stephanieakerman - 4:29 pm on Apr 23, 2009 (gmt 0)

Hello everyone! I’m new here and I wanted to get some opinions, if you have some time! This is going to get REALLY long, so bear with me if you can! I’ll at least make readable paragraphs! I have been designing sites and graphics for over 10 years now. However, I’ve completely under priced myself for too long. Most of my clients are stay at home moms (like myself) who have businesses they run from home, usually children’s clothing for sale. You get the idea!

Anyhow, I’ve never felt the need to use contracts (great business head here!) because I’ve had great clients. However, my two most recent clients are about driving me to drink. I’m usually pretty clear about what I’m offering for the price they’re paying. But it seems, these two clients are really taking advantage of me.

The first one gave me a clear – It looks great, publish it. Then days later, they wanted major changes and couldn’t believe that I wanted to charge them for my time. I’ve got some nerve wanting to be paid for my time and energy, huh? Then they asked if I would do maintenance on the site. I said sure a few changes here or there, no problem. I literally get an email every two days for additions or removals. These people are insane! I have been paid through June to continue the maintenance on the site. So my question about them is, would you just grin and bear it and tell them to buzz off when the time expires or would you refund the remaining balance and tell them to buzz off early? There is no way in Hades I’m keeping them on as clients when the term is over.

Now, the other issue I have with another client. No contract with them either…brilliant, huh? Anyhow, I’ve done 5, yes 5 mock-ups that they keep wanting changed. My site clearly says I’ll do 2. It’s 2 ladies running this small business and apparently they don’t read the emails they each send to me. One of them likes the blue, the other wants it changed to green. One wants this font, they other wants that font changed. The list goes on and on! So I think I need to email them letting them know that they need to get together and put their final thoughts into ONE email and I’ll do one more mockup.

Let me also mention, their site is mostly handmade graphics by me, because they want to use ridiculous fonts that not everyone has, so I have to make graphics and slice and map them. Plus they’ve taken weeks and weeks to get me just general info. I’d also like to draw up a contract too, so I can outline what I will do at this point, but do you think it’s to late for this? Do I just need to grin and bear it with them?

I’m so tired of people not getting it. I know they’re not designers and don’t know the ins and outs, but geesh, some of it is common sense, ya know? Thanks for getting through this and I really do appreciate any and all help and advice that anyone can give.

Stephanie

[edited by: coopster at 3:15 pm (utc) on April 25, 2009]
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