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Moral conundrum

by tloper
9 replies
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Hello Everybody and thank you in advance for reading.

I have a bit of a moral conundrum.

To make it as brief as possible: I am a freelance internet marketer and I recently had 2 prospective clients come to me asking for help with their websites. Their last web marketer passed away about a month ago and they are stuck trying to find somebody to take over.

A little about the other company: it is a team of two business partners. The one who died is the marketer and the surviving one is the business/project manager. The surviving business/project manager told them that he was leaving the company and would no longer be able to help them and didn't even help with giving them passwords or a place to start.

My conundrum is: is it ethical to contact all their other clients and see if I can help them? I feel weird about it because it is like I am stealing business away and profiting from a terrible tragedy, but on the other hand these people are left in the dark and really need help finding somebody to maintain their websites.

If I do contact them, do I pretend like I don't know the situation or should I be direct and not beat around the bush?

Thanks so much for reading!
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    When you have moral issues - just try thinking of how you would feel if you were the recipient of your proposed actions. If it would upset YOU to be treated that way - then don't do it.

    If you are thinking of scamming or lying, you need to hope and pray that nobody you are scamming figures it out.

    If that's not pretty simple, I don't know what else to say.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      How would you know the names of the other clients?

      If the surviving owner gave you the contact information...go for it. You're doing everyone a service. If you got the contact information by other means...you should contact the owner of the business, and get his permission.

      Because word will get back. I guarantee it.


      Added later;
      I just went back and read your post again. If everything you say is accurate, it isn't a problem. People prospect and make sales all the time. Use the referrals if you can.

      But again, how did you learn about all the other clients?
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    • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
      Banned
      It's pretty simple . . it's business, you need it, and you're not treading on anyone else's toes, so go for it.

      PS - if you're uncertain for ethical reasons, then pass the gig on to another WF member where I'm sure it will be much appreciated.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
    Why not just work with the other owner above-board and get all of the passwords, contact information, etc.?
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Originally Posted by tloper View Post

    Hello Everybody and thank you in advance for reading.

    I have a bit of a moral conundrum.

    To make it as brief as possible: I am a freelance internet marketer and I recently had 2 prospective clients come to me asking for help with their websites. Their last web marketer passed away about a month ago and they are stuck trying to find somebody to take over.

    A little about the other company: it is a team of two business partners. The one who died is the marketer and the surviving one is the business/project manager. The surviving business/project manager told them that he was leaving the company and would no longer be able to help them and didn't even help with giving them passwords or a place to start.

    My conundrum is: is it ethical to contact all their other clients and see if I can help them? I feel weird about it because it is like I am stealing business away and profiting from a terrible tragedy, but on the other hand these people are left in the dark and really need help finding somebody to maintain their websites.

    If I do contact them, do I pretend like I don't know the situation or should I be direct and not beat around the bush?

    Thanks so much for reading!
    First of all, it is ILLEGAL for one that has controlled the reigns of a business on behalf of others to not give them necessary assets that are theirs before he leaves. If HE knows a key contact or password, he is required to give it to them.

    Technically, you are not allowed to in ANY way release or use their assets, such as customer lists, supplier lists, etc... But if they are going to close up shop, and leave those people in a lurch, I would say GO AHEAD! You aren't hurting anyone, and could help the customers.

    You are right though, TOUGH CALL!

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Ask the surviving partner to at least get word out about you and offer him
    some commission or referral pay.

    The communication should be above board and low key and respectful. Fact: This poor guy passed on. Fact: Everybody knows it. Fact: They need help. Fact: You are available.

    The show must continue for the other clients and they need someone to help
    them now. Might as well be you.

    Dan
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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    • Profile picture of the author tloper
      Wow, thank you everyone for reading and sharing your thoughts!

      How would you know the names of the other clients?
      I can get them off of their portfolio website and by doing a -site:domainname.com search.

      Why not just work with the other owner above-board and get all of the passwords, contact information, etc.?
      To give more backstory (which I heard through the grapevine): The death was a suicide. Apparently the surviving partner was leaving the company before the marketer died. I am told that this played a part in why the marketer killed himself.

      The surviving partner is not responding to their clients questions (maybe because he doesn't know the answers, maybe he checked out of the company before this happened, or maybe he is upset by the situation.) Since he is not responding to his clients I do not expect him to respond to me. I guess I could try but I would feel weird about it.

      ---

      I don't believe I would be doing anything illegal or scamming. I'm just going through his client list on his portfolio and doing a web search. I'm not lying or doing anything dishonest –*which leads me to one more question for anyone who is interested in sharing their thoughts:

      Would it be better to send a general cold email to this list of people, or should I be direct and say something along the lines of "I know you last marketer died - I can help".

      To add one more layer to this, the two of their previous clients raved about how nice the guy was. Also, I would guess that most of their clients do not know what is going on since this happened just a month ago and the surviving partner is not super responsive. Should I be the one to break the news?

      Thanks again!
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      • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
        Originally Posted by tloper View Post

        The surviving partner is not responding to their clients questions (maybe because he doesn't know the answers, maybe he checked out of the company before this happened, or maybe he is upset by the situation.) Since he is not responding to his clients I do not expect him to respond to me. I guess I could try but I would feel weird about it.
        From his view, the clients are a "problem". So you need to approach him (face-to-face) as a "solution". This is not unethical at all. He could very well find great comfort that you are willing to come in and take most/all of his "problems" off of his plate. It may even be to your benefit for you to provide services that had already been paid for, i.e., you work for free just to show your level of commitment, and your new clients will sit up and notice. (Of course, it may not hurt to approach the beneficiaries of the deceased's estate and let them know that you are doing this, since they could very well pay you some or all of the funds that were allocated for this work.)

        Originally Posted by tloper View Post

        Would it be better to send a general cold email to this list of people, or should I be direct and say something along the lines of "I know you last marketer died - I can help".... Should I be the one to break the news?
        Be direct, transparent, and politely assertive about your ability to solve the problems. This is no time for generic blandness.
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