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Is this called lying to the client?

by Ali Anwar
15 replies
I received an email tonight from a company asking me if I do copy writing. Per se I don't, but I didn't want to lose a potential relationship by bluntly saying no. So I replied in the affirmative.

I'm well off writing articles, ebooks, reports, and other writing needs, but the prospect of copy writing and the psychology aspect surrounding it has kept me at bay. I thought even if this client provides me with a project, I should get it outsourced else where, and keep the difference for myself.

So tell me what you think? Did I do the right thing, or did I just exhibit an unprofessional work ethic?
#called #client #lying
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I'd outsource it.

    Copy writing is a different kind of writing for sure.

    If you can get the job done for the client, simply by outsourcing to someone competent enough to do the job, then you will have met your obligation without any dishonesty.
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  • Profile picture of the author owenlee
    Money is almost in your pocket...as long as you can get the job done by outsourcing, i don't think is lying...
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  • Profile picture of the author Krstwo
    Absolutely not, If you provide a quality package at a price they like IMO outsourcing is not a problem at all. I wouldn't be upset as a buyer or as a seller.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      What are you going to tell them when they ask you questions about "your" copywriting?

      I have to disagree with the others in this thread. I think you should have gone with something like, "I don't do copywriting personally but I have an associate that I work with who is an excellent copywriter".
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      • Profile picture of the author Tadresources
        Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

        What are you going to tell them when they ask you questions about "your" copywriting?

        I have to disagree with the others in this thread. I think you should have gone with something like, "I don't do copywriting personally but I have an associate that I work with who is an excellent copywriter".
        This is a good idea too. I think as long as they trust you they will trust your judgement when it comes to a copywriter. My point was only that I don't think it's unethical as long as you are getting work to the client that is high quality.
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        • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
          Originally Posted by Tadresources View Post

          This is a good idea too. I think as long as they trust you they will trust your judgement when it comes to a copywriter. My point was only that I don't think it's unethical as long as you are getting work to the client that is high quality.
          I always think lying is unethical.
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      • Profile picture of the author Ali Anwar
        Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

        What are you going to tell them when they ask you questions about "your" copywriting?

        I have to disagree with the others in this thread. I think you should have gone with something like, "I don't do copywriting personally but I have an associate that I work with who is an excellent copywriter".
        That is kind of exactly what I'm thinking. Well, the email was sent hours ago. I'll just make myself more clear next time with the right choice of words. :rolleyes:
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        • Profile picture of the author Christopher Fox
          Bill Gates lied to IBM when he told them he had developed DOS. He didn't have it. After he got the IBM contract, he bought QDOS. Look at him now. I am weird about lies. I have very strong morals and ethics and hold myself to a high standard, but white lies? Pffft. I ain't a hypocrite about either. I don't consider minor white lies to me to be a major travesty. Yes, you told a lie.

          People tell lies all of the time. They lie to loved ones to protect their feelings, etc. Hell, how many of you believed in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny?

          Tina, do you have children? Did you lie to them about Santa Claus, or do you condemn those that do from your elevated horse? Lies are not a cut and dry issues. It is the actions and motivations behind them that really matter.

          Is anyone hurt by this lie? I don't think so. You can outsource to a quality copywriter, and the company can still get what they want, what you told them you can deliver.

          Look, in business, every day, many, many lies are told by companies who cannot do what they just said they can do, but they know they can outsource the work and deliver exactly what they promised.

          If you tell them you can copy write, but cannot do it yourself and then try and deliver garbage, you got a problem. If you outsource and deliver what you promised them, namely quality copywriting, you are just doing business as countless businesses have and do.

          Don't deceive to take money and not deliver - that is a different beast and wrong. But if you can find a way to deliver what they are asking for and they will be satisfied, no worries, it doesn't matter if the copy comes from your keyboard or that of a competent copy writer you outsource to.

          Cheat on your wife and lie to her about it, you are a jackass on two counts. One for cheating and one for lying. When your wife asks you if you like the pot roast that tastes like shoe leather and you lie to her and tell her it tastes good, does that make you a bad person? How 'bout when she puts on a pair of jeans and asks you if her ass looks fat? What if it does, but you don't care because you are in love with her, you want to tell her the truth? "Yea honey, your ass looks real fat in those jeans."

          It is more the action and the motivation behind what you are doing than the lie.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tadresources
    I don't see anything wrong with this, as long as the work you have outsourced is of high quality and still up to the standards you've set for yourself.
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  • Profile picture of the author calvinyumi
    Outsource it, go go go. That's not lying at all. In my humble opinion
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  • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
    I'm not inclined to make a big deal out of this but
    how is it honest and accurate to answer a direct question
    with a simple affirmative answer when, in fact, the opposite
    is true.

    Some very strange ethical standards on display in this thread.

    Tina had the right answer.
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  • Profile picture of the author dbwebdesignz
    Outsource is defiantly the way forward, you are saying your 'company' will get it done, and through a resource you have doesn't necessarily have to be typed up by yourself
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  • Profile picture of the author Billy Levin
    To be honest I just think you're taking initiative. As long as your client gets a good job done and you earn money I don't see the problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Personally, I would have told them that I have a writer who handles that for me. Same with other things I don't do such as programming. This has always worked for me.
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