situation
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- jysta
So the situation is this...
Got a brief for a really exciting design project. Meet with the guys behind the concept, all really cool, clever guys who have all content etc done and want a brand ID and site designed. I estimate a certain amount of time required for supply of flats to their developer. On top of this project I have 2/3 other projects so I give a reasonable time-scale. Then I get a call asking for the project to be done in 10 days, after initial deposit has been taken. Speak over phone, feel like an ass-hole saying I can't budge on time-scales as I'm already over stretched on work. What do I do, offer a refund and turn the job down? Or just crack on regardless? I wish I had contacts to outsource some stuff like this.
The initial time-scale was 6-8 weeks so 10days is pretty crazy imo. This kinda stuff really makes me think about a career change.
- fadein110
Work your ass off and get it all done... this happens all the time working for yourself. Don't lose a new client over a few late nights. Or dare I say outsource part of it to someone you can rely on.
- completely agree! outsorce or bust your own arse...don't quit because of job overload...loool
- goldieboy0
6-8 weeks to 10 days?? Negotiate and meet them in the middle to buy yourself more time? Or, outsource it to someone here. Don't knock the work back, as fadein said, a few late nights will be worth it if all else fails
- set0
I agree with the golden boy...
From 6-8 weeks to 10 days is pretty ridiculous, you don't want them to think from now on that you will just drop everything and do rush work for them on a whim. Sets a bad president in my opinion.
- fadein110
10 days for just visuals sounds fine to me - he mentions a developer so he's not even developing the site. 6-8 weeks for visuals is ridiculous.
- fadein110
ah identity as well - but still... just sounds like working for an agency. those timescales are normal working for someone.
- Horp0
Well hang on there. Whilst I agree you should bend over backwards to avoid giving them the money back, I think you need to labour the point to the client that they have decimated the production time that was originally agreed and there has to be some adjustments to accommodate that. You need to add some rush fees to cover the nights and weekend you now estimate you will need to work. They need to sign an agreement that states they will not attempt to deviate from the agreed project scope. This needs to state CLEARLY that the new deadline will be voided if they start changing things around, coming up with new ideas, asking for things to be different to what has been agreed. There needs to be penalty agreements in place to keep them in line - they need to know they are encroaching on other client's time and they need to be very respectful of your business and your other client's businesses. They need to agree a stepped kill fee from here on in, so that if this new, 10 day deadline proves impossible to meet, they have already agreed to pay you for the days you've done. For ten days I'd say that the fee needs to be divided up by ten, and the kill fee is however many days you've worked if/when they pull the plug.
That is also why its crucial to get a signed off document listing every possible aspect and detail of the project... because if this goes tits up they will try to blame you to avoid paying your kill fee, so you need a paper trail that shows you stuck to the plan, and they deviated and made the deadline unreachable.
Personally I would proceed with caution. Its never a good sign when a client thinks they can jump from 6-8 weeks down to ten days. Shows a total lack of understanding of what has been agreed.
- Horp0
I just read that the 10 days is for visuals only.
Ignore my previous post and get on with it you slow bastard. 10 days is a fucking luxury stroll in the real world.
Jesus, I thought it was for some major design and build project.
- jamble0
I don't see how you could go from 6-8 weeks to 2 weeks. You've either vastly overestimated the original timescale in which case, maybe you can push it in 2 weeks or the timescale is about right and asking to reduce it that much is insanity.
- monospaced0
You charge more for the rushed timescale, and then hire someone to help.