good guy/design guy
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- swollenelbow
here's my question fellows.
Formed a good relationship with a work client who i started freelancing for. We managed to work out a deal for certain amount of work to be done for a price. the price was very fair, and i mean very fair. Everything that was on the list on the original agreement was completed.
she has no more money, her backend people have given her a shit design for her frontend, she was in a bind, i offered to help out. we are pretty much done, she's still wanting changes, (changing the shade of blue on the entire site)
QUESTION?
should i be the "good guy" and say, "sure let's see what else we can do", knowing that she has no more money, and only will want more work to be done for her, aside from the long nights already spent "pro bono".
or, should i be stern design guy and say, look, "i'm doing you a big favor by putting my time into your site, that i may not even get paid for, i know we have a good relationship but i can't keep changing things, especially since we are so close to finishing?
is this too long? offer any advice?
- Soler0
I'd go w/ option b. Don't sell yourself short. Shes a business person she will understand.
I know its hard but that sghit always comes back to bite me. I'd stand up and say you want the cash.
in any other industry work for free is unheard of.
- Soler0
oh yeah, and next time it happens.. she'll take advantage. don't set the wrong precedent.
she doesn't have money, you don't have time to work for free. sounds like you are doing all you can.
don't be a dick.
business, never personal. word.
- MLVR0
yup alt. b... and you shouldn't change a color shade even for money if it doesn't makes stuff look better...
hmm is she hot? then forget what i said...
- kezza_20
ask for a bj
- swollenelbow0
i'll ask her right now...if she's hot! haha
no, guys thanks really, i'm going to talk to her tonight...there is like 3 more things, more production stuff to do than anything...but still things to finish the extra work off, but she keep prolonging it by come up with "ideas"
thanks again for the great advice...i always get pushed into doing things...
- designerror0
would she do it for you, if it was the other way around?
if so..
1) still go with option B, don't ever work for free when freelancing, the word might spread and then your are all fucked because everybody want a little extra for free, you know what i mean!
if not!
2) goto 1)
- monkeyshine0
but still things to finish the extra work off, but she keep prolonging it by come up with "ideas"
=============That says it all right there. I have "ideas" for how my garage renovation would rock but I'm not going to say to my contractor, well, I don't have any money...but here are some ideas.
And I can't imagine him saying to his contractor friends "there's this chick who wants me to renovate her garage but she has no money...and she keeps comng up with these ideas. what should I do?" :) same thing.
- swollenelbow0
client: can you help me with so, so and so and so...
items aren't specified in original contact.
what do you say? withouth sounding like an asshole.
- pascii0
once you are 'the nice designer guy who does all the favours for free' you can never get rid off.
- carver0
she's a bird right, i like what yer sayin' there>>" long nights spent "pro bono".
- swollenelbow0
haha carver, this is far from boning anyone professionally =)
hopefully the storm has past...
so pascii you are saying it's always going to be like that since i didn't start from the beginig being a hard ass?
- pascii0
it's just when u do favour after favour for no bill, then everyonbe thinks he or she could have the friendship-price. and then they complain about your money when u write tell them how the next job will cost.
- JazX0
bottomline, get your money, preferrably at least 40% up front.
- swollenelbow0
jaz, i've gotten my money...the thing is that what she paid for is not what she's getting....she's getting alot more!!
the price that i gave her hardly covers my work, but again being in this industry and getting shafted on jobs goes hand in hand...
- pascii0
unless you can be sure she will give you lots of more work, then a favour is ok. but really don't make yourself that 'cheap guy'
- BobRains0
It sucks to be in that position, now you have to judge is the relationship worth the extra effort.
What business is she in? Sure her budget is tapped but are their any other goods or services she can provide for you?
- idsgn0
i think we have all heard "will lead to more work in the future" before.
BS.
- derek30
id do like jesse james and put my palm out...
pay up sucka!
- swollenelbow0
we're going to see what happends now, what i was complaining about was completed last night.
yesterday i wrote her an email pretty much outlining what had been agreed on and what was done extra. i didn't say i wanted to get paid, but i did tell her that we had only 2 things left on the agreed contract and that was all that was needed to be finished. when time comes again for something i will not be nice guy and say "sure i'll do it" without getting some payment for it.
you guys are the bomb. NT is still my fave...thanks for the advice...