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Never Disrespect The Money!

by Young Financier
36 replies
After an interesting encounter with a person who shall remain nameless, I'd like to briefly discuss attitude in business.

Long story short, I messaged a warrior to inquire about his design services. Someone passed me his Skype address along with his website containing his portfolio. I was impressed with his work, so when I contacted him, I wasn't going to haggle or any of that stuff. I just wanted to agree on a price, pay him, get the job done and move on. When I asked about his services via Skype, he replies with, "Learn how to read. I'm booked solid and not taking any orders right now." In return I asked him why would he take that approach with me when I'm trying to spend money with him. He then says, "I don't care about your money. There's a line of customers waiting to pay me."

He was referring to a thread he posted here, which I didn't see. The thread did in fact say he was booked and not accepting any orders BUT I never saw it.

Don't get it twisted --- in business, you ARE replaceable. I don't care how talented you are. I don't care how many customers you have today. If you get out of line with the people who's money keep you in business, there's always someone who provide the same service as you and maybe even better and at a lower price who will gladly snatch your customers away.

I've seen it happen to guys. Their business start booming, the money is flowing and all of a sudden, they think its okay to disrespect potential customers and even current customers. They make the mistake of thinking that if they lose one customer, there's another one right around the corner. But what these guys didn't count on was that the customer around the corner had a short conversation with the customer whom he'd just dismissed rudely and he's no longer interested. The word spread around fast, the guy kept mistreating others since he thought he was on top of the world and business dropped off faster than anyone could have imagined.

Don't let that ego drive you out of business, no matter how great things are going. End up right back where you started with some sob story about the good ole days of when business was "oh so good!"
#disrespect #money
  • Profile picture of the author jamesrich1
    I agree with you the guys ego is pretty big for him to disrespect you like that. He lost a potential client with arrogance. He could of said the same thing in a much more appealing way.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sarevok
    Not much charisma for an artist, huh?

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    • Profile picture of the author Hopeless Bromantic
      It works in both directions, though. Some customers are such jackasses that it's just not worth doing business with them. (Obviously that's not what happened here, but it still happens a lot.) It's all about the "cost of sale."
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      • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
        Originally Posted by Hopeless Bromantic View Post

        It works in both directions, though. Some customers are such jackasses that it's just not worth doing business with them. (Obviously that's not what happened here, but it still happens a lot.) It's all about the "cost of sale."
        I'd never tell someone to put up with a customer's BS just to get the sale. If you choose to, that's fine. But I wouldn't knock anyone for not putting up with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
    Mr. Alexander,

    Thank you so much for your interest in our service but we are fully scheduled at the moment. Our next available slot is in 63 days. We will be glad to put you on our list but fully understand if your project simply can not wait that long.

    Seems like something to that effect could have got the job done and not only not made any enemies but possibly had a return in the future.

    I have been at the bottom looking up and at the top looking down. It is harder to climb than it is to fall.
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    • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
      Originally Posted by Troy_Phillips View Post

      Mr. Alexander,

      Thank you so much for your interest in our service but we are fully scheduled at the moment. Our next available slot is in 63 days. We will be glad to put you on our list but fully understand if your project simply can not wait that long.

      Seems like something to that effect could have got the job done and not only not made any enemies but possibly had a return in the future.

      I have been at the bottom looking up and at the top looking down. It is harder to climb than it is to fall.
      Well said! A simple message like that I would've had no choice but to be fine with his decision of not accepting any orders. But to insult me for wanting to purchase your services....that's something I've never heard of.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    I feel you sean. Luckily not everybody isn't like the designer that you inquired about.
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  • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
    But to insult me for wanting to purchase your services....that's something I've never heard of.
    You've obviously never dealt with Adwords.
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  • Profile picture of the author willjake
    Okay I'm astonished that you got that response. Not only were you a potential customer but you are a person. No one should be mistreated like that it's totally unacceptable. Also the fact that he said he doesn't care about your money because he has a line of people waiting to pay money is uncalled for. Not placing any judgements because I don't know the guy but that statement could give someone the impression that he just views his customers as numbers instead of people.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Sometimes marketers and freelancers believe their own hype. It seldom ends well.

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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Pretty arrogant response. After that, I wouldn't really want to do business with him whether he had a line or not. Attitude and customer service and basic human respect are as important as talent.
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    • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      Pretty arrogant response. After that, I wouldn't really want to do business with him whether he had a line or not. Attitude and customer service and basic human respect are as important as talent.
      Trust me, he's not getting my business. LOL
      You know what's funny? The service I was willing to pay him good money for is something I could do myself, and even better than he could, but I didn't have the time or patience to do it myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    I've never pissed anyone off.
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  • Profile picture of the author techbul
    The customer is always right
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  • Profile picture of the author SurrealPSD
    Im a commercial artist, and I wouldn't dream of speaking to a customer like that. Karma will prevail.
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  • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
    Wow. Hopefully that silver spoon he has in his mouth will never fall out
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  • Profile picture of the author ocaswiz
    This is not the wrong attitude in business, it's also the wrong attitude in life.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lightlysalted
    You never know when you may come across a customer again. Sometimes customers end up being individuals that you need in the future and how you treat them will define how they in turn treat you in the future. No customer is too unimportant
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    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      If I might guess.. I would say there was a clash of personalities there. If he were not interested in doing business at all, he would have never taken the call. He would have got rid of you more or less politely before that.

      His line is the one I reserve for cheap clients, those that ask for 50% discount in exchange of recurring business that will never come and crap like that. You probably appeared to him to be a pain to deal with.

      And you know... people run away from pain. Whether they respect the money or not.

      Of course.. I might be completely wrong about this. You probably never would try to take advantage of a service provider and respect all people the same no matter provenance, affiliation, sex, color and the works...

      Sandra
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      • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
        Originally Posted by Sandra Martinez View Post

        If I might guess.. I would say there was a clash of personalities there. If he were not interested in doing business at all, he would have never taken the call. He would have got rid of you more or less politely before that.

        His line is the one I reserve for cheap clients, those that ask for 50% discount in exchange of recurring business that will never come and crap like that. You probably appeared to him to be a pain to deal with.

        And you know... people run away from pain. Whether they respect the money or not.

        Of course.. I might be completely wrong about this. You probably never would try to take advantage of a service provider and respect all people the same no matter provenance, affiliation, sex, color and the works...

        Sandra
        No.....
        I simply messaged him and asked if he'd be interested in performing said service and in exchange he responded the way he said. That was the extent of the conversation up until that point. If I appeared to be a pain just for asking about a service, then both you and him are in the wrong business. Besides, as originally said in my opening post, I wasn't going to haggle about price or any of that stuff. I was just gonna pay him what he was asking.
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        • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
          Originally Posted by Sean T Alexandre View Post

          No.....
          I simply messaged him and asked if he'd be interested in performing said service and in exchange he responded the way he said. That was the extent of the conversation up until that point. If I appeared to be a pain just for asking about a service, then both you and him are in the wrong business. Besides, as originally said in my opening post, I wasn't going to haggle about price or any of that stuff. I was just gonna pay him what he was asking.
          Cool. The guy was PMSing then.

          How was I in the wrong business for what he did? Don´t get that part. Can you tell me again so even I understand it?

          BTW... I have been moving out of service altogether. I take only things that feel right. I was extremely overbooked and almost took me to the grave exactly one year by this date. My kids need me in one piece.

          Sandra
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          • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
            Originally Posted by Sandra Martinez View Post

            Cool. The guy was PMSing then.

            How was I in the wrong business for what he did? Don´t get that part. Can you tell me again so even I understand it?

            BTW... I have been moving out of service altogether. I take only things that feel right. I was extremely overbooked and almost took me to the grave exactly one year by this date. My kids need me in one piece.

            Sandra
            Your statement: "You probably appeared to be a pain to deal with" after I clearly said that all I did was ask if he was performing the service I wanted.
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            • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
              Originally Posted by Sean T Alexandre View Post

              Your statement: "You probably appeared to be a pain to deal with" after I clearly said that all I did was ask if he was performing the service I wanted.
              I get the slap part, I just don´t get the logic. Unless you were just being mean to me for saying something you didn´t like. (Should I start another thread complaining of ungrateful people who lash out when others are trying to help? nah )

              90% of the people who come here - and everywhere else - claiming to be victims of someone else´s wrongs have half of the "guilt". The other 10% are too innocent or happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong moment.

              I deal in a daily basis with people who - at some point or another - have been strongly wronged, some even abused. The path to assure that will never happen again is to own the pain and learn.

              But, if instead of using the opportunity to see inside to find the points where things can be different, or just let go, you choose to lash, well.. you miss the boat.

              You are taking this guy´s action as something personal and can hear the "how dare him" still echoeing.

              There are two possible reasons,

              1. The guy was PMSing, what happens.
              2. You are part of the problem,

              If the case is 1... you can move on or do business with him after the period ends. it shouldn´t really matter, not for you, not for him. None of you are working on your "life purpose" anyway, so both is replaceable.

              If case is 2... there you have something to learn.

              But... there is no resolution until you get out of the victim state.
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              • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
                Originally Posted by Sandra Martinez View Post

                I get the slap part, I just don´t get the logic. Unless you were just being mean to me for saying something you didn´t like. (Should I start another thread complaining of ungrateful people who lash out when others are trying to help? nah )

                90% of the people who come here - and everywhere else - claiming to be victims of someone else´s wrongs have half of the "guilt". The other 10% are too innocent or happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong moment.

                I deal in a daily basis with people who - at some point or another - have been strongly wronged, some even abused. The path to assure that will never happen again is to own the pain and learn.

                But, if instead of using the opportunity to see inside to find the points where things can be different, or just let go, you choose to lash, well.. you miss the boat.

                You are taking this guy´s action as something personal and can hear the "how dare him" still echoeing.

                There are two possible reasons,

                1. The guy was PMSing, what happens.
                2. You are part of the problem,

                If the case is 1... you can move on or do business with him after the period ends. it shouldn´t really matter, not for you, not for him. None of you are working on your "life purpose" anyway, so both is replaceable.

                If case is 2... there you have something to learn.

                But... there is no resolution until you get out of the victim state.
                Umm, what? Victim state? All I did was relay an incident to prevent other entrepreneurs from making the same mistake. You think I actually care about the guy not wanting to do business with me? Like I told someone else, I can do the job myself even better than the guy, but I just didn't have the time or patience to do it. So why in the world would I feel like a victim? Again, you're reading my words and getting yet another mistaken impression. Either that or you're trying too hard to gain brownie points.
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                • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
                  Originally Posted by Sean T Alexandre View Post

                  Umm, what? Victim state? All I did was relay an incident to prevent other entrepreneurs from making the same mistake. You think I actually care about the guy not wanting to do business with me? Like I told someone else, I can do the job myself even better than the guy, but I just didn't have the time or patience to do it. So why in the world would I feel like a victim? Again, you're reading my words and getting yet another mistaken impression. Either that or you're trying too hard to gain brownie points.
                  Alrighty then... bad bad boy... he was mean.

                  Of course, you are right.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hill
    "Never Disrespect The Money!"

    You sound like Kevin O'Leary from Shark Tank. That was his saying in Episode One, Season One (I think) that I just happened to watch last night on YouTube.
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    • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
      Originally Posted by Mike Hill View Post

      "Never Disrespect The Money!"

      You sound like Kevin O'Leary from Shark Tank. That was his saying in Episode One, Season One (I think) that I just happened to watch last night on YouTube.
      LOL. I actually had Kevin O'Leary in mind when I was typing this. Good catch!
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  • Profile picture of the author mialove
    I had the same experience in the past. She was very popular, but with this kind of attitude, she lost a lot of potential clients.
    yaaak : ///
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  • Profile picture of the author Micah Medina
    On one hand... yeah, part of the reason you're in the "be your own boss" world is so that you CAN disrespect the money if you have to.

    I've been really lucky with my clients, and I've never gotten anyone who was crazy or abusive, but it's always good to have the option of giving the guy his money back and telling him to go away.

    But it's good business and good ethics to make that your last resort. Even when a client frustrates you, you need to ask yourself - are they doing something malicious or are they operating from a lack of knowledge and expertise?

    Because the lack of knowledge is why you're there in the first place.

    Second... and this is harder to explain... but is this a customer the average person in your niche would drop out on? Whenever I see a hurdle in my personal life, I'm glad for it because I know most people have seen that me hurdle and it's going to stop them.

    Third, could I defend my actions to a customer or third party, that guy around the corner who wants to know what happened from beginning to end. You need to make sure you're in the right in every situation and bending over backwards to make things work before you fire a customer.

    Obviously, this dude didn't pass any of those tests.
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  • Profile picture of the author sunray
    Open Skype can really be a nuisance, especially when in creative mood. Better to use email, then the other person will respond when he really has the time to spare.
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  • Profile picture of the author DeanJames
    Someone in this thread said, "The Customer Is Always Right". Whilst that is true in the most part, what actually comes first are your needs as an entrepreneur and business owner. Anyone who disagrees with this should read "The Customer Magnet" by Michael Cheney. The wrong type of customers can actually imprison you in your own business, which is not something an entrepreneur wants or needs. If you're in a business where you have no control over the customers you render service to, you cannot 'fire' the worst ones. The vast majority of customers ARE right, but not all.
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    • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
      Originally Posted by DeanJames View Post

      Someone in this thread said, "The Customer Is Always Right". Whilst that is true in the most part, what actually comes first are your needs as an entrepreneur and business owner. Anyone who disagrees with this should read "The Customer Magnet" by Michael Cheney. The wrong type of customers can actually imprison you in your own business, which is not something an entrepreneur wants or needs. If you're in a business where you have no control over the customers you render service to, you cannot 'fire' the worst ones. The vast majority of customers ARE right, but not all.
      The customer is always right when its not you that has to deal with them all the time. LOL. An entrepreneur who actually has to deal with all the customers his/her business encounters won't say that and mean it. That's something you tell your employees. I used to be in a service orientated business as a Graphic Designer, and trust me, if you actually believe the customer is always right...you'll give up your freedom as an entrepreneur quick.
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by DeanJames View Post

      Someone in this thread said, "The Customer Is Always Right". Whilst that is true in the most part, what actually comes first are your needs as an entrepreneur and business owner. Anyone who disagrees with this should read "The Customer Magnet" by Michael Cheney. The wrong type of customers can actually imprison you in your own business, which is not something an entrepreneur wants or needs. If you're in a business where you have no control over the customers you render service to, you cannot 'fire' the worst ones. The vast majority of customers ARE right, but not all.
      I go a long way to make a customer happy, but I've reached limits where a customer was a losing proposition and had to cut them loose.

      The OP was not a customer yet. It's a pretty simple thing to refuse service politely and it appears this seller doesn't have that knack. Even when I have to let a customer go, I do it politely.
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