Topic: client issue

*ok, CRO8, remain calm, deeeeep breathe, now explain to these nice folks the situation*

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this. Much appreciated

2 years ago I developed a 100+ page site based on the techniques I learned here at the asylum. The business involved is one of my earlier clients, so I did it for cheap, just to gain experience, blah, blah. I was not working FT, so I needed the experience/money. Now I work FT as a Graphic Designer, freelancing web design on the side.

Over the course of the last year, he has contacted me to do various text/image updates and revise the menu bar to a dhtml drop down. In the last 6 months he has taken it upon himself to learn Adobe GoLive and has made many changes to the site. He added text in a different font style than what I used, used images without the consistent drop shadow I implemented. . .the list goes on. Basically making a polished site look like a novice did it.

When I viewed his site I almost got nauseas. All the many hours I spent calculating table width/height, optimizing images- all to make the site the best it could be- seemed like a waste of time. He has taken over the site and made it ugly!

Over the course of our relationship I dealt with his suspicious attitude (he would argue over exactly what I did for each invoice I would give him-acting like I was trying to screw him over), and now I see he made a mess out of the beautiful site I built.

QUESTION: Is it common for clients to make changes to sites? How would you guys react to this. I do not need his $20/hour anymore- I can go after other small business for more money and continue to build my portfolio.

Many thanks.
CRO8

Heh. I usually refer people to www.AzzumA.com in this case. One of my first e-commerce clients, selling fancy french ladies underwear even! You'd think it was a dream job, and yet, the dream turned into a nightmare. I designed a stunningly *beautiful* website, with many subtle image effects, and my friend drow wrote a brilliant PERL backend, the entire thing was one of my best pieces for a long time.

Then they started changing things. Blinking text link. (RED text!) They never really understood the reason why things were offset just a few pixels, so they tried to "fix" that themselves, stretching the images all out of whack, oh! I don't work with them anymore, but hey, it's their site now, they paid for it! These things happen, evaluate every client based on where you stand now, and if they don't meet your criteria, then cut them loose and move on. These things happen, it'll always be painful, but... these things happen.

Your pal, -doc-

quote:

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These things happen, evaluate every client based on where you stand now, and if they don't meet your criteria, then cut them loose and move on. These things happen, it'll always be painful, but... these things happen.

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Thats why you are Doctor! Thanks for the advice.

Sounds like a nightmare CRO8! Typically when I'm working on a deal I include in the contract a maintance clause where I provide routine updates to the site depending on what we decide on ($$) and a special clause that states if the client decides to change my code or graphics the maintence clause is voided. Of course I usually stress I'm very flexable on every issue of a contract and theres been a few where I've completely omitted that section. I don't do this for shady business practices but rather so the client gets exactly what he wants and I'm not stuck rewritting something because they were curious what deleting it would do.

Am I the only one that adds this into their contracts?

BTW CRO8, I've been meaning to ask, just how far outside NYC are you? I'm from Suffolk County.

-Jestah
Cell 277

Yeah- Jestah, originally I wrote up a contract, but it expired once the site was complete. I am definitely not going to get myself caught up in a nasty cycle where I fix the site every damn time he screws up. Ain't gonna happen.

I reside in Lower Westchester Cty. I went to school with some cats from Huntington and Port Jeff. LI!!!!

Thanks.
CRO8

I spent all day Saturday trying to fix code my client used GoLive to screw up, apparently pages do not print on MAC NS + AOL. His latest rant: he is not paying me to spend hours trying to trouble shoot problems, he wants results.

OK, that?s it. I spent Sunday crafting a letter to him explaining that I wish to terminate our working relationship and I have a desire to move onto other projects. Basically I tried to choose a good way of saying "I am sick of you and your attitude. Enough already!"

I will treat this as an experience and move on. Thanks for the advice my fellow inmates.

-CRO8



[This message has been edited by CRO8 (edited 06-03-2002).]