I fucked up...
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- cesar
A client of mine got pissed cause I did not deliver files to a printer in a timely fasion. But in my defence, his assistant coordinated the project with me and gave me no deadline or sence of urgency. (it took a week and a half to deliver the files) Now he wants all the art work I developed in a layerd format so he can do it in house. What to do?????? NT I need tech suppor....I mean designer support.
- matt240
Was there any agreement in the original contract concerning source files?
- unknown0
are you going to get paid for the work you produced? Was it really his assistants fault? Are you likely to get any more work from them?
Ask yourself those questions and speak to him, see if you can sort something out first.
- BonSeff0
unless he's willing to pay extra for them, dont give em up. that sucks that your timeline got jumbled, but since you dont work for him like his assistant, well that makes you the goat. try to talk it out ofcourse, but has he paid you for the work delivered yet?
- cesar0
Damn, thanks for listening NT, I am so bummed cause these guys are a big client and I like working for them.
matt24- the aggrement in the contract was to deliver Print Ready files only, there was never any discussion about source files.
rasko - I have invoiced him for the work I produced but i gave him a break on the price cause of the fuck up, I dont want to pin this on the assistant, I'd rather suck it up and say I misunderstood the urgency of the project, I would likely get more work from him if we smoothed things out.
bonSeff - I agree, and no the invoice has been sent, but no payment recieved.
- matt240
Since their was no agreement from the beginning to provide source files, you should bill him extra if he would like them. As well, bill him alot.
Most places will not give out source files because technically you the designer own the copyright to said work. Therefore, they need to come to you in the future if they would like to alter or change the materials.
Shitty circumstances but don't let them screw you over. Perhaps there is another solution besides giving up your source files. Offer to do changes at a discounted rate?
- monkeyshine0
yikes. I had something like this happen not to long ago and there was a 3rd party go-between too. I say, suck it up, apologize profusely and then some more, but don't turn over the layered files...maybe try not to use the words I can't or won't or no...try another angle ...like a solution that should keep this from happening again...anything that is offering them something as opposed to taking something away.
Above all, make sure next time to get the schedule in blood with signatures and many photocopies. If there is a slip in the schedule, redo it and send it out again. I've learned this the hard way.
Good luck.
- cesar0
All good advice, but I think that if they are going to want to make changes on their own, then I will have to charge them. Any more advice on how to smoothe this thing out would be welcome.
- matt240
yep, when you talk to him try not to make demands - say what can we do to resolve this. I am not comfortable handing over the source files without being compensated for them
- the_user0
sounds like you missed a deadline. If so, your bad and not much sympathy here.
If not, don't suck it up-- let the blame fall where it should. If that's on the assistant, then so be it.
- monkeyshine0
I agree about the demands part but I wouldn't say "not comfortable" to a pissed off client - he might tell you that you won't be comfortable with his foot up your arse either...if it comes to that, say you have a policy to not turn over source files (I have this clause in my contracts) but wait...why does he want source files if the thing is ready to print??
Diplomacy. What can you offer to make this right? Discount? Deal with the printer yourself? There must be something, no?