Some things to consider when hiring a designer

Good article Fletch, thanks for that link

i just wrote it. thanks

Some good points in there Fletch. Cheers bro...

Intresting read Fletch

Everyone should read it.

Who needs design work?

Got any 300KB banners?

nice read fletch, thanks bro.

Great article, Fletch. Hits the nail on the head re factors in play in any service contracting situation.

Ch33rs!

That is one good read, consequently making this a good thread. A rare sight at gfy these days.

Fletch is definatly right about the part regarding free consulting.

I do not mind chatting up and spinning idea's but from time to time it does turn into an information pump from some folks. I seriously do not mind ding such things though if the client has been a paying a paying client.

There is a spot in discussing with new clients a site build and any designer wants to be helpful and informative to get a client but some people do not know where the line crosses. I just kinda got hustled last week, even built a design offered up tons of information. A day later the guy decides he is going to have an entire re haul on there projects...
I am out 350.oo for a design and about 2 hours of time waisted, and 8 hours waisted doing a design. If anyone wants a template hit me up...

There have been months when I was fucked for over 1500.oo and sometimes as low as 50.oo. I do nt whine on the boards about it so much but I should just to warn other designers the nature of some scum bag's these days doing business.

Go figure.

people who have been around are hit up endlessly regarding advice on tours, design, adverts etc... no doubt it becomes time consuming.

thanks again for the compliments everyone. as i always say, i wish i could write more often, but I can only do it when i have time.

ch33rs.

Wow Fletch I am impressed ;)

As a fulltime designer myself running a succesfull design shop I have to agree with most of your points. Specially the part where people want the most for less then a penny. You don't want to know how many people still try to get a lower price of me when I give them over a K discount already.

The biggest problem I seem to have now is people not paying. For example I have this client who I have done quite some work for (read a few K's worth) and always paid me but all of a sudden I can't seem to get in contact with them anymore leaving me with an unpaid 1100 dollar bill.

Other example, I have a new client paying me half of the total upfront but simply refuses to pay the other half after I finsihed all. Problem is we agreed on everything and all was cool until I asked for the 2nd payment and they basically told me they had to change a lot due to coding etc. So I was like ok why didn't you tell me blabla. Basically they screwed me but I am still trying to have this worked out.

New clients always pay at least half of the total ammoutn upfront but regular clients don't need to do so. With the situations decribed above I have the feeling I should ask all upfront to whoever orders a design. But on the other hand I don't want to do so as some new clients obviously don't want to do that as they have bad experiences with other designers already.

Whats your point on this Fletch? Should we start a designers union with some bad boys we can send out to collect for a %? ;)))

QuaShe got it 100% right.. as I read thru the Fletch's article I was putting together a reply in my head, and now there's no need for me to post what I had in mind cause what Fletch didn't mention - is already all covered by quashe..
Those sorts of things make me want to work full time for BYOT and similar programs instead of working with clients.. Everything's cool until the 2nd part of the payment needs to be made etc Very good reading, it would be cool if mods could put this thread as a sticky on top, at least for a few hours til it gets more views.

thanks man

Designers are flakey by nature.