Re: Designer vs. Prospective Client

In article <p6CdnV8G3KT_zo3WnZ2dnUVZ_g6dnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
HeyBub <heybub@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Haven't we all been there? The link points to an exchange of emails that
begin:

"Disregarding the fact that you have still not paid me for work I completed
earlier this year despite several assertions that you would do so, I would
be delighted to spend my free time creating logos and pie charts for you
based on further vague promises of future possible payment."

http://www.27bslash6.com/p2p.html?lame

In the words of the Sterotypic Irish Cop 'Aalll right, nothin' more t' see
here, move along, get on home, now'... I'd assume that many readers here
have been there, done that, got the T-shirt, wore it out and threw away
the resulting rags.

Perhaps I change as I age - one might hope to do such, stagnation is such
a terribly... constant state - but I've noticed that my recollection of
Solid Geometry contains something along the lines of 'The closer one
approaches the apex of a pyramid the smaller the cross-section becomes'...
in other words, the 'world' may not get smaller but the population one
encounters decreases.

Couple that with the classic 'a satisfied customer tells three, an unhappy
customer ten' and... well, when the spleen needs venting a forum such as
this, where one (with a bit of work) can achieve a modicum of anonymity,
both of self and client might prove to had consequences different than
telling a client - even a deadbeat one - the equivalent of 'when I finish
my snowball fight in Dantes' Ninth Circle'.

If the client owes for previous work (as stated in the first fourteen
words of the quoted text above) then it is my opinion that the interchange
stops there, eg 'I'm sorry, perhaps there's an accounting error but my
books shows a debit owed my company by yours of (n) and I'd much prefer to
begin a new project with balanced ledgers. Once this matter has been
dealt with by your check/cheque clearing my banque/bank account we may
begin discussions regarding your current needs.'

Yes, it may be more than the deadbeat deserves... but should the deadbeat
find himself involved in social/business conversation with a *real* 'live
fish' the resulting conversation might be a bit different.

(and yes, I've heard 'You offended (name), only Really Good folks do
that'... but not as often as I've heard 'I spoke with (other name) about
you and he'd nothing but good to say... well, maybe your social skills
aren't the best but we don't need a social director, we need a coder.')

DD

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