Client Dilema
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- arinya
Last spring I designed a website for new design start up. It was really simple under 2k. But then the owner's life went all to hell his company went to hell and I never got paid for my services. Thanks God I kept all the work!
Well now this morning the guy emailed me asking me how much I'd sell the site to him now that he's got his life in order again. So I give him an offer. Basically his old unpaid invoice. He replies back that he does not have enough funds and could only pay me 1/4 of the price I gave him!
I know what I'm gonna do but figured I'd ask you peeps for some advice cuz I've never had a problem with clients not paying. What would you do in my situation? Tell him to take a hike or give him 1/4 of the work?
- brandelec0
installments
- gabriel_pc0
tell them to take a hike, unless the quality or quantity of the work has changed, there's no reason to change the price of it.
- function820
i agree with installments, and i guess it depends on wether you need the cash or not. if the work is done, and you're going to get nothing at all for the time spent, something is better than nothing. if he asks for changes or more work, charge him 4 times your regular rate
- nosaj0
high-interest lay away plan. Rent to Own.
- jevad0
take a fucking hike! and don;t go installments - judging by his track record you'll never see the money.
all or nothing
- arinya0
Installments huh? I'm afraid that will take for freakin ever but at least I can hold him accountable for the lousy offer he made me this morning and then expect the rest in the months to come. Thanks guys!
- shellie0
tell him pay up.. or im sure eventually you'll find someone who can buy the site and just make a few tweaks to it.. and get paid 2500 for it.
its your call.. but you can always reuse the work for someone else that can pay.
also.. when people tell you their budget, it usually means they can afford much more than that. he can pay the full price.
- function820
telling him to take a hike is a good idea, but when its the difference between having dinner or not, or paying rent or not, then the situation is different, it sucks, but sometimes something is better than nothing, depends on your financial situation though
- arinya0
Yeah shellie i'm afraid the bastard is just lying to me. *waves closed fist in the air*
- codogg0
What?...Put the site on layaway? instrallment payments? Are you a ghetto Pawn Shop selling stolen Rolex watches?
Tell him its all or nothing. I have to assume you have already accepted you arent getting paid for the work you have put in so far. Id say, keep the design for your arsenal...Don't Settle on a lower price....
- jevad0
call his bluff
- airey0
any chance you could work out a payment plan with the client? perhaps offer the site on a 25% up front and then either monthly or quarterly payments? maybe i've got the wrong attitude but i personally think you're better getting some cash than nothing but if you can afford to hold out for the total then do so. let us know how you go.
- Mick0
Meet him hlaf way - or there abouts. It will cost him $ to get someone else to do it from scratch anyway so if he wants a site he has to face the fact that it will cost him. Show him that you are lowering $ a little but won't lower THAT much. $ better than nothing right?
- pkny0
pay up sucker..
why would he even bother to buy the website back if he's just got his life back together - i think he'd better manage things by not buying the website esp when he can pay a 1/4.. i personally think he's just taking adv. of you
if you think its worth it.. tell him to pay installments.. if you're not in need of cash and the time u spent on it wasn't a big deal consider it as sidework that never made thru..
- kezza_20
depends whether you think you will get some more work outta him...There is such a thing as a loss leader