They think they own you

[Esk247]

Does anyone else get this a lot when completing work for other people? They start off with an enquiry about making something or designing something, then as soon as you say it's something you think you might be able to do, that's it, you're under their ownership. You must no longer work on anything else, you must now sit and work from 8am until midnight and then wait for them to approve your work, if they don't like it, they tell you they're not interested and you shall not receive a penny.

I've had it happen a few times when I used to design websites for people. This kind of assumption that because they're paying you £50 to fix something on their website that they've broken they automatically take over your life and your brain and if you don't fix it, in exactly the way they want it fixed, in exactly the time they think it should take you're obviously useless and unprofessional.

Just had it happen again. Someone emailed an enquiry about printing a cushion design, that's not difficult, we can do that, so I said looking at the design it's not difficult for us to reproduce so would you like us to do that? then the next email back is a long list of requirements for this flippin' cushion that means it's no longer just a print and sew together job, they want tassles, certain types of eco friendly ethically sourced fabrics and zips that are made from the finest gold (bit carried away then).

Now I don't know what to say to them as I've already said we can do a cushion and print cushions, I didn't say we can source expensive fabrics from the highest mountains of Timbuktu. I probably could but I know I wont get paid if I do, they'll just disappear once an invoice magically appears in their inbox.

Rant over. Typical Sunday.

 

[Sierrawan]

Sorry to hijack your thread but do you own a sewing workshop as I definitely am in the market for a good sewing team?

 

You've told them that you can do the work, but have you quoted it yet?
I'd tell them, because it's such a unique piece of work they require, and because you need to source materials, etc....that you'd need paid in advance for any such work. If they're serious, they'll pay it, if not they'll go away.

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

You just tell them you will send a price over tomorrow for the bigger spec they have sent you today. This means they are now warned that any price you have beforehand will be now be higher.

Tell them that if they add anything more then the cost will rise accordingly.

Next, tell them new customers are pro-forma so money is required up front and then the work will be done in x days (and add extra time for anything going wrong). I assume you will send them a contract that includes telling them that bespoke work cannot be cancelled for a refund once paid for.

Believe it or not, people do have money and they will pay upfront when asked, if serious.

 

[telemax]

Yep, tell them the price , make sure it's high enough to cover your costs with a good profit on top, tell them you want it upfront. 90% chance you won't hear back from them again, and someone else can have the headache.