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Sometimes you just HAVE to fire the client....
It's really frustrating and I think I'm just going to tell her to buzz off and have someone else do it.
And add "It's not profittable for me to work with you.". (But just say it to yourself. :) )
Say good-bye, be polite, add call me if you have trouble and then charge them the going rate, and nothing less if they come back.
..... Shane
Sometimes you just HAVE to fire the client....
I wish I could fire one of my client's but he still owes me too much money. I'll make a fortune in late fees if he ever pays up.
Yeah, you can't sweat it. I have a competitor in town that does the $39.95 for the home page and $9.95 each additional page thing. They seem to have quite a loyal following, even if all of their sites suck out loud.
I think you're better off charging more and doing good work. Then, the theory goes, you'll attract the higher budget customrs. I'm still waiting for that to matrialize, but I think it's a good rationale.
In fact, I remember going to a Chamber of Commerce event and telling somone that I was in web design. He said somthing like, "Hey, that's a $5,000 a pop business, right?" I admitted that I usually run under $1,000. He wasn't impressed.
Which reminds me of my art teacher telling me to make sure to charge big bucks for my paintings. That way people will think that they're worth something.
He's bound to believe he needs you....
[Another caveat: I grew up in Las Vegas, so a lot of my attitudes were formulated in that atmosphere - some of my hard-nosed edges might not work in a softer climate....]
One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how diversified the price ranges are for webdesign. Theres people charging all the way from $10 to $200 an hour. Unfortunately the clients tend to think its "all the same"
Funny how you don't see this type of effect with other professions like mechanics, lawyers, plumbers, etc... Prices may vary, but theyre usually all around the same ballpark.
I also have found I can get them to pre-purchase blocks of maintenance hours by offering a discount. This takes care of the issue of having to worry about them paying me later after runnoing up a big bill.
I have actually required some clients, especially those that have been a PIA during the build, to purchase the maintenance plan before I would do any updates. (In these case I knew that they were going to be slow to pay based on past history, so I was covering my A..)
So the guy found someone who can do it for a third... good for him... but as a few of these posts point out, you get what you pay for.
Plus maybe it's just me but I find the clients that want the cheapest prices are often the most difficult too.
I've got one competitor who actually used the "you get what you pay for" cliche to explain why he charges $150/year for domain registration.
The idea that higher prices = higher quality is a myth.
I really don't know how these people stay in business charging $20 an hour, although I'm going to assume that they charge for phone calls, meetings, and emails (I don't and probably should).
In any case, I think my new plan will be to just avoid these types of clients (I should have seen the warning signs with this one) and also make sure I discuss some type of retainer plan from the very beginning so that they know the maintenance and updates won't be cheap.
I've just reached my 1 year anniversary of freelancing and looking back I can see I've learned so much... to bad I learned it all the hard way. :(
Oh well, at least I love my job ;)
assume that they charge for phone calls, meetings, and emails (I don't and probably should).
Now, now.... nobody likes the "lawyer" fee structure.
Here's what you should think about. For a design project, get a sketch, and a complete outline of pages to be made. Anything over that, make them submit a signed change order (like in construction) and be sure they understand that any change orders are not part of the original bid but are billed hourly.
Once the reputation is there, you can charge what you want (as long as the work reflects the reputation) We charge more than other guys, give better results than other guys, and everybody's happy. Structure is the key.
Good luck.
Its not so much that I started the job at a discount rate... I quoted a fixed price for the whole project, but she ended up demanding all this extra stuff and I (like an idiot) did most of it - hence why it became a bit of a disaster.
I add this to all my estimates (note I don't call them quotes). It definitely helps:
"These figures are an estimate, not a quote. They are based on information provided, and may be inappropriate if additional information is forthcoming, or job specifications change. It is valid for 30 days."
Its not so much that I started the job at a discount rate... I quoted a fixed price for the whole project, but she ended up demanding all this extra stuff and I (like an idiot) did most of it - hence why it became a bit of a disaster. Eventually I said thats all I'm going to do, and any extra work will cost XX amount of money per hour.
If you are going to give a fixed or relatively fixed price quote, know what is included and have that defined in the text of the agreement (e.g. so many pages, fixed text, three images per page maximum). Also define what is not included (no database connection, no shopping cart, no scrolling images, ...). You have now defined the scope of the work. Some people think scope is just what is included. Good scope definitions also have what is not included so that the client can not misunderstand. An example would be, in-scope, three images, out-of-scope, finding and selecting the three images.
Itemize and number what you will do in the written agreement.
When you consider you have finished the assignment, write and send an "end of assignment" letter. You can also describe how each of the numbered items has been delivered.
If I hire you, and I want to really negotiate you into the ground, I'll get you to agree to a fixed price before all the details are worked out, then I'll include some costly details. On the other hand, if you are doing a "time and materials" contract, then I'll let you know everything, especially the large items up front so I know what it will cost.
Costly lesson, but good lessons aren't cheap. :)
..... Shane
It's the most effective way I've found so far to bill appropriately. AND being's it's a very professional package, the client sees UP FRONT that you are a professional. Sometimes that "vision" is all it takes to keep the client from becoming a "gimme" monster.
I'm learning that it all comes down to value -- not what I can convince the client is valuable, but what he/she actually considers to be valuable. For some clients, that will be the best possible price. For others, it will be having an expert they trust (quality and service).
I think that the key is to figure out which two you value and seek clients that value the same ones. For me, I pick quality and service. One good reason for this is that my highest-paying clients are also the easiest to work with.
[edited by: stuntdubl at 3:57 pm (utc) on June 22, 2004]
[edit reason] No urls, thanks. See TOS [webmasterworld.com] [/edit]
I used that line once, got me the job.
$20 an hour... nice. After taxes they're making around what, roughly $12 an hour? I'd imagine their skills are worth just that; $12 an hour! I'd bet your customer comes crawling back complaining that the these jokers are not nearly as skilled. Which is why you leave the relationship on good solid terms.
And when they do come crawling back, give them this letter and make them sign it before you'll do any work:
Dear <your name>,I, <customer name>, am very very very very very very sorry for doubting you. I have seen the light and the price you charge is more than reasonable in this industry. The cheap ass designer I switched to was a bucket of crap. You are the best designer in the world. You are the messiah of web design, and they should have talked about you in the Bible like "The father, the son, the holy ghost, and <your name>".
I will never doubt you again.
Sincerely,
<the customer>
I smile at such clients and relate the following story:
Years ago I was in the business of selling, installing, and servicing gas fireplaces. A customer told me that he had a price from a competitor that was several hundred dollars lower than my estimate. He denied any difference in product or installation. He declined to put both estimates on the table for point by point comparison. I declined to lower my price. My competitor unloaded several cartons in the customer's driveway and left - installation had not been included in the written quote (only verbally implied - and denied). In the end the customer paid a thousand dollars over my price (I declined the installation).
I then smile again and say:
You know exactly what you will get at what cost from me. Are you absolutely certain about the competing offer?
If so, I hope you will be very happy working with them. We must have coffee sometime.
If not, shall we begin?
The two keys to all good business relationships:
Do exactly what digitalv suggested, make them eat dirt. If you are worth your weight in salt it shouldn't be a problem.
You have to be in control, you have to show no fear, you have to instill confidence in your clients.
Some people will be selling "snake oil" in this scenerio, if those folks succeed good luck to them and shame on those of us that are offering real solutions that fail!
