask for him to just re-send the PDFs as an attachment or send a .zip archive instead.

    Reply "We don’t appear to have access to Zip documents here".

    From a large international insurance company with the strapline...
    Business Without Barriers™

    • Outlook does this, and its terrible. You can get a program to open the winmail.dat. There are also websites that will do it.noneck
    • I looked into it but thankfully he sent PDFs. Such a ball ache.monoboy
  • monoboy1

    Today I get this. In response to a fully costed, on brand and slick looking set of packaging concepts. Weeks after it was sent.

    I spent days on it. Which will still get billed.

    • ugfht, Worst thing to hear! Ball's in their court, the stupid fucks. Charge them for what you've done and gtfo.detritus
    • They're actually a good client, never quibble invoices but do make totally bonkers decisions. Can be exhausting.monoboy
    • Imagine you telling your accountant that your 7 year old niece is good at maths and has drafted some figures to use on your annual return.fruitsalad
    • That's how your client is talking.fruitsalad
    • that's what he should call his design company:
      Linda's Daughters Boyfriend
      Gnash