Comments on: The ‘Bargain Hunter’ Web Design Client

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:11:23 +0000

In reading these notes, I find that I can insert “kitchen designer” into this converstion with no trouble. It seems that when your client is finished with you, he or she comes directly to me to have their kitchen re-designed. They will sit in front of me and let me spend hours of time designing and re-designing based on whims or the most recent HGTV show. Then they take my work product to a local “cabinet builder” (usually someone with a small shop and a couple of saws) and have him get the sale.

I don’t know about you folks, but the thought that “you get what you pay for” no longer satisfies. I still have to eat…

By: Affordable web design

Affordable web design — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:28:40 +0000

I have been runing my own design company for almost six years. It is hard to learn that not all clients have good intentions. In my experience I have noticed that the “bargain” hunters are more demanding and uptight.

I have been observing my clients and have also noticed that majority of difficult clients are one of two types.

1. The confused? These clients have no idea about what, how , when or where, it comes to computers in general. I mean it is amazing that they can figure out how to check their email ( they call the web designer because… Verizon dsl goes down, their computer freezes, they got an email asking them for their back account information and are not sure if it is ligitimate. The list goes on and on.

++ on occasion they have a family member that is willing to ” help design ” the website and he calls you hours on hours at a time.

2. Complainers. These are easier to recognize than the confused. Typically they are complaining in the initial conversation, the meeting, the brainstorming, and everyother aspect of the process.

I do not mean to sound bitter. The difficult clients are far and few between. I promised myself that I would try to identify the difficult clients and let them go to my competitors. I have a hard time turning down money but I have a harder time spinning my wheels to try and make people happy that are just unrealistic.

Face the fact. If you want to drive a mercedes you need to spend the money to get one. A honda, no matter what you do to it, will never be a mercedes….

By: Osirian

Osirian — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:55:33 +0000

Thanks for the warning OP. Good advice. Applicable to any field really. But perhaps more so in ones combining art with technical savvy – web design and graphic design are highly susceptible of course. I’m just starting out in web design while having found a software program that allows me to really focus on design while not sacrificing higher end design elements, so I’m happy on that end. LOL – BTW – I’ll bet Crystal hates garlic.

By: LSW

LSW — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 05:58:59 +0000

Snicker… is that a job description? To think I have written about “Help Forum Vampires”… I could be looking at a court case too. Then again I can have Dracula’s last surviving family member on my side… he is in court suing people all the time… sure he would jump at the chance again. ROFL

By: Stefan Mischook

Stefan Mischook — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:51:46 +0000

“If that was me, and I had just read this, I would sue your nice little “hard working” business man butt (wow I’d like to replace that) until you didn’t have a job.”

.. and you would be thrown out of court because you would have no case. Every vendor has the right to not engage with a client.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:55:37 +0000

Wow, I am disgusted at the stereotype that I just read. Did you say you just were “subject to the attack of a psychic vampire” and then presume to know you are an expert on how to oust a psychic vampire, and then deny them service because of what they might have possibly done? Wow, do I sense a law suit? And for one, I am not a leech. Just because one person decided that they wanted your energy by getting a rise out of you doesn’t mean that all psychic vampires are “whining passive aggressive whelps – little pathetic beast that will hound you endlessly.” This is bull! Oh and I don’t go after the weak, but you know, I really should go after you. How about you research before posting a nice blog on the internet warning us all about what you have no idea about. Oh and firing someone because you have figured out their needs are different, as afore mentioned, brings about a law suit. If that was me, and I had just read this, I would sue your nice little “hard working” business man butt (wow I’d like to replace that) until you didn’t have a job.

Thank you

And for all you slow children out there, Yes I am a psychic vampire.

By: top

top — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:41:53 +0000

Jon

Instead of offering free websites for family / friends try approaching local charities. Most of them have awful sites that need updating / rebuilding. It’s a great way to build up a reputation and gain knowledge of dealing with clients. try to get them to include your details as a sponsor on any of their literature.

Good luck.

Topper

By: LSW

LSW — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:56:46 +0000

Jon – Family are the worst. You know the old saying that money and friends do not mix… same here.

We have a article on the forum about this, it is linked in a thread about what to charge. The author of a reply in another forum covered it well… trust instinct. If you have the slightest unease about a customer – run away.

I had this happen this summer and the customer dealt with me in a way that had me close to quiting web design all together… is such a emmotional stae worth it? Is a sinking feeling with each call or email worth it? Not to mention will the few hundred you charge really worth the headaches and heartache? Can you feed yourself or family? Can you pay rent of costs? Can you pay taxes or pay for health insurance?

You are creating a customized product for the customer… is a custom car or custom house cheap?

You cannot do your best work if you hate the site and dread the customer and just wish to be free of them… so it the site really of value to your Portfolio if it is just a rushed job to be rid of it?

Lastly cheap customers always want more and hound you for “simple” changes when it is finished. Cheap customers will recommend you as cheap labor to their cheap family and friends and before you know it you are torn between tinkering with a dozen cheap sites and have no time for single well paying sites. You will have no fun and you will have no money… but alot of cheap people asking for free upgrades.

People – Stef is right, these p[eople will drag you down and ruin you. Your time is valuable as well and you should be paid for it and paid well. If it is so easy… why do they not do it themselves? No, they want you to do it cause you know how… so they can pay your well for it. You have to make a living and pay bills as well. Cheap customers will only give you a reputation as cheap labor.

if you instinct tells you to be weary of a customer… you have to be prepared to walk away and wait for the cutomer who will respect you and pay you well. It is not worth the hassle and any experienced designer will agree.

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:01:25 +0000

I will take on board this advice, especially “it is OK to fire a client”. Although it may be trickier for me, as I am just starting out in this business (the classic noob) and after getting web hosting from Jumpline that offer 20 virtual hosts, have decided to offer family and friends free web hosting and web design. I just hope that many friends and family do not leech me of all my ambition for the future! I cannot sack family, can I?

Wish me luck,

Cheers,

Jon.