Have you ever lost a client just to save a few bucks?

In case you have been wondering, if this is a true story, I have to say, it's still happening. There's only one question I want to ask. Would you have done the same? After all, one friendship is supposed to be worth more than the money. More than any money in the world. Right?

So, there's a top class designer living next door to me. We have known each other for quite some time. He has a full-time job in one sports magazine. He prepares the pages for printing, something like that. He knows his stuff, that's for sure. Every now and then, he jumps in to work with me on some of the freelance projects. Let's say that the brochures are our specialty. I take care of the content, while he manages pictures, design, and stuff. Just like what Tom Cruise used to say in the Oblivion, we are an effective team.

When I find a client, we work on my account. A client pays me, I pay him. When he catches an opportunity, he recommends me. I do my part, and I get paid. When there's a time gap between the design and writing work of more than a week, we use our separate freelance accounts. We work separately and a client pays on two different projects. This was the case with our latest project.

I did my writing part as usual. I informed the client. Submitted my work. Then I waited for my friend to finish his design work. The agreement was, we will be both paid when the brochure is complete. So, I waited. In the meantime, I worked on my own projects. It took a little bit more than usual. After all, this wasn't a brochure with too many pages. So, I asked a simple question. What's going on? My friend told me that we have a problem.

It happens. Sometimes, the clients know to rub us the wrong way, especially when it comes to revisions. We usually stick together and support each other. So, I thought, this was the moment when we have to act as one. My turn to be a good cop in this situation. To my biggest surprise, the client informed that the problem with my friend the designer had nothing to do with the revisions. I asked, then what could possibly go wrong? This isn't our first project in this field? I heard, it was the price. That we ridiculous. We already agreed on the price. Both prices actually, one for the writing and the another for the design part. Right?

Well, it turned out that my friend wanted for the client to pay the project fees. This was even more difficult to understand or justify. I asked my friend, what has gotten into you? You calculate the fees in the price itself, and the client pays it eventually. Right? What seems to be the problem now? He stubbornly insisted. I'm tired of fees and everything. I just want my money. Let the clients pay the fees. Maybe he just had a hard day at his full-time regular work. I don't know. Honestly, I don't care. When we work as a team, then the team's rules apply.

The most annoying part was that if he doesn't finish his part of the work, then I'm not going to get paid, as well. I just couldn't believe that this was happening. As I said, this wasn't our first job together. That's what made this situation to be so difficult to understand and handle. So, I said, I just couldn't believe that you're willing to risk the whole project for a few bucks. We both have to pay a few bucks compared to the overall price for the fees. That's the cost of the project you have to accept. If it wasn't for the project fees on freelance platforms we work on, then we would have to pay some transaction fees. There's always something to pay.

We were stuck. I realized that this situation and his stubbornness will get us nowhere. So, I said, I will cover the fees for you and me, just finish the job, please. So, we finished the job. We got the money. I paid what I promised. Then I did what I had to do. I said, this was the last time for you and me to work together. From now on it's every man for himself. We are done regarding the future works together. We can still be friends, but we can't do the business together. He wasn't stubborn anymore. But, I didn't feel good about it either.

Don't get me wrong. I'm also a buyer, not only a seller. I go to the local small grocery store. The owner gives us some small candy for our kids. Nothing special or expensive, but a kind gesture both my wife and I simply can't ignore. So, we usually buy a thing or two extra even if we don't need them. And yes, we keep coming back. Once, I paid a visit to the local mechanic just to check my car's tire pressure. I had to pay. No problem. I didn't expect to get it for free, but the tone. Here nothing comes for free. OK, no problem. When the time came to change the engine oil, I drove to another mechanic. Very simple.

Everywhere I look, I can't help myself noticing that people are using good opportunities and most importantly the clients, just to save a few bucks. Is it really worth it? What would you have done, if you were in my position? What was I supposed to do? To lose both the project and a client? I still say hello to my friend designer, but we simply don't discuss nor ask questions about projects. He didn't apologize and why should he? I didn't ask. Yet, I hope he knows that if he asks me for some work to share, my answer would be - no. I have never lost a client just to save a few bucks, and sure thing I'm not going to start now. How about you?