Firing Clients
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- Ambushstudio
Hey people, I just wanted to read your thoughts on this matter, How often do you fire a client? How do you do it? How do you explain your method of work to the client? do you do it by writing? is it in the contract?
I was doing a 2011 review and got very scared of how many clients we had to stop working with, I know it's not good to fight with your clients, but there is a point were they're so disrespectful of what we do...
Also mind that we're working from a 3rd world country, and trying to do high quality stuff so that gets even harder.
thanks in advance.
- zoozoo0
not sure if serious. your on qbn to ask this?
- zoozoo0
i mean, how did you start a business if you can't handle this without going on a message board?
- legit question in my opinionhorton
- I can totally handle it, I was just curious on how other people do it.Ambushstudio
- zoozoo0
sorry for my bluntness, i mean no disrespect.
- vaxorcist0
think of it as a sales pipeline mismatch...
- why do you get clients who drive you crazy?
- how can you go after different clients?or maybe an expectations management/introduction/pitch mismatch.....
- expectations management is a huge thing
- your intro conversations with a client are a golden opportunity to make certain assumptions clear, so you don't go off on different mindsets without each other knowing....
- Ambushstudio0
It's really sad, cause those intro conversations are always super amazing, they love the folio, they say they are open to new , fresh stuff etc, but when it comes down they just chicken out, take forever to do shit and are crappy with the payments, of course this is the same on every country.
We try to be very clear and transparent on what we would and won't do, we have tons of meetings, but it looks like at least 3 out of every 10 clients become assholes.I just wanted to know what it takes for other people to fire a client.
- panacea0
It's very simple.
Hello Sir,
I'm no longer interested in work for you.
Regards,
Ambushstudio
- zoozoo0
"We will call you back."
- CALLES0
its not me its you
- monospaced0
fuck you pay me
- zoozoo0
The only way this could get tricky is if you have some verbal agreement to continue to work on their properties.
Lets say you are doing their website and you deliver it as 'done', well lets say in a month they want some changes..if you don't do them they may try to ruin your rep and say that you flaked out on the project.
In that instance I would have them sign a 'completed order' form.
- boobs0
Maybe you need more skills in persuasion to get them to go allow with the really creative projects?
- omg0
Why do we always protect the names of these corporations? names or get the fuck out!
- Ambushstudio0
pr2, we've totally discussed a situation like that, but so many different things can go wrong, it could backfire, maybe with a different name and shuch...
We have no problem in telling an asshole he's being one, or just moving along and not working with a client if he's not doing he's part, I just feel that maybe the problem is somewhere in the middle, maybe we just let clients do whatever the fuck they want to much during the job, and we let the situation get to a place were there's just nothing else to do, just tell the client to fuck off.
This never happens out of the blue, we totally try, and be alive me we want and need that money, I'm I taking this shit to seriuosly?, should I chill more and just fucking make things a bit uglier so these assholes pay me?
ugghhh it's so confusing...
- svante0
Michael Bierut on clients, he talks about firing clients around minute 43:40–end.
http://cameronmoll.com/archives/…
"The biggest favor you can do for yourself is to put yourself in a position where you can walk away"
- inteliboy0
Better to recommend the client to another friend/colleague/studio in the industry rather than just fire them. Someone more "aligned" to the kind of work they're after.
- nice suggestiondesmo
- this has happened, and it's ideal.Ambushstudio
- very nicemonospaced
- "someone more aligned" - i like that, noted.horton
- +1alicetheblue
- Ambushstudio0
The problems are not only about style or an specific line of work, those are totally fixable I think, The biggest problem is attitude I would say...