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The Other Side of the Coin

by MsDebra
10 replies
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I need to vent, so I hope I can vent to my fellow Warriors.

I am an article writer. I've been working with this client for about three weeks or so. Everything started out pretty cool. He was paying me decent money for my articles and he was overjoyed with what I produced for him.

Then he ran into some cashflow problems and we agreed on his getting three times the number of articles as before but for half the price per article on a 60-day basis. Well, rather than lose the client altogether, I agreed.

It took me 6 days rather than 5 to get him the increased number of articles. Before when he approved the articles, he paid me immediately. When I reminded him of payment due, he tells me that he is disappointed in the quality of my articles and he will pay me in 5 days! When I emailed back to ask him to be more specific, I get no answer.

If the quality is not what he expected, I can deal with that. But shouldn't he at least tell me what he didn't like about them? And should he expect the same quality in three times the number of articles and within the same time period? I think I got a bum deal here.

What do you think?

I read all the time on this forum how content writers take the money and disappear, or don't meet deadlines. I am not that kind of writer! I even get paid after I've delivered my work. Yet I can't find a good client very often. I can't lump them all together, because I have had some good clients who pay on time. But the majority of clients I've had are pains.

Thanks for letting me vent. I look forward to your comments.
#articles or content
  • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
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    • Profile picture of the author D.K. Magnus
      You could always thank the client for the new niche, with keywords they have provided for you.

      Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises View Post

      I would rather lose the customer than do the work for half price. Your time is valuable so don't short change yourself.

      I've been stiffed rarely but it has happened so I sympathize with you on that score. If you do not get paid for the work, remind the client that the copyright remains with you. Then use the articles yourself or try to sell them to someone else, perhaps.

      Good luck,
      Tina G
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      For unique, high quality articles go to http://www.warriorforum.com/warriors...ent-great.html
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    • Profile picture of the author MsDebra
      Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises View Post

      I would rather lose the customer than do the work for half price. Your time is valuable so don't short change yourself.

      I've been stiffed rarely but it has happened so I sympathize with you on that score. If you do not get paid for the work, remind the client that the copyright remains with you. Then use the articles yourself or try to sell them to someone else, perhaps.

      Good luck,
      Tina G
      Thank you so much for your comments. I will take your advice.
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    If the client does not want to pay you and ignores your emails, I would not deal with him even though he has been with you for a little while.

    If he does pay you, then you can work with him again in the future but make him pay you first.

    I used to do article marketing before. Not too much though but I asked all the people to send me the funds FIRST and then I would start to write for them.

    I think I just got sick of writing and I did not have too many people pay me so I discontinued that.

    Those people that I wrote for were always happy with the content.

    Tal
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    • Profile picture of the author MsDebra
      Originally Posted by alexa_s View Post

      I think you took a bum deal here. The warning signs were there.

      I'm also a writer, and simply work everything out by estimating how long it will take me - not always entirely accurately, I admit - and base the price on the hourly rate my time's worth to me. I would rather lose the client than work half-price. Sorry, I do appreciate that this isn't really "helpful" to you.
      Thank you. I will take your advice in the future.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lloyd Buchinski
    I had someone ask if he could borrow a tool. I asked him "temporarily or permanently?" It was just a friend and there was no question of a problem but if it is money it is surprising how often the answer (usually never asked and never volunteered) is permanently.

    When I was just starting out I borrowed money and worked hard to pay it back, and that was a handicap, because I expected everyone else to do the same. It took a bit of experience to come to the conclusion that I must be really unusual.

    And after hundreds of internet years of dealing with people this person at least now doesn't sound good. See if you can put the articles to your own use, and if you can find out where he is using them, send him a notice to take them down. If he doesn't, buy a gun. (Honest Your Honor, I was only kidding.)

    So, sorry you had a problem but sometimes they do turn into an advantage. (Not 100% of the time though.) You could learn something really interesting.

    best wishes, lloyd
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  • Profile picture of the author Rudolph McDonald
    I am not a writer actually, but I like participating in forums. Well, anyways, I think as most of them advised you, you should rather lose the client, than waste your time with him. You can still manage to get more clients who will appreciate your work and pay you the price you deserve.
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    • Profile picture of the author SolarFelineAU
      I am not writing presently, (must start to study that again). My hubby is an accountant of 20+ years, and I have *finally* got him to be a a *bit* of a ******* when doing business. Sign-on fee is on a sliding scale, depending upon the work required, before he does a mid-size to large project (with me doing admin work ), then the remaining is the "1/3rd rule" at agreed dates, and then the outstanding amount is required upon final delivery of our client advice. Otherwise, we are leaving ourselves open to be shafted by clients. Legal action is never pretty and is a waste of our time....

      You are a business woman, not a charity. (Please don't think I am insulting you in any way. That is not my intent.) I don't know if our experiences can help you, but I thought I would post the above anyway.

      SolarFelineAU
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      Please be nice to us n00bs, as you were one once, and we are your customers.

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  • Profile picture of the author MsDebra
    Please forgive me. I had forgotten about starting this thread. Thank you all for your very helpful comments. I never heard from this guy again. Good riddance!
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