Client: We want this completed ASAP!

The client sends multiple emails asking to complete work as fast as I can. I work long hours and pull overnighters to get the work done.

I send an invoice... and suddenly the constant communication stops. Weeks later:

Client: Sorry, I can't pay you yet I have other bills to pay first.

This happened recently, to me, but it happens all the time when you work in creative fields. Remember: you're only a priority when the job's not done.

I was hired by a client to design a website for a new online t-shirt store. We determined that it would work out best for them if it was a WordPress site that they could update and manage themselves after launch. We planned to have candid non-posed looking photos taken of cute models wearing the shirts on different locations. Very classy and modern looking.

We chose a theme and I proceeded to set up the teaser splash page and customized the theme to their liking, all I needed now from them was the actual content: photos of the merchandise, descriptive copy and prices for the store section.

They kept promising that they would be getting me those materials soon, all they were waiting for was the samples to come back. Every month for 4 months I’d remind them that I was anxious to get their website completed (especially since they still owed me for the final half of my fees). I always got a different answer for why they didn’t have photos yet.

Months later, I ran into the client at the grocery store.

Me: So what is going on with your website? Are you ready to move forward?

Client: Ugh, I hate my website.

Me: Oh no, why?

Client: I can’t get it to do what I want to do. I’m ready to scrap it and start over?

Start over? We never really even started it, I thought to myself.

I didn’t even bother reminding her that there was no content on the site yet. 

I checked the website when I got home. It turns out she had moved it to Wix and setup an ugly splash page and online store without even telling me! The t-shirt photography is just flat black shirts on a white background. Nothing at all like we discussed.

Guess I’m not getting the other half of my money.

Client: Hi, can you design a brochure?

Me: I’ll be out of town for the next two weeks, but might have time before I leave.

Client: It should be quick. 2-3 pages max. Using pre-designed art.

Me: OK, send over the copy.

Two weeks go by.

Client: Hi, I’m almost done with the copy!

Me: I’m out of town, like we discussed.

Client: Oh, right! Well, it’s longer now. Like about 70 pages.

Me: …

Client: And I need about 100 new graphics for it. But good news! There’s no huge rush! Take your time!

Me: Ok, I’ll work on it when I’m back.

A week goes by. On a Friday night at 8pm:

Client: Hey, how’s it going?

Me: I have about 1/3 of the graphics drawn, wrapping things up for the night.

Client: Yeaahh well, so I actually need it all done by Monday morning so I can present it at a huge conference in Canada. This is kind of a huge deal so can you work on it this weekend?

Me: You need 60 graphics and a 70-something page book designed in two days?

Client: Work your magic!

Working with a large company designing 5 websites on a large budget. I was leading the 2 main e-commerce sites whilst my junior designers headed up on the 3 smaller ones.

After 5 months of no contact from the client, they send through a Photoshop file of what they want their main site to look like - completely different from what was agreed in the first meeting.

Client: It has to be pixel perfect to this.

They proceeded to figuratively watch over our shoulders the entire time.

Another 5 months later, the director of the company showed up to a meeting an hour late.

Client: This is absolute garbage! It looks two decades old?

Me: This is exactly what your staff asked for.

Client: I don’t believe you. Also, why are these images so generic?

Me: Those are placeholder images. We’re waiting on more specific content from you.

Client: Bullsh**.

I was recently hired by my first client. Since I was just starting out, I gave her a heavily discounted rate.

She was thrilled with my work, and rated me five stars on the job platform I'm using... until she started asking for revisions. In the following days, she asked me for more and more changes every day. Nothing was right. She paid me, but then kept demanding change after change and rejected every attempt I made to fix things.

Eventually, I decided to give her a refund for the low amount she paid me.

Me: I'm sorry, I think this isn't working out. Thank you for this opportunity.

Client: ...You're not very creative, or professional. I was disappointed in your work from the start.

Then why did you give me five stars and tell me I was doing a great job? Jeez...

As part of my work on a consulting team that was focusing on re-energizing a brand for a Client, my manager asked me to create a proposal with some new themes and ideas to explore. I created a stylish guide with new creative concepts and strategies that I wrote and designed.

We sent the proposal to the client for their review.

Client: Thanks for this. We’ll review and get back to you.

I didn’t hear feedback for a couple of weeks. Then, I heard this:

Manager: This is kind of weird, but the Internal Team decided they’re going to work on ideas for the future of their brand themselves, so we’re no longer needed for that project.

We were disappointed, as my manager thought the creative work that I submitted was inspiring and useful. I was paid for my work on the proposal.

A month later, I checked out the Client’s social media pages, and their recent fundraising e-mail campaign.

They used a lot of the work that I submitted, but the biggest difference is they took credit for it. 

Client: I want you to call the +200 contacts on this list and make new clients. Also, I want you to design this brochure, some Facebook ads, and 5 banners for my website.

Me: Okay, what should I work on first?

Client: Both. You need to design while on the phone! All the previous designers did that, don't be unprofessional.

Client: (on Monday) We need the first draft in 2 weeks.

Client: (on Wednesday) How soon will the first draft be ready?

Me: …Uhhh, in 2 weeks minus two days?

I moved to a small town years ago, and when I did I volunteered to host and update a website for the local downtown business association; I figured this would put me in touch with local businesses and would be a good show of my work, so I did it for free.  

Over time, the business association started asking for more and more complex updates to the site that meant I couldn’t do it for free anymore.

Me: I’ve been happy to do this for you, but I’m unable to offer what want for free. I can send you a quote to build you a new website that does what you want.

Client: Great.

I put together a quote with potential features, timelines, everything. They called back furious.

Client: What’s this? I thought you were going to build us a website!

Me: No, I was only going to give you a quote for one. I’ll start building the site if you agree to the quote.

Client: But how do we know what your work is like from a quote?

Me: …The last two years of work I did for you, for free?

They refused. Since I was hosting the site and responsible for all its content, I eventually removed it.

Later I had to sue them for a map from the site that they used without permission or credit on a local newspaper promotion. 

I’ve learned from my naive ways and do nothing for free in the hopes of getting work.

I work in customer service for one of the big logistics companies. The phone lines usually heat up every Friday afternoon, when people realize they haven’t received their online purchases before the weekend. We do our best to help in exceptional cases, but of course, people have different definitions of what's important.

Client: I absolutely need this package today, please, it’s urgent!

Me: I’m sorry, but we can’t sent a driver out today, the only option is to come get it at the depot.

Client: What, you mean drive two hours for two phone cases? Don't be ridiculous.

Me: …