How does one avoid clients from hell?
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- gramme0
Everything harlequino has said in this thread is entirely true, gold-plated, lined in red velvet and smells like apple pie.
- *scratches nethers
*smells hand
*disagreesharlequino - oh wait, you said...
nevermindharlequino
- *scratches nethers
- sintaxera0
harlequino is right on. Get the deposit. If you need to do a little eduacating, so be it, but be prepared to let them go if they refuse or if they turn out to be shady.
Make sure you're very clear in your contract/estimate about number of revision rounds, etc. they'll get and that anything above and beyond the stated terms will be charged accordingly. Stick to your guns about this. If they turn out to be a super pain in the ass with revision after revision, etc., make sure you'll be getting paid well for dealing with it.
- Glitterati_Duane0
I've never asked for 50% down. I always wuss out. Am I the only one??? Damn...
- Yes, now clean those tumbleweeds out of your checking account ;Pgramme
- :(Glitterati_Duane
- 50% upfront. I swear by it man especially with new clients. I don't start work without it if they have a problem with that boot.Iggyboo
- antigirl0
it depends how fast a project is comin down.
i have rarely signed contract - in fact, i think i have only signed one [at the clients request].. i have also never asked for 50% down.
and [knock on something] i have always been paid. i am good to my clients and they're good to me!
- Yeah. I had a client walk out without paying me once but for the most part I guess I've been lucky too. I get fucked on the revisions though.Glitterati_Duane
- I think it's insane to not get 50%, clients walk.. clients bully and clients can say hey fuck it I'll pay you x even though You asked for y.Iggyboo
- you stated y.Iggyboo
- Karpa0
Straight answear ? There is no solution really!
Another one straight up front ? You will collide with this often!For the last 8 years I have found a few GREAT clients but it was nothing but luck, because most of them just come from hell :)
Best,
- antigirl0
oh
and ill fire a client pretty easily, if our vision isn't the same on a project.
in such situations, i have sent an invoice to be paid for the work i have done. they have never tried to fuck me over etc.
fuck bad clients and/or projects.
- seed0
I've never had anyone have any issue with paying upfront. They understand you are being paid to start work. I think they are just happy to know the details of the agreement so they feel safe about it. I just tell them that is how the process goes and that it is standard in the industry. I always give the option of 2 or 3 payments with results in 1/3 to 1/2 up front. Whatever they prefer.
- Iggyboo0
I think it's clear to do this one needs to start with a very upfront and well thought out plan for a kick off meeting. Get your 50% upfront describe you don't work without pay. Be upfront. Figure out the plan, give an estimate, get a deposit and get started. And no work speculative prior to deposit. What can happen and happened to me in this case that a client says I want to do X gives a deposit for X and changes the scope to much larger and then hesitates on wanting give the 50% upfront as a security deposit = cheapskates not backing the project financially unstable blah blah.
- chossy0
IF anybody said any one of the three things you listed spec. 50% and 24 hours I'd simply say I am no longer interested in this project and would like to pass on it thank you for your interest.