I had a meeting with a client a little over two weeks from Christmas. They asked for some work done and asked for an estimate as soon as possible. They wanted to get the work done by the end of the year.

I created an estimate and sent it for review. It was about two weeks’ worth of work.

Client: Estimate looks good. Looks like it’s two weeks of work then huh?

Me: Yep. I know you want this done by the end of the year but with the holidays that may not be possible.

Client: Well if you wanted, you could work during the holidays.

I laughed because I thought it was a joke. It wasn’t.

Client: Yeah you could come in on your own or even do the work from home if you want. Let me know.

He hung up before I could say anything.

I met with a client yesterday, who we’ve been supporting on and off for a year or two. They are seldom responsive when we reach out, but when they contact us they expect next-day results.

They sent us a request for non-urgent revisions. I left answering for a day.

Client: We’re disappointed you didn’t respond immediately.

Me: It was non-urgent and I was juggling some other assignments. I still addressed them within 24 hours.

Client: We’re going to look for a provider who can respond immediately.

I should be upset, but losing that client meant I found another one who actually lives in reality.

Client: I want you to write this in under 10 thousand words.

Me: OK. 

Client: Not enough detail. Flesh it out or I'm not paying.

Me: I fleshed it out, but it was pretty tight already. To get all the details in you wanted I went over. 

Client: TOO MANY WORDS. Also, I want it formatted for eBooks as part of the budget.

Me: (staring at the meager amount in escrow) Yeah, nah.

I met with a prospective client who didn’t know much about the technical details or creative decisions involved in website development. He was unimpressed by the concept of needing a new website when he had one that hadn’t been updated in 12 years.

He made his old website with free software, and it was one of the most outdated sites I’ve seen, with blurry images and hard-to-read text.

Client: Can I see some samples?

Me: Sure, let me just bring some up on the computer here to show you.

I showed the client a few of my website design samples, that looked modern, clean and responsive with a thoughtful UX in mind. 

Client: What, that’s it?

Always a great sign that your work is going to be valued. 

I'm editing another video for a repeat client, who always has intricate notes. It usually takes 4-5 versions before he's satisfied. This was his reply 4 days after the first cut I sent him.

Client: Hey! Sorry! I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. I've been suuuuper busy. Anyway, I'm going to go ahead and tell the office this'll be ready by Wednesday (6 days). Think you'll be done by then?

Me: You haven't given me your notes yet therefore I don't know how long it will take to incorporate them.

Client: Right. I hear ya. I'll send them first thing tomorrow morning.

He didn't.

Me: I also need the voice over tracks, music, and graphics you wanted to use.

Client: I'm out of town for a conference. So busy, lol. I'll get those to you when I get home Monday. In the meantime I'm gonna go ahead and tell the office we're releasing the video on Wednesday, that way we can start promoting. You keep working on it. How's the 2nd draft coming?

Me: I'm waiting for you.

No response. I have a feeling next week is going to be garbage.

I work as a freelance proofreader, and one day I was asked to proofread a more than 400 pages long post doctoral thesis. I gave her my estimate, and she agreed.

One month later:

Client: Sorry to say but I can't pay more than [less than half of the estimated amount], because I had some family and health issues.

Me: I'm very sorry to hear that, but I can't do that for this little money. Let me calculate this for you.

I gave her a detailed calculation of why it would cost at least twice as much, and since having some health problems myself at the time, I declined and offered to give her other contacts.

Client: No, it has to be you, you were recommended to me. I can pay a little bit more.

Me: OK, fine. But if you only have that much money, I can't provide you full service. It will only be a quite superficial proofreading with only a short preparation of the layout, and no layout control at all.

Client: Fine, thanks!

She then gave me ridiculously strict time tables that made me work during my family vacation but she herself never stuck to, and always came up with more and more tasks. I told her repeatedly that those weren't covered by her budget, and she apologized, only to come up with other tasks three days later. In the end, I finished the project a day before the deadline, sent it to hear and - nothing. Not one word.

A week later she replied to me.

Client: Sorry to reply that late, but there still was SO MUCH to do in that document!

Me: ...

Well, yes, I told you at the beginning and then ten times more that your budget is way too small for a proper job. I need to learn to say No when it smells like trouble from the beginning...

I overworked and was underpaid for a client, building a website for a charity website. I did the math, and I made under $5 an hour once I counted all the hours I spent explaining basic concepts to her over the phone. 

A year after I made this site and called her:

Me: Your domain and hosting is up and you'll need to renew it for another year.

Client: I never used that website. Why would I pay you to renew it?

Me: You don't have to! But the site will expire and disappear in two weeks. If that's what you choose, please don't call me again. 

I got a missed call from her yesterday - one week after the domain expiration date.

Boss: If the client asks when this work will be delivered, what should I tell them?

Me: Today's the first, so tell them the end of the month. We might be ready a week sooner, but it always pays to have some extra time in case of unforeseen issues, scope changes, etc.

Boss: Brilliant, I'll let them know.

1 week later, 3 weeks before the proposed delivery date.

Boss: How are things coming along? Are we on track for completion next week?

Me: Next week? Currently, we're 3 weeks away from the due date we discussed last week. Has something changed that I should be aware of?

Boss: What do you mean 3 weeks away? I told the client this would be ready next week. You've put me in a really awkward position now. I'll have to phone them and tell them the bad news.

Myself and the dev team worked out a plan involving significant overtime, and eventually deliver 2.5 weeks into the project (that's a whole 1.5 weeks earlier than scheduled). Boss not happy, client not happy, and to this day, our boss still believes we let him down.

Had a client ask us to create a logo for their small firm. After doing a  thorough creative brief with them and doing a whole presentation on the concepts made, we didn't hear from them for a few months even after various follow ups.

Turns out, the partners split. The original contact asked us to rebrand and make a new logo for his firm. His original logo was just a serif font, nothing special about it. So, we went through another thorough creative brief.

Client: I want a new, cutting edge, unique design. Something that told the story of this company and its name.

Again, we delivered the presentation and he was so excited and loved all the concepts and said he would get back to us to let us know what he decided.

Didn't hear back from him for a month. When he finally did call us back, he kept describing the revisions he wanted us to make, after repeating and trying to clarify what he was trying to explain, it ended up being EXACTLY like his original logo.

Turns out his wife (who was nowhere during the creative briefs) didn't like any of them and wanted the original serif font logo he had... but it took them about 5 months to come up with that decision.

Client: We need this rush job done! Please! 

Me: Okay, I'll clear my schedule and get that started right now.

Client: Thank you!

Three hours later, I'm almost done:

Client: Actually, cancel that. We don't actually need it.