Comments on: The No-wait Policy

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:10:05 +0000

If they want to reserve your time and services, tell them you'd be happy as long as they pay a retainer.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:50:15 +0000

In my experience, when someone says that a project will be delayed "a couple of days", it means a couple of weeks or scrap the project altogether. I agree that if it works out then fine I'll work you in, but for the most part I can't do it.

Right now it's the first of the month work for me, so I'm usually afraid that I'll see myself coming when I'm going the other direction. If they try to pull it on me now, then there would definitely be a problem.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:10:35 +0000

Agreed with all of the above. I will make time, but I won't make it available unconditionally or endlessly. Nor should any client expect that.

Cathy, I agree. You're lucky to have a client who thinks and acts rationally. I suspect that once again, the client mentioned will hint at my finishing things over the weekend. I can't. My weekends are also booked - this one with a friend's wedding and an overnight guest. The assumption that contract workers are free at ALL hours is a bit old-fashioned.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:45:47 +0000

I agree with Devon and Eileen. In a proposal or Statement of Work (SOW), I put in my "deadlines" that the deadline assumes such and such happens by [specific date - or - within one week, whatever]

I have a standing deadline of the last Wednesday of every month for a ghostwritten article. I put in the SOW that it assumed an agreement on subject no later than 2 weeks before due date. This past month my client was unavailable so we did not meet that requirement. I told her I would be unable to meet the last Wednesday due date as a result.

She was very understanding about it. I know that doesn't always happen, despite the contract, but all we can do is try to protect ourselves.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:23:09 +0000

I pencil folks in, but tell them they'll need to send me the signed contract and the 50% deposit before they're inked in on my schedule. In most cases, that seems to be enough to prevent delays. I also have a discussion about specific dates, and make a casual remark like, "If you don't get it to me until later, of course, that will delay delivery." On rare occasions, I have juggled things as a favor for a long-standing client, but it doesn't happen often; most of my clients are pretty reasonable and respectful of my time.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:46:57 +0000

I don't wait, either. If someone says "are you available on this date?" and I am, I say that I am now, but until there's a signed contract, there's always the chance someone else will give me a solid booking first, and that I don't hold dates open without a signed contract and a deposit. I will do my best to accommodate them, but I can't afford to hold open time for "maybe someday".