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Throughout the project, he did the same thing with Reuters, ABC, and Fox News. These were all his friends.
Also, there were no frames in the code.
I was doing some social media and web design work for a client I knew personally. The password suddenly changed on the web hosting and company email. Then I couldn’t log in to the Facebook page.
Me: Hey, did you take me off the Facebook page as an admin?
Client: Yes.
Me: Why is that?
No response came and a few hours later, I was kicked off of twitter as I was doing some work. Apparently the password had changed.
Me: What’s going on?
No response. After some more time
Client: We hired someone else, **** not willing to pay what you want.
I was working for free because I wanted to build my portfolio
Me: Well, thanks for the opportunity and I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I would have preferred you talked to me instead of changing the passwords on work as I complete it. Regardless, good luck.
Client: (drunk via text) I tired to talk to you about it when u were here and said he had talked with you we had a lady already doing it he was shocked on what you wanted to charge thanks.
Last year, I was unemployed and was helping a friend with his business. I translated e-mails and phone calls for foreign clients. My friend bought a Chinese product to be resold in Italy, but he needed the instruction booklet in Italian. I proposed for translating the whole stuff and we agreed on a price less than half the “translating company” price. I worked for 40 hour, translating “chingrish” into a readable Italian, and gave the translated documents a week before the deadline.
Client: Good job, but who told you to do this? I don’t remember agreeing to anything.
That didn’t stop him from posting the manual on the site. He hasn’t paid me and I haven’t heard from him since.
Hey, I just gave your number to a friend of mine. He needs a website for his business, but he asked a web agency and they threw a huge price at him. Obviously, I thought of you. I told him since you’re a freelancer, you’ll do the website for next-to-free. When I told him that, he seemed very interested in working with you. No thanks necessary.
I was helping a friend with a (free) design on a save-the-date mailer. After a variety of changes including one complete do-over, my friend was standing over my shoulder watching me make changes.
Client: I appreciate this. I can’t do what you do.
Me: Thanks man, that -
Client: Because I don’t have that software.
My friend was looking for a video editor. Since I make a living as one, she turned to me.
Client: I’m looking for an online editor that can do a short video in a couple of days. All the offline editing will be done by the director and you’ll just do the effects and clean-ups.
Me: Do you have exactly what needs to be done? And how many days, exactly? I can give you my answer if I know more of the details.
Client: It’s just basic effects and clean ups. Probably five or so days. The payment will be x since we’re already almost over budget. I hope that’s okay with you.
Me: Can we meet up and discuss the project?
Client: I’ll text you.
A couple of hours later, I get a call.
Client: Turns out you’ll be doing both the offline and online editing. You’ll get the footage on Saturday (the video was due Sunday). Pay is still the same.
Me: I’m sorry. I’m not available to do all that work in that amount of time.
Client: How about you find someone to help you and you split the work and the money?
Me: Honestly, this won’t be enough money to get a real professional.
Client: Don’t use a real professional then! Use a friend, that’s what I would do.
Me: Yes, I know.
I usually don’t do work-related favors for family, but last Christmas, I agreed to design a holiday card for my uncle. After five revisions and numerous options, my uncle was satisfied and sent out the cards. I found $10 in my PayPal.
Me: Hey, what’s this for?
Client: A tip for that card.
It was seemingly thoughtful, but when the whole family got together for the annual gift exchange, it became apparent that I was somehow forgotten. The card I created was to inform each family member who they were the secret Santa for. And apparently, my uncle was supposed to be mine.
Client: We urgently need a website!
Me: O-okay. Do you have something in mind?
Client: Yes, we want our website just like this [example site].
Me: It’s a relief you have a good idea of what you want if there’s a rush to get this made. Do you have a rough estimate of how much you want to spend.
Client: We like to work like a family here.
Me: That’s a great way to work.
Client: So we don’t pay out money as wages are so low.
Me: How does that work?
Client: If you are as good as you say you are, you’ll be willing to work on a commission-basis. If we feel our website’s getting enough sales, we are willing to pay you your commission.
Me: That won’t be possible for me, I need money to live.
Client: This is how we work. Take it or leave it.
Me: Since there is nothing to leave, I’m going to have to say no.
Client: It takes a real *professional to work with us. I suspected you wouldn’t be up to the task.
*Editor’s note: From the Wikipedia page for ‘professional,’ first sentence: A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialized set of tasks and to complete them for a fee.
I was at a party when a client’s business partner approached me.
Client: Hey, [Client] tells me you could answer a computer question for me.
Me: Depends. What’s the question?
Client: My computer stopped working the other day. The light comes on but nothing happens.
Me: Well, it’s hard to say what might be the problem from just that. It could be something simple, it could be that something needs replacing.
Client: Pfft! That’s the best you can come up with? What a waste of my time.
Client: My sister-in-law saw the visuals, and she wasn’t happy.
Me: What didn’t she like about them?
Client: She said they were shit and not worth the money.
Me: Do you think that?
Client: I haven’t looked at any of them yet.
