Today, after days of working with a client on plans for a project, I received a message halfway through completion, saying the deal was off because my prices were "so low, it seems like a scam." FML
Collection
Halloween
A failed costume, stolen candy and a very real scare: Halloween, the one night when fear is allowed.
Today, I found that the product we shipped and what the salesman billed don't match. It's my job to flag such issues, as they cost the company money. The salesman asked me to shut up and be his accomplice, as it was done to please the client. The sales manager had to agree, but said I was causing trouble. FML
Today, after I'd asked my brother be my reference for a job, he made up some story about a 9-month contract, then the work was done so they told me not to come anymore. My potential new boss told me how big of a liar I was and how it cost me the job. FML
Today, a client wanted me to change the design I'd given him, again. I've been working with this client for a week now, giving him many designs throughout the week, and he rejected all of them. After all of the changes he wanted, he said that I should just use the first design I sent to him. FML
Today, I spent a ridiculous amount of time working and reworking a design for a client. Eight hours and many tears later, she sends an email saying, "Let's go with the first design. I liked that one the most." FML
Today, after months of busting our asses and working round the clock on our latest project, I and the whole office just got bad news: when our boss promised extremely generous bonuses for doing all this, he was point-blank lying, and intended to take credit for our work all along. FML
Today, I got an email from a local company looking to have a website made. I looked over their request and provided them with a reasonable offer. I got an email back stating that they would like to pay me with liquor instead of money. FML
Today, the CEO of my company wanted to meet with me. I was excited until I found out she just wanted to bitch me out and personally fire me. Later on, I found out my boss had totally shafted me and blamed the failure of a big project on me instead of admitting it was all his fault. FML
Today, a vendor contacted me to let me know that our contract renewal went through. Turns out, I misread our original contract and now I've obligated our company to buy $24k of services, when my boss wanted to cancel it. It's only February and I already know I'm not getting a bonus this year. FML
Today, I work in the tech industry so the plot is rather too long for 300 letters, but suffice it to say that my boss implemented a £3400 solution to a £7 problem, then successfully blamed me when the client questioned the sudden increase in costs. FML
Today, I submitted an offer on a house. I got a call a few minutes later saying that it had collapsed. FML
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Top comments
WCARlover 35
I learned about this in marketing actually! Being the lowest price is definitely not always the best because customers will question the quality/validity of the product. Follow market price and keep your quality up and you will get the best outcome! Good luck!!
almost_there44 26
Learned in my management class that having the lowest price automatically makes customers think that the quality is low. You should probably start at a price that is reasonable, so market price seems fit. Good luck to you and your business!
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Comments (22)
WCARlover 35
I learned about this in marketing actually! Being the lowest price is definitely not always the best because customers will question the quality/validity of the product. Follow market price and keep your quality up and you will get the best outcome! Good luck!!
chrisbeaudoin 26
I've experienced this myself selling used things on kijiji. If it's super cheap people think it's crappy and cheap for a reason, when you make it more expensive, people look into it more
Brandi_Faith 34
It's not just the quality of the product that comes into question, but an actual scam too. Let's say I want my kitchen redone, and I go get a few quotes, I've heard that sometimes people will lower their prices, knowing that they'll never be able to actually do the work for those prices, but then they'll just add on costs or expenses or hours or something which ends up bringing the total to or above what the other companies quoted. Apparently it's a common scam, and maybe op's client genuinely thought there was no way that he'd be able to do the work for such a low price, so he must be scamming them. If you can actually do the work for that price op, try and explain how and why the total comes to that amount and show the client your expense sheet or something. That way you can assure them that you are still using quality materials, and that your price won't go over at the end of the project.
Tripartita 45
Ah, did they ask you to do twice as much work too? The ol' Half Magic scam: request double the work, cancel halfway through, get one job for free. Classic.
kowsee 22
Prove that you are the best at what you do, and make sure you get that customer satisfaction. It's easier said than done, but good luck OP :) that's only one person!
RichardPencil 32
The client must be one of those "you get what you pay for"* types. They probably thought you were selling them crap. *My revision to that is "you get what you pay for or less, but never more."
LeoSolaris 2
That is a real effect, and one of the reasons to get 50% at the start of the job as earnest money.
EvilLittleGirl 24
ultimately their loss..
almost_there44 26
Learned in my management class that having the lowest price automatically makes customers think that the quality is low. You should probably start at a price that is reasonable, so market price seems fit. Good luck to you and your business!
PennyLane27 32
Yikes! Always, always, always have a signed contract in place outlining expectation of services to be provided, and expectation of payment to be received. And it should be agreed upon and signed by you both before even starting work.. Work with an attorney to set up a template or something.
el_Jeffe_D 11
I own a small tech services business, and I started getting more business when I raised my rates from $20/hr to $50/hr.
TheyCallMeDamien 18
At least you avoided being underpaid. Now you know you're worth more.