How to deal with my Regularly Irregular Clients?

by TNT011
0 replies
Guess, I have to begin by explaining what does it mean for my client to be a regular irregular one. Well, here it goes. I'm talking about clients where we had a great and a promising start. We discussed possibilities for the long term cooperation. I gave special prices and conditions regarding the respectable volume of work. This is a scenario only to wish for with any client you get in contact with. This is how it sounds until the regular clients turn into quite irregular ones.

During the first couple of months everything runs according to the plan. They provide work as promised and I stick to my prices. Then, all of a sudden and with no warning I begin to notice that the situation is changing. I ask for an explanation. As you might have expected, I get an answer that the things have changed, but it's only a temporary problem. You know, it happens. So, I say that I totally understand and support the situation. I will be reasonable as I always do my best to be. So, my regular client who becomes an irregular one changes the volume of work and orders, but he keeps the favorable prices that is the catch.

Now, we go on with the work as usual. Meaning, they come and go as it suits them the best in terms of work. They order as much work as they need at the moment. I have to be available as if I'm treating as regular long term clients. The most important part includes the good, the very good price I provide only for the long term corporation. I keep getting these promises that we will get back to the initial volume of work as soon as the things settle in the right way for them. But guess what, this moment is constantly slipping away.

This kind of behavior is getting on my nerves, that's for sure. Yet, what can I do about it? Have I awarded my good prices and conditions too early? I don't think so. The negotiations went great and the first couple of months were great too. Remember? Now, I want to present myself as an understandable business partner who isn't greedy. But, at the same time, I have to protect my own interests. I know that the easiest thing would be to say, hey buddy, the things have changed. OK. So, I have to change. I will treat you as a client who has only one order. As soon as you get back where we were, I wouldn't have any problem giving you the good old prices and favorable conditions.

Then, on the other hand, I think that this is going to spoil the working atmosphere and it will get me nowhere eventually. But, what am I supposed to do? I treat you as a VIP client. I'm always available. I have to respect my old prices. You, on the other side, can suit yourself. This doesn't sound like a fair win-win scenario, does it? So, what are my options? I think that this is a more complext problem than it seems. I don't want to lose these customers. And, I definitely don't want to go on like this because it's not fair. That wasn't our initial agreement.

How would you handle a situation like this? I'm not saying or implying that my clients are doing these kinds of things on purpose. I understand that your business situation can change in a second. Yet, it is very indicative that you don't want to adapt and share the burden of new circumstances in a fair way. Honestly, I don't like to play games. I don't have time for that. I'm here to do business. I don't have time to conduct investigations whether or not my client's change was truly justified or it was a clear case of a foul play in business. Finally, to be quite honest, I'm a little bit worried that my tough attitude and lack of flexibility in these situations can cost me losing more than just one client. What is the best thing for me to do? Do you think it is a good idea to say there is a period of two or three months when you should get back in the regular client zone or something like that?
#clients #deal #irregular #regularly

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