Freelance Freedom #40

This is how it sometimes happens with clients.

Been there, done that! lol

Keep Rocking!

Aloke Pillai

So true it hurts.

definitely something I’ve seen NUMEROUS times. Digitalpoint is FULL of people like that. Drives business down especially for those who rely on the internet for client sources.

Interesting timing for this week’s topic, as I had a minor fender-bender a couple of weeks ago – wish my car only cost $350 to fix…

So true…

Hahaha! Right on the spot! But sadly, some people just don’t understand that..

Imagine if they had an eLance for auto mechanics.. there would be a lot more broken down cars on the side of the road.

so very very true. I’m so sick of looking on other sites and seeing advertisers willing to pay mere cents for articles and other copywriting work. It is very disheartening!

What’s worse is when the client is family and they expect you to repay back past favors done onto you when you had absolutely no idea that you received help from them. Like my X gave me cash for college, when it some of it probably came from Y and I had no idea. So it’s like I’m indebted now for stuff I don’t even know about to Y!

I’ll still freelance though, no matter what!

)… I will never get tired of these.

Generally speaking, however, the auto mechanic does a brief review of the troubles with the car and then calls the owner with an estimate on the cost to make the repairs.

This, of course, is analogous to the freelancer who specs out a project and offers a proposal. As long as the freelancer does not fall victim to the “lower the price” trap everything works as planned.

Unfortunately, sometimes it’s necessary to negotiate the price if business is slow and the freelancer needs the work. I suppose the same thing holds true with the auto mechanic if business is slow.

Your point, however, is very well taken.

Okay, I know the feeling, but the mechanic looks like a guy who owns his own shop, in other words another freelancer. Why should I expect another freelancer to discount his rates to me?

Great one! This happens way too much in the freelancing biz.

We should all charge the same price

It’s funny (or sad) cause it’s true.

This just happened to me while applying for my business license last week. What a coincidence.

I think this happens because of lack of respect, and the “age” of our field. Graphic design is a rather young field. You dont see people bargaining with doctors…

LOL, I’m from a developing country with low cost of living and I could make your website for US$350…. =p

hahaha!

Yeah it’s pretty pathetic when potential clients come to you asking if you can create a custom design with e-commerce integration and mention that they were quoted about $175 bucks on one of those rent-a-designer sites. “So if you can come in under that.. awesome.”

I think a great analogy of all of this is: http://www.danielmall.com/archives/2008/02/11/figaro.php

Interesting twist on this: I quite often get the “You build websites: can you fix my computer?” question to which the answer has now become “Would you ask a taxi driver to fix your car?”.

zOMG so true!!
been there alot!!

maybe we all should start doing like this guy ?

So true, so true.

I *must* expand my client base. It seems like either I charge too little, or I have too many clients with small pocketbooks.

Too funny but too true, unfortunately.

This is the story of my entire life.

WOW! How hilarious is that! lol

A picture is worth a thousand (blog entry) words.

There’s really nothing else to say, except thanks for making this one N.C. Winters. Frustrated freelancers unite

Cheers,

There sooooo needs to be a book of all of these. I love them all, keep’em coming!!

This one is funny!

Loved this one so much!
I made a wallpaper out of it to remind me never to sell my work short!

nice, take care.

so true. and happen all the time .