weird client
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- senseg
Hey
got a client, which for 2 weeks been messaging me if i'm available for work, spoke over the phone, went trough details. And it's been 2 weeks, and nothing REAL happens. keep promising for prepayment and says "tomorrow we start" and nothing happens again. wtf?
- dMullins0
If there's anything I've learned in my last 8 months of truly being full-time freelance, it's this.
Once you have your initial call and your pitch meeting, that's it. Walk away from it, mentally. If you sit and obsess over whether they will call you back, you will drive yourself nuts. Fact is, most people are idiots who just want to waste your time until they can find someone to do the job for peanuts.
- senseg0
so true, time wasted to hell.
- fyoucher10
Yep, what dMullins said, they're prolly looking for someone cheaper but keeping you in the loop just in case. Nothing you can really do about that ... but that's a good reason to specify an expiration date for your estimates.
- dMullins0
I'm only saying that because in those 8 months I've had about 20-30 potential new clients. Only three of them were actually worth a damn, and even one of those was a flake (had to beat his door down and send a letter from my lawyer to get final payment, because he assumed I was some idiot who would let him walk over me).
- With the chance of being wrong and sounding harsh: do you have any business skills?Stian
- senseg0
maybe i will sound bad, but i wont do that anymore, unless the client pays deposit. so tired of that.
- pinkfloyd0
What a tease, but it seems to happen often.
- dMullins0
Another thing I've done recently is adjusted all of my estimates, etc., to include language that basically says the following:
1. Quote expires XX date.
2. Deposit payment on work due up-front in the amount of $XX.
3. Failure to move the project forward by the client for more than 30 days will result in closure of all work. At that time, I will bill in full for the remainder of the project's payment balance. In order to re-open a closed job, a 10% unarchiving fee will be assessed to your account balance.Not in those words exactly. Saves me the headache of having to apply my own "bullshit filter" to a person.
- senseg0
thanks for your support.
- bjladams0
^ good stuff, we always put that the quote is good for 30 days from date of issue, and that either 50% or 100% due up front
- Al_dizzle0
I started full-time freelancing at the beginning of February... and Im already starting to regret the shit.
Im laying in bed worrying more about shit, than I ever did when I was working full time for someone else.
- You just started, there are it's ups and downs.fyoucher1
- It takes a certain kind of constitution to be accountable for yourself...SeriousFreelancing
- you can become comfortable with anything. give it time and you'll get the hang of it (goes for anything in life really)monNom
- If you're a worrier then you're a worrier. It won't ever really end. At least it hasn't for me yet. But best of luck!nocomply
- SeriousFreelancing0
Always Be Closing
- capn_ron0
bump
- CanHasQBN0
shoot 'em in the ass!
- Fantrom0
I've been freelancing for 10+ years but still tweak my contract based on the previous years client problems.
Here are a few key points on my contract [abridged]:
PAYMENT
Total Cost: $0000.00
First Payment: $0000.00 USD (No work commences until first payment is received.) * Usually $50% of total.
Final Payment: $0000.00 USD (Within 7 days of project completion)
TIMELINE
Any alteration or deviation from the above specifications involving extra costs will be executed only upon approval with the client. The designer shall not incur any liability or penalty for delays in the completion of the project due to actions or negligence of client, unusual transportation delays, unforeseen illness, or external forces beyond the control of the designer. If such event(s) occur, it shall entitle the designer to extend the completion/delivery date, by the time equivalent to the period of such delay.
* This basically allows you to shelf any project the same amount the client delays it.
Here are is a key addition I made to my contract recently:
REVISIONS
The client is entitled to three [3] rounds of revisions or changes. Whether the revisions are major or minor in scope, they must be included within that particular round. If more revisions are required after the three [3] rounds have been used, an hourly fee exploration structure will come into effect.
* I got burned many times with clients believing they had unlimited rounds and had the project run way past it's deadline.
Hope this helps a little.
- helps a lot. thanks.Al_dizzle
- I'm copying thismonospaced
- 3 rounds is actually a lot...
I usually limit my clients to 2 at most...NONEIS - The amount of rounds is in brackets as it should vary based on budget, scope and type of project, client and so on.Fantrom
- Josev0
Sounds like a problem client. This is why it's good thing to save up for slow periods. Freelancing is full of this type of crap. If you have cash set aside you wont be desperate and put up with problem people.
I've been freelancing for 17 years and have just recently figured out that success is more about who I choose to work with rather than just having work.
- vaxorcist0
is it a predictable kind of gig, or is it a totally new idea for a startup?
If it's a predictable gig, there is much great advice above about 50%, timing, etc.....
if it's a startup, try to make sure they have a business model in mind that may actually work... take nothing personally,and be think of the project as a gamble that may or may not work out...
- inteliboy0
we need a freelancer tips/help thread. so many little nuggets of real-world help on qbn.