I am a (female) fashion designer. I create unique dresses, mostly for cocktail parties and weddings.

Me: So here is my quote for the cocktail gown that we discussed last week.

Client: Thanks… I understand the lines for fabric and other material, but what is the last line about?

Me: That’s for my design work and the time necessary to stitch and build the gown.

Client: I don’t understand. How does that account for that sum of money?

Me: Based on our initial conversation and preliminary design, I estimated X hours of work.

Client: You charge money for drawing designs?

Me: Yes.

Client: I don’t get it. Doesn’t your husband make enough money?

I was contracted by a local business to create a logo and a website; my client said that a mutual friend referred me.  We discussed his project over the phone and he agreed to meet me at a local coffee shop to start work after the contract had been signed. 

After receiving the signed contract and deposit, I tried to set up a meeting at our agreed upon location.  He refused to meet at the coffee shop because he said it was too loud.  He insisted that I meet him at his home at noon that day. I offered a variety of other public places – I didn’t know him, have never met him, and as a small female, I definitely did not feel comfortable meeting him by myself in his home (especially since his office was apparently in the basement).  When we couldn’t agree on a location, he asked me to go ahead and get started on the logo. We would try again another day.

I sent the logo for review and, after a couple weeks, I received a response from him.  He demanded that I meet him in his basement at noon that next day (by myself) to discuss the logo and the website.  He (again) refused a variety of public options. I offered to meet him at his home when his wife was home from work and my husband could join us. I offered a Skype call with screen sharing. He refused both.

It had to be at noon. At his home. In his basement. By myself.

After we couldn’t agree on a location, he sent a series of angry emails cancelling the contract and demanding the non-refundable deposit back.  Including this:

Client: ​And yes, my business is too important to me to discuss it in some, nasty, noisy, public, coffee shop…​

And that mutual friend?  I called him the next day and found out that he wasn’t friends with my now ex-client and that he had never actually referred me to him!