| Back to Home > Bulletin Board > Media Issues > Topic: Firing a Client - when is enough enough? |
Topic: Firing a Client - when is enough enough?
  Page 1 of 1   |
|
| Author | Message |
| The Mighty Quill | Posted – 10/9/2005 6:40:27 PM | show profile I just indulged myself on a sunny Sunday by divesting myself of an extremely difficult and low-paying client. The topic was fun and I thought would open a new vertical for me, but was hardly worth the ''I have issues with your style'' '' only communicate through IM'' ''You'll need to understand my style better if you want to write for me'' yipyap. Anyone else ever canned a client? When did enough become enough? ------ MQ |
| mag art dir | Posted – 10/9/2005 8:48:44 PM | show profile Yup, I fired one this year; it was worth it. Check out this fun website: clientcopia.com |
| worm | Posted – 10/10/2005 9:35:26 AM | show profile Yes, I have canned a client. It took me a long time to come around to the realization that the project was unworkable. Problems became more pronounced as months went by. I tried to be flexible; I tried to work through the issues. When it finally became obvious that the client was taking too much of my time and energy in relation to my fees, and that I was beginning to despise him, I canned him. It is definitely done. You are not a slave--you are the chief executive of your own writing ''company.'' |
| Sissy Barbecue | Posted – 10/10/2005 10:02:35 AM | show profile Yup... some jerk who thought he could flirt uncontrollably with me. I felt as though I wasn't hired to write for him, but for some other service. So, I canned his ass. He wasn't looking for a writer... |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 10/10/2005 5:47:37 PM | show profile | email poster I haven't canned clients but simply not pitched to them again if it's not worth it. If you can use the time better, then do it! Just say you have other obligations or something. ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| jenfort | Posted – 10/10/2005 7:37:12 PM | show profile | email poster I agree that you are your own business and if you're beginning to lose money or they're getting grumpy about paying you (i.e. may not pay you at all), or every time you think about them, your stomach is in knots and you constantly carry your shoulders up to your ears, then those are red flags that you should listen to. Move on. Trust me, the relief I feel every time I have a client that just isn't working out is wonderful. Unfortunately, there will be more as no one is as wonderful to work with than ourselves! ;) Figure out what your breaking point is, decide if the money is worth it and then ''slip out the back Jack''. |
| worm | Posted – 10/10/2005 7:50:55 PM | show profile I disagree with claire. Don't just say you have other obligations. There are more mature ways to deal with a problem client--such as being honest (yet tactful) about your reasons for leaving the project. If you want to negotiate a way to finish the project, such as we need to communicate by phone and email as well as IM, then take the opportunity to do so. But if you just want out, do it honestly and graciously. |
| fourfold | Posted – 10/11/2005 8:27:42 AM | show profile I agree with the above poster who disagreed w/ Claire's suggestion. Evasion is certainly one way to get out of it, but then the client may keep calling. I have said things like, ''I'm going to decline to work with your company any further.'' The client respects you for that, and more importantly, you respect yourself. |
| Page 1 of 1 |
|
