That’s the sound of my day going up in flames. Got to work early today in order to make what I thought would be great progress on the big project. Microsoft, however, had different plans for me. The file I was able to open and work on yesterday is not “too complex” to open. So says Word. I can’t repeat what I said, nor what I’ve been saying as I threaten to go Apple on their asses (though would that really help as Apple also uses MS Word? Hmmmm…). Apparently there is a “fix” for this admittedly Microsoft-issued error. Let’s just not go into how I’ve sat for an hour and a half waiting for this simple “fix” to download. Rat bastards. Why is it we take substandard crap from software companies? Why do we allow them to make us feel stupid? Or is that just me?
Anyway, I’m not without other things to do, though this does nothing to help my client meet that deadline. It does, however, mean I’ll be putting a few extra hours in this evening. Time to start drinking more caffeine.
While I take a break from a simpler project and a lot of unnecessary whining (my whining, of course), let’s chat about the potential client who bargains with you. I’m not talking the client who says “My budget is X” when you present your fee of Y. Everyone has a budget limit, and yes, we all want some sort of price break if possible. No, I’m talking about the client who literally counters again and again your fee. I had one client prospect who wanted a series of ghostwritten books. I gave him a per-book fee. He countered with his budgeted price. Okay, I’m used to that. Among supplying him with ample payment options, I suggested instead of his much-lower fee that I give him a professional discount if he signed on to have me complete all 4 books, with the stipulation that should we part ways prior to any of the books, the rates would be higher to compensate for my losing out on the other work promised. It was a fair rate – a full $5K per book break in price.
Know what he did? He countered it with an even lower price. No, he said. He wanted to pay $8K less per book. Uh, wait. This isn’t exactly Kmart here. You’re not buying a used car. You’re buying my services and my expertise. It was then I realized this was a bargain shopper. He wasn’t serious about getting the job done correctly – he put price ahead of quality. Fine. I’m not your writer. You’re not my client, either. When price becomes your main concern, you’ve lost sight of your goal and you’ve completely lost my interest, for I won’t be nickel-and-dimed to death.
He had the money, too. He’d just finished telling me how his company had grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade. He showed me a summary of financials – he was understandably proud of the accomplishment. But he lost my respect the minute he started bargaining instead of viewing our partnership as a legitimate business arrangement. It was as though the project was play time for him. That’s fine, but that’s not how I view my career, and it’s how I knew we wouldn’t “play” well together.
How do you counter the bargain shopper?
Gah! Bargain shoppers! The bane of my existence!
If I’m spending more than an hour on back-and-forth on price, I tell them I’m going to have to start charging an hourly consulting fee, and that either makes them shape up or ship out. I have no problem losing out on a job where the client has consistently bargained on price with me.
I also once had a local real estate person extol on the extent of his real estate empire for a half hour before telling me to give him an hourly quote. I did, to which he replied with absolute shock and horror, and tried to get me to come down 2 freaking dollars. He said he’s paying for this assignment “out of his own pocket,” and has many other writers who’d do it for that price. I explained that my quote was based on my experience writing and not his experience real estating, and that he should go with his non-professional writers if he’s only willing to pay non-professional rates.
The worst part of it was, after I thought we were finished he says, “How about I give you a day to think about it. =Get back to me if you change your mind.” Ooo, I wanted to reach through that phone and…
Microsoft has cost me tens of thousands of dollars in lost income over the years, and that’s why I’m switching everything to MAC when I can afford to switch.
Invoice them for time lost.
Bargain shoppers? I look at them and state, “I see your priority is not the quality of the work that needs to be done. Sorry, I can’t afford to work for that. Best of luck. Bye.”
And if they come back a few months later because their bargain writer didn’t work out — I charge more.
I agree with Amanda, anything over 30 minutes of “bargaining” should automatically necessitate a consulting fee.
Your time is more valuable than being wasted discussing prices that are out of your range.
And by the way, I have been a loyal Dell fan for as long as I can remember. I am currently pricing MAC’s but a little timid because it will be a whole new operating system and short cut key strokes to learn.
I still think I will go with the MAC though, and I am sure I will be a happier person for it.
Devon, that’s a fantastic idea. And if there’s ever a class-action suit, I’m in.
Sal, Dell has served me well for the last 8 or 9 years. I love this desktop. My daughter had a Dell laptop that was crapola from day one. Just a warning. I will say that most Mac users extol the virtues of their new machines and are converts for life. You don’t hear too many PC users switching from Mac OR thrilled with the choice.
Amanda, there’s the mistake they make. They brag incessantly about how well they’re doing and give you examples. Then the fuss about a fair price. Perhaps if the shoe were on the other foot and they were setting their fees, they’d understand that it’s a business proposition. I get all fluffed up with people who think writing is merely a hobby for those of us who make a living at it.
Let them know there’s not a d@mn thing I can do for them – I say it much nicer of course. 🙂
But seriously, that back and forth about pricing business is exhausting. I had a client lke that too once. He kept on letting me and others know how wealthy he was. But all he wanted to do was nickle and dime me to death. I finally ended the relationship.
It is tiring, isn’t it, Kimberly? I get very few bargainers, but it never fails to amaze me when they show up.
Budgets I understand, and if there’s a way we can compromise (scaling back the project, a later deadline so I can better use slack space in my schedule, etc) I will. But I only go one round of discussion on it. If we don’t have a meeting of the minds fairly quickly, that is a red flag for me. That tells me they don’t understand or don’t want to pay for the value I bring, and/or that they will be high maintenance clients.
Why is it the guys that always brag about how rich and successful they are don’t want to pay a reasonable fee? Couldn’t be that they’re compensating for anything could it … naw.
I had a really pleasant encounter yesterday with someone who couldn’t afford me on this project, but we both left feeling very good about each other. He was very respectful of the value I bring, very regretful it wouldn’t work this time around, and expressed the desire to work with me in the future. Wish they were all like that!
Compensating? LOL Eileen, you’re a hoot!
You’re correct – the braggarts are the ones who typical argue the fee. The congenial, respectful ones understand your need to earn a living. Sigh. If only they had the money the others are bragging of having…