A Twitter acquaintance got in touch with me recently to get some suggestions/feedback/potential help on a project. He and I hit it off and we were both excited about this potential new project. Then we gave the client the price, which was more than fair and probably a bit on the low side, gauging the amount of work that needed to be done.
The response is one we’re all getting tired of hearing – your price is too high and here are sixteen justifications why you can’t charge me that much. None of the justifications this client gave included information relevant to my acquaintance and me – the amount of work being less than we anticipated, the existence of pre-approved content, etc. No, the justifications were more of the why-is-that-my-problem-exactly variety – he can’t see paying it because he’d have to sell his product X number of times to make up the cost of producing the product. He’d also have to pay us MORE for MORE content (imagine that!), and that would blow his business model out of the water. And since he’s charging his customers a paltry sum, that won’t work for him.
Nowhere in that argument did he even consider charging more for an obviously extensive amount of content, researched material, and required material for his audience. Nowhere did he show any concern for the fact that his business model wasn’t fit for any type of collaboration except of the pay-for-slave-labor type. What he doesn’t realize is that I know his sales figures are much higher than he’s presenting – he’s selling a required product, one he won’t revise for at least five years. The low number of sales he quotes (three figures? Really?) didn’t convince me at all. I’ve done this sort of work before. I know what these people rake in. We weren’t asking for a large share in that – we were simply quoting a fair market rate.
He ended with a line that still has me seething – “We were hoping to hire people who already had this type of material in hand.” Did you just say that? Did you just say if it’s already written, my time spent writing it is less valuable than my time spent making the same damned product for you instead of for someone else? How does that make sense? And if it’s not new material you want, why are you advertising for new material?
He actually wrote this – “In short your fee structure will not work.”
No, in short, yours won’t. You don’t justify not paying a fair price with that kind of nonsense. And you don’t end with “We’re looking for someone who can put this together and charge a reasonable dollar.” You were presented with reasonable. What you were looking for, in all honesty, was a free ride on the backs of some hard-working, knowledgeable people.
I think what makes this interaction a bit more disturbing is it is nearly identical to one I had about four months ago. The same type of project, a different story, but the same outcome. Can’t afford to pay you what you’re charging; I can only pay you a “fair” rate that’s one-third that. Is it the same person? I can’t say for sure. It’s getting so that these offers are mimicking each other and these posters are learning how to creatively low-ball.
What’s your low-ball story of the week?
I responded to an ad to write home business/internet marketing articles for a website. The guy emailed me, said he was impressed by my resume and liked my samples. However, since "he was paying these expenses out of his own pocket," he could only pay $15 for a 500-word article. Don't most entrepreuners pay for their own expenses? I stopped by his site to see what he's charging — $200/hour. WTF?? He can't afford to pay a writer more than $10/hour? I'm not buying it.
These persons seem to want to make money fast, not in the long run.
Taking someones time costs money. That's it.
I've a had a few laughable experiences that I'll be blogging about soon. It's becoming more and more common. I never used to quote fees in initial correspondences, but I'm starting to. I'm tired of wasting my time chit-chatting with people who have no intentions of paying anywhere near my rate.
This, my friend, is where I'd say, "I wish you the best of luck." Then, I'd move on.
I know you're frustrated, but because his thinking is based on HIS NEEDS rather than MARKET RATES, you'll never convince him of your position.
Save yourself the bad energy that comes with trying to make the argument and refocus your energies elsewhere.
Wow, Lori! June has been a month of crazy clients — or, more accurately, potential clients — for you. Thank you for sharing these stories. While it incredibly frustrating for you (and not paying your bills), I really appreciate you calling these behaviors out as unacceptable. If more writers follow your lead, then maybe these low ballers will start getting a clue.
Great idea, Kathy! No need to drag on endless discussions about how they aren't paying what we require to survive. Next!
Jesaka, you couldn't be more right. Hey, some months are great, other months, meh.
Great perspective, Krista! You're right – we ALL have expenses. Those who use their expenses as justification for why you're getting nothing from them are not business people. They're looking for quick money.
Amen, Gabriella! I go one step further – I simply don't respond again. He made it clear he wasn't negotiating – he was trying to get something for nothing. Buh-bye!
So true, Desiree. Taking someone's time DOES cost money. If we were being unfair in our rates, that would be different. But this is specialized work (really specialized), and this guy wasn't interested in paying appropriately for that specialization, even though our price was more than fair.
*sigh* maybe my current job. SMH. Too sad. No Comments.
No lowballing, but I had a possible project go poof (at least temporarily) due to "too many irons in the fire."
Lori, I appreciate you sharing this experience. I see that I'm not alone in receiving wacky rates from potential clients.
I've started doing what Irreverent Freelancer mentioned – quoting rates upfront now to weed out the bargain hunters. I once had a guy who bragged about being a millionaire practically offer me pocket lint for my services. Puh-leeze!
I'm also tired of bait and switch — advertising one rate and then trying to low ball.
Buh-bye.