Client would rather spend his money on Hash than pay his low price invoice!! - Learn from my mistake

Right, that's it, it's kind of a funny story that has finally made me realize that by offering my services for low prices I am really really s crewing myself over.

My old concept was to get more in the door, have greater client numbers, which would lead to more referrals, and more sales of other services down the line.
I figured I was outsourcing the web design anyway, and because of the low cost of the web design on my end, was still making a profit.

So here's what happened that has become the turning point for me, and the reason for the funny title.

Last night, I got a text that said:

"Hey man any chance you could get me some hash for Saturday"

so yes, my supposed client was a stoner. Not the best start for reliability (I've nothing against weed smokers, but as you'll see, his attitude really pissed me off) He, in his wariness, had accidentally texted me, instead of his drug dealer.

I then proceeded to text him saying now that I had his attention, did he think he could pay his invoice soon, and I could get his website done..

He replied, telling me that yes, sorry he'd messed me about (it'd been like 4 weeks since I first invoiced him, and he agreed to pay and move forward to get me to do the site) and said to add him on facebook and we'd get it sorted tomorrow.

So, this morning I hit him up on facebook, and it turns out he didn't realize that money would need to be paid TODAY in order for me to do his website (all of which was in the original email I'd sent to him, which he'd apparently forgotten, even though it's what made him agree to the website in the first place)

So, without going on (it's painful telling this story over again, as it really pissed me off) he basically had the money to get some "hash" for that weekend, apparently so he could watch lord of the rings stoned (typical stoner/loser thing to do) but didn't have the 50 measly quid to invest in his business, and the image that he portrays to his "clients" (probably just other stoner mates with PC issues, the guy is a computer repair man)

so LOL. What a way to realize.

When you price yourself low, you attract the dregs of the business world

No offence to the guy, apart from what I've already said, haha, but seriously, this is NOT the type of person I want as a client. Unmotivated, no memory, poor decision making, couldn't see what I was doing for him was worth a lot more. In other words, a POT HEAD, haha

As I said, I have nothing against people who smoke weed. I just don't want people like that as clients. I'm sure there's some pot smoking clients out there that have great business ethics, and know the value of online marketing, and are great business people bottom line, but this guy was not one of them.

Lastly, this is not my only experience with s hitty attitudes from clients, this was just breaking point for me. I've been spending weeks following up multiple people to pay their small invoice for web design.

I'd heard it from other people on here before many a time, but I guess I needed the harsh lesson for myself - DON'T BOTHER WITH LOW PAYING CLIENTS, they typically:

*won't appreciate your time
*will screw you around, say they'll do things and then won't
*expect things for free in future, not valuing that you are a business, not a f ucking charity
*they might tell their friends about you, but they may just be flakers, and annoying small player type clients aswell, so you'll just be getting more annoying clients that don't value your time

The main point is, when you do this, you're pricing (or lack of it) is basically sending a message, conscious or not. That message is something along the lines of

"I'm pricing myself really low here because I don't really think I'm worthy of a higher price, which means you're free to disrespect me, waste my time, not get back to me, and then expect me to do everything for free later on, all at a high level of quality"

Anyway, rant engine winding down. I'm pissed that I allowed my business to get to this, but I'm willing to learn from it, and look forward to a future of high paying, respectful, mutually enjoyable offline client relations.

I'm now in the crowd of preffering to have 10 high paying clients than 100 little ******* clients.

LOL, excuse my profanity in this post, but I'm obviously just pissed, and cooling myself off by expressing my disgust at this experience.

Love to hear from y'all on this matter, and I Hope it helps

If you're still starting out in offline, learn from my mistake.... please!!