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<sigh> So many stories to post lately, but I've been uber busy working on a couple of big website projects. This one, however, took the cake.
Background: Basically, about four, maybe five months ago I hired a friend of mine to code up my website designs, since I suck at it. A major part of our clientele are people who have purchased a specific script...which comes with a rather ugly default template. I've fought hard to become the main provider of custom templates for this script, and we even started selling cheap premade templates for it. At first, when we started providing them, installation was difficult to do, due to the rigidity of the script. After a couple of months though, we worked with the script company and got them to work out a new setup, so that we can install premades faster, and we were able to lower our prices on installations. Cue the story.
Right when I hired my coder to start working for me, Sucky Client bought a $30 premade, paid the $50 extra for the installation. A bit later, he placed an order for a template, which didn't end up working out, and he canceled it.
He contacted me yesterday, wanting to inquire yet again about a custom design. I quoted him, increasing the price by 50% due to his previous butt-beret-ness. He flipped his lid. Eventually he quieted down, and an hour later he inquires AGAIN on a design price. This time, however, he throws in a nice little twist.
SC: What's the price on a design? Don't forget what you took from me last time.
Seraph: Excuse me?
SC: Yes, last time, you took my money.
Seraph: As you well know, I didn't take a deposit from you the last time, and even if I had, due to the fact you canceled, you would've gotten a refund.
SC: I am speaking about the premade. I paid you $80, and I see on your site it is $70. You took my money.
I went and looked up his emails, and sure enough, he did, but it was back when installations were difficult. I inform him of this, and he is less than thrilled.
SC: You send me payment thing for 80, site says 70. You took $10 of mine. Not very nice of you, but I understand.
Seraph: Say wha? If you understand that it was before the price decrease, then why is it not nice of me?
SC: You took $10 of mine. $10 is $10. :-P
Seraph: No, I did not take more money. You paid the standard fee for the time. Everyone then paid the $50, though, prices have gone down a bit now. Thats not theft, thats how things go sometimes in the business world
Seraph: You wouldn't go to a gamestop and demand a discount on purchasing a ps3 because you bought a ps2 when it was really expensive, and they are cheap now
SC: Well I thougt it has always been 70$. you sure it changes?
Seraph: I just fudging told you it did, and showed you your emails.
SC:
SC: So you won't give me a discount then? I don't want to pay $750, I want to like $200-300 like your other clients.
Seraph: After what you've just said? Definitely not.
<eyetwitch> Yes, some of the others paid a small amount, but they had ONE page customized, whereas you are asking for FIVE custom pages, flash images, a banner set for advertising, and massive rewriting done to the script you purchased!!
I've blocked him for the time being, I don't have time atm to mess around with people who obviously just want to waste my time getting extensive quotes done and have no intention of buying anything.
Background: Basically, about four, maybe five months ago I hired a friend of mine to code up my website designs, since I suck at it. A major part of our clientele are people who have purchased a specific script...which comes with a rather ugly default template. I've fought hard to become the main provider of custom templates for this script, and we even started selling cheap premade templates for it. At first, when we started providing them, installation was difficult to do, due to the rigidity of the script. After a couple of months though, we worked with the script company and got them to work out a new setup, so that we can install premades faster, and we were able to lower our prices on installations. Cue the story.
Right when I hired my coder to start working for me, Sucky Client bought a $30 premade, paid the $50 extra for the installation. A bit later, he placed an order for a template, which didn't end up working out, and he canceled it.
He contacted me yesterday, wanting to inquire yet again about a custom design. I quoted him, increasing the price by 50% due to his previous butt-beret-ness. He flipped his lid. Eventually he quieted down, and an hour later he inquires AGAIN on a design price. This time, however, he throws in a nice little twist.
SC: What's the price on a design? Don't forget what you took from me last time.
Seraph: Excuse me?
SC: Yes, last time, you took my money.
Seraph: As you well know, I didn't take a deposit from you the last time, and even if I had, due to the fact you canceled, you would've gotten a refund.
SC: I am speaking about the premade. I paid you $80, and I see on your site it is $70. You took my money.
I went and looked up his emails, and sure enough, he did, but it was back when installations were difficult. I inform him of this, and he is less than thrilled.
SC: You send me payment thing for 80, site says 70. You took $10 of mine. Not very nice of you, but I understand.
Seraph: Say wha? If you understand that it was before the price decrease, then why is it not nice of me?
SC: You took $10 of mine. $10 is $10. :-P
Seraph: No, I did not take more money. You paid the standard fee for the time. Everyone then paid the $50, though, prices have gone down a bit now. Thats not theft, thats how things go sometimes in the business world
Seraph: You wouldn't go to a gamestop and demand a discount on purchasing a ps3 because you bought a ps2 when it was really expensive, and they are cheap now
SC: Well I thougt it has always been 70$. you sure it changes?
Seraph: I just fudging told you it did, and showed you your emails.
SC:
SC: So you won't give me a discount then? I don't want to pay $750, I want to like $200-300 like your other clients.
Seraph: After what you've just said? Definitely not.
<eyetwitch> Yes, some of the others paid a small amount, but they had ONE page customized, whereas you are asking for FIVE custom pages, flash images, a banner set for advertising, and massive rewriting done to the script you purchased!!
I've blocked him for the time being, I don't have time atm to mess around with people who obviously just want to waste my time getting extensive quotes done and have no intention of buying anything.
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