Client Rant
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- e-wo0
I certainly have no regrets as to how I handled the project. I'm more concerned about having to deal with small claims court if he gets stubborn.
- As long as there's a good paper trail on your side, you should be good.Continuity
- It's not a great paper trail. What would make it great?e-wo
- Contracts, with a clause that gives you an out, if need be.Continuity
- Wish I had that. Will be revising contract form from here out to provide for it.e-wo
- Good call. When you freelance, you need to protect yourself as much as possible.Continuity
- noneck0
How to fire a client:
Call the client and say, "I don't think that we're a good fit. I don't think either of us is happy with where this is going, so I'm going to end this now before we get in too far. Here are some people you should talk to about your project that you'll probably be happier with. I really think you should call XYZ Company. Thank you very much for the opportunity to work together, I wish you all the best."50% of the time when you try to fire a client they can't believe that it's happening, and try to address whatever it is they did to get fired.
You said, "I tire of working with people who see me as a tool, rather than an advisor." Do you have this happen often? If you do, then I'd say it's your fault. You're probably doing something to sell yourself as a screwdriver rather than an advisor. Either that or you're just really bad at figuring out which clients are going to be a headache.
- i_monk0
Your client is a buffoon.
- raf0
It is important to always tell the client he's paying for your expertise and you are results-driven: goal is for the website to bring him money.
- zenmasterfoo0
"I tire of working with people who see me as a tool, rather than an advisor."
It's why I quit my last job. Seriously, it's the sole reason. When you get to a point where you can tell the other person is waiting for you to stop talking and just do what they asked for, it's time to leave.
Be blunt. Tell them, what they need to hear - without of course sounding like a complete whiny ass. The best feeling in the world is when you lose baggage from your life. It's a freeing experience. More work will come, eventually. Your sanity and self worth are more important than the ego of your client.
- d_rek0
hey evin,
How are things at Tower? Been meaning to reach out to you guys and say hello!
Your client sounds a bit pretentious... maybe they just need some education? The whole 'eye-level' thing is sort of absurd and moot point if you assume the context we're talking about for the site is your typical LCD monitor that is also typically placed directly in front of the viewer. By that logic the monitor is always at 'eye-level'.
Sounds like they have some sort of presumptions about viewing content on-screen. I guess if I had to interpret their commetns they're probably looking for a site with a large masthead that eats up the top 1/3rd of their screen so that any content starts below that... just a few dwindling thoughts....
*gets more coffee
- Things are great, other than this project. Some big, challenging projects coming soon.
Yeah, this guy basically thinks he's an expert in a field if he has a friend who works in the industry. He's friends with some very ancient print advertisers, so he believes he's got a leg up on me as far as functionality goes.
I think he's probably something like 800 x 600. Which is kind of a metaphor for the whole interaction.e-wo - And yes, he's probably around 800 x 600.e-wo
- Things are great, other than this project. Some big, challenging projects coming soon.
- BoneCrusher0
yeah you can tell them that raf. Repeat it as many times as you want.
But that doesn't mean they'll believe it.
- i_monk0
Solution: Cluster everything in the middle of the screen.
- Continuity0
God, I hate to invoke his name, but you could always point your numb-nuts client here:
http://www.useit.com/eyetracking…
I need a shower, now. >_<
- e-wo0
Oh my god. Showing him that site would result in hours and hours on the phone. I would eat a whole clip.
- vaxorcist0
hmmm.... could be due to bifocals.... did he just get new glasses?
- utopian0
The CEO decides he will now design his own logo instead....
- HA! I snorted ....zenmasterfoo
- were you talking about this? http://www.lordandta…jmilligan
- acrossthesea0
Good for you for firing this guy. Doesn't sound like he's worth the effort since he's already an "expert". Keep it positive.
- i_monk0
^ Ask which design school he went to.
- e-wo0
Luckily, this is not a frequent problem. A lot of low-paying, high-expectation clients try to hop in the pilot's seat, and I scold them. This guy is just unflinchingly pretentious.
Which is what I should have seen from the get go, and my bullshit meter has been adjusted accordingly.
- Everyone thinks they're the art/creative director.i_monk
- Samush0
i'm dealing with the same situation at the moment. really isn't fun, especially as its been happening for 10 months and as a freelancer I can't just drop the client, they still owe me money.
- monNom0
you should point to all other websites on the internet as your rebuttal.
- instrmntl0
It depends on what type of website they want.
here's upper and mid:
http://www.wk.commost are top nav tho, unless its a microsite. check FW Apple.com if you wanna find micro sites that dont adhere to the top. If its not a microsite, they may have a point.