Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
(IMO) usually that's best in the long run...
There's lots of people "out there" that can do "the job"...
Tact two, whatever wedge you can gain access to to turn them off, use it. For most clients this is money, but this one can backfire - if you charge triple what it's worth and they **really** want you they may still want to move forward.
Personally I stick with tact 1. It has made some enemies but the clients that are loyal are loyal simply because of an unbreakable trust.
Think about the underlying issue, and then explain to him why you don't want to take the project in terms of that issue.
For example: you say he'll be a big hassle. I guess that means you think he won't be able to make his mind up, will pester you a lot, and generally need a lot of contact / hand-holding / face time. So, kind of an account management issue.
You could say something along the lines of: I don't think that we're the right firm to take on this project, because we don't have the account management staff we'd need for the amount of liaison with you (the client) that this project will need. I'd like to recommend This Other Firm, because I think they'd be able to give you a better service on this one - give Joe Bloggs there a ring on ### #### and he'll look after you.
Worth a try?
hth, a.
If it's a money issue (doesn't sound like he'll pay) then tell him you require payment upfront. Then after you get the money you'll feel that you need to do the work.
Gut feelings are good to go on, but I've had clients be demanding up front and then after you've done some work for them they totally trust you and leave you alone. So, you never can tell.
Also, I'm a designer and he's a designer. He wants me to build another website based off the design he will create in photoshop. So this will take my design skills out of the loop and reduce me to just coder. Something I'd rather not do.
I think the gut is telling me something. But just how to break it to him... because I've given the impression that I will work with him.
Also I actually dont know of any coders that would help. Should I just pick a web company in my area and refer him to there?
The first thing to do is to price your self out of that marked. Set your price in the (very) high end of what you can ask. You don’t want the job, but if he insists the price will make it fun anyway.
The second thing to do is to present a contract that will bind him hard. Make sure that the contract specifies precisely what you are to do, preferably with a max time frame attached. Then you specify the cost if you are to do more, work over the time limit, etc. etc. making the earnings even more funny if he acts up.
Most people will get the signal and if they don’t you get paid very will for your hassle
How do you get rid of a potential client who seems like he'll be a big hassle?
I just let them know up front that my business model does not gel with their requirements. That's usually the case.
If the money is right, and the project looks promising, I'll consider taking it on but with stipulations for the client. The main stipulation that we do it my way, no if's, and's or but's. ;)
You can mold a client after the fact. ;)
Until you've actually worked with him you never know what it will be working with him.
After a while, you get to know where someone's going and where it will end up by the nature ofthe questions they ask, for example,
The client doesn't understand web design and coding, but wants to be able to modify the coding.
These are the worst. The when they get trapped they often throw it all back at you - "I'm an artist, not a geek, that's why I'm paying you, you're supposed to make it easy for me to look good!"
Like pageone says, if you decide to move forward have a cast iron contract, but often you can see the bad ones coming that will be more trouble than they are worth.
But can you remove the mold from the client if they go bad on you after working together for a time?...
Always listen to your gut feelings...it may be something casually said in a conversation with the potential client...or they are promising more of something later ... for more up front from you and less from them...or any other comments that trip your red flags...(you can bet they are doing the same...to more or less a degree)...
You simply need to work the relationships from a place of balance...and honesty "With yourself" and then with the potential/current client...
We will not be able to do this job at this time. I am sorry but we have decided not to proceed further with this RFP.
Well, sending him quotes probably wasn't a good starting move!
As PageOneResults said above.....money does the trick 99.9% of the time.......if you make a quote....make it really outrageous!
On the odd occasion that strategy might fail, watch "House" on Fox for a few hours, then you should be in just the right mood to be totally obnoxious to the potential patient.....oooopps, I meant client!
Should the client get past both of these obsticles.......hooray, they are the perfectly trained potential client, and you achieved that before they signed the agreement :)
But sense I gave the quote and I don't actually know what kind of client he'll be, as someone mentioned on the board, I will do the initial small job for him with a tight contract, I will explain everything and make sure he understands. If it works out (which it won't) I will refer him to another design firm online.
Tell him you're sorry, give him another resource to check out, and RUN. You're doing him a favor too you know.
b
Also, I'm a designer and he's a designer. He wants me to build another website based off the design he will create in photoshop. So this will take my design skills out of the loop and reduce me to just coder. Something I'd rather not do.
I've done this a few times and am starting to think it's not worth it. I'm pretty connected to the local fine art scene and have had several artists approach me about building a site that they design. I'm in the middle of the 3rd one, and what's ultimately happened is they get ultra-picky about the design compromises you'd normally make in building a site.
They've said things like:
"none of those fonts are going to work with my design"
...or...
"can you make that text break how it is in the photoshop document"
...or...
"Of course I want search engines to find it - can't you make the text invisible and use a jpg with my fonts?"
...or...
"can you move image x down by about 1/32 inch"
...or...
"why does my full-page background photo look grainy?"
...or...
"I've decided I don't like element x, so I'm sending you a new photoshop files of all of the pages"
Even it you make it clear that you need to bill for the time, you may indeed be reduced to a code monkey. The endless tweaking required to turn their "perfect" photoshop documents into a site can really drag on. Especially if they want to make changes themselves. At least when you design from scratch, you can build-in some design compromises from the start.
Good luck!
Chris.
Seriously though, bring it to a head, set a date or budget that will get them thinking very seriously about your proposition (you could use it as an opportunity).
