So far, I have had two bad clients in a row. The first guy wanted me to airbrush T-shirts for a High School basketball team, the Waterloo Wildhawks. He sent me the initial $200 to start the project, then when I had completed the project and delivered the T-shirts to him, he handed me a check. Later, the check bounced. I have called his phone numbers numerous times. I have sent him e-mails as well. I have contacted his head coach at the University, who told me since it has 'nothing to do with the University' it has nothing to do with him. I have contacted the head of the Waterloo Wildhawks, who told me that both himself and the guy who bounced the check are 'very busy'. I suppose I could take the check to the bank where it was drawn to resubmit it, but that's in another city from me (I am in Hamilton, Ontario....he is in Waterloo, Ontario. This is an hour drive.)
This guy is obviously dodging me. It looks as though I will have to take him to court.
Then, I had someone who wanted me to do his motorcycle for him. He was rude and obnoxious from the start, demanding that I drop my price. When he asked me how long it took to do a motorcycle helmet, I told him it took two weeks. He told me 'You've got a week!' I spent all week on that project, spraying a coat of paint, drying with the heat gun, sanding it. After a week was over, he said if the helmet wasn't ready then he would take it to someone else to do it. I had the design he asked for done, but I couldn't get it clear-coated. I have to send the clear-coating out to someone else, and he just had a truck come in. The client told me that since I didn't have it clear-coated for him, that I wasn't a 'professional'. Therefore, he would not be paying me for the job I did....only $60 to cover the cost of paint. I was so upset, I took the money and just let him go...even though it cost me $150 in materials and 30 hours in labor to do that helmet....which was fine. I could show you photographs of it if you wanted to see them.
In any case, I have learned to NEVER accept personal checks from people. At least, not unless I know them well and they give me personal ID. Also, I have learned to prepare an invoice for the materials that I use on a project, including the materials as well as (my) labor costs.
I still have a problem being assertive with people. However, in the instance with the asshat with the helmet, I never should have taken the job to begin with. He was difficult to begin with, so chances are he would only get worse.
This guy is obviously dodging me. It looks as though I will have to take him to court.
Then, I had someone who wanted me to do his motorcycle for him. He was rude and obnoxious from the start, demanding that I drop my price. When he asked me how long it took to do a motorcycle helmet, I told him it took two weeks. He told me 'You've got a week!' I spent all week on that project, spraying a coat of paint, drying with the heat gun, sanding it. After a week was over, he said if the helmet wasn't ready then he would take it to someone else to do it. I had the design he asked for done, but I couldn't get it clear-coated. I have to send the clear-coating out to someone else, and he just had a truck come in. The client told me that since I didn't have it clear-coated for him, that I wasn't a 'professional'. Therefore, he would not be paying me for the job I did....only $60 to cover the cost of paint. I was so upset, I took the money and just let him go...even though it cost me $150 in materials and 30 hours in labor to do that helmet....which was fine. I could show you photographs of it if you wanted to see them.
In any case, I have learned to NEVER accept personal checks from people. At least, not unless I know them well and they give me personal ID. Also, I have learned to prepare an invoice for the materials that I use on a project, including the materials as well as (my) labor costs.
I still have a problem being assertive with people. However, in the instance with the asshat with the helmet, I never should have taken the job to begin with. He was difficult to begin with, so chances are he would only get worse.
posted by:
|
Toronto
|
