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This month has been the month of suck. Seriously, I have NEVER had so many sucky customers (or non-customers) in a row.
First there was the guy who kept trying to lowball me and be my "furiend", then there was the genius who failed at money management, (And he still hasn't paid me a penny more since that post.) And then the ridiculous drama over two lousy bucks and now today...
Well, today I had something happen that I've heard about many times, but never had anybody with the gall to pull it on me until now.
I'm sitting at the keyboard, contemplating a much-needed nap, when I see I have a new e-mail. And lo! It's somebody who says he wants to buy a costume! Excellent! The down payment on it would give me just enough to make rent this month! Glee! Joy! Happiness! So I reply, and tell him I would be happy to make his costume.
My reply includes the information that the particular sort of costume he wants usually costs $900, although depending on the details and features of his character, it may be slightly more than that.
He responds and asks if I have AIM. (Le sigh. I really don't like using IMs, but so many of my customers insist on it. And I really could use this commission, so fine, whatever.) So I log into AIM to talk to this yahoo.
The first thing he says is that he has $600 to spend.
The first thing I think is "What, do you not know how to read? I already told you this will be $900 or more." But I'm trying to be polite, so I tell him that I'm sorry, that's too little, and I'm afraid he'll have to pay the full price or go elsewhere. (I mean seriously! If he'd offered me $850 I'd have taken it, but $600? That's completely ridiculous! I cannot afford to take a 33% pay cut!)
He responds and says that he has connections! He can advertise for me! He can get me tons of business! And he needs the costume in May.
I've heard a lot of artist friends complain about this one, the guy who wants to pay little or nothing, but think of all the exposure his project will get you! It'll more than make up for the lost money in advertising value! But I've never gotten one until now. Gotta say, I'm not exactly thrilled by the experience.
Anyhow, I'm biting my tongue on some really rude things, but I explain to him that May is what counts as a "rush job", I'm already booked full until June, and even if I could somehow make room for his project, which I cannot without breaking promises to customers who have already paid me full price for my work, I would charge more for that service, not less! So sorry, I can't help you. There are plenty of other people who can, good luck finding one.
But the advertising services he's offering me usually cost six thousand bucks, says he!
OMG! Six thousand bucks! I will totally take your word for that, though if your advertising services are so valuable, why can you not come up with the extra $300 needed here? (I didn't say that, but I sure thought it.)
And then as proof of this mysterious and strangely expensive advertising, he links me to a Japanese cosplay website. I honestly have idea what that was supposed to show me. I couldn't understand a word on the site, since I don't read Japanese.
So I told him one last time that no, I would not take his ridiculously cheap price, and no I don't need any advertising, I am actually quite well supplied on that front. Goodbye, good luck finding another maker, there are plenty more out there.
And I guess hope springs eternal, because he responded by telling me again that if I changed my mind and decided to "help" him (that's a great way to put it, I'll give you $300 worth of free work, while shoving aside my normal paying clients to get your stuff done on time, that's some "help" there) he could give me this mythical six thousand bucks worth of advertising, and it would totally be worth it.
I decided that I was so utterly through with this, and signed off to go take that nap.
The guy was fairly polite, and honestly he may not have been completely sucky, he probably was more clueless, but GAH that was frustrating. I could so use that commission, but there's just no way it's worth it to give such a ridiculous discount, even putting aside the whole rush job problem.
Oh and a bonus mini-suck. Yesterday I had a customer IM me first thing when I got online. "You're up earlier today than usual." AUGH CREEPER! If you're paying so much attention to my coming and going that you know my schedule, and you're NOT a friend, just a customer... that's just creepy. I mean, I've had way creepier, but I've started just leaving my IM off all the time now, because this really did kind of disturb me.
First there was the guy who kept trying to lowball me and be my "furiend", then there was the genius who failed at money management, (And he still hasn't paid me a penny more since that post.) And then the ridiculous drama over two lousy bucks and now today...
Well, today I had something happen that I've heard about many times, but never had anybody with the gall to pull it on me until now.
I'm sitting at the keyboard, contemplating a much-needed nap, when I see I have a new e-mail. And lo! It's somebody who says he wants to buy a costume! Excellent! The down payment on it would give me just enough to make rent this month! Glee! Joy! Happiness! So I reply, and tell him I would be happy to make his costume.
My reply includes the information that the particular sort of costume he wants usually costs $900, although depending on the details and features of his character, it may be slightly more than that.
He responds and asks if I have AIM. (Le sigh. I really don't like using IMs, but so many of my customers insist on it. And I really could use this commission, so fine, whatever.) So I log into AIM to talk to this yahoo.
The first thing he says is that he has $600 to spend.
The first thing I think is "What, do you not know how to read? I already told you this will be $900 or more." But I'm trying to be polite, so I tell him that I'm sorry, that's too little, and I'm afraid he'll have to pay the full price or go elsewhere. (I mean seriously! If he'd offered me $850 I'd have taken it, but $600? That's completely ridiculous! I cannot afford to take a 33% pay cut!)
He responds and says that he has connections! He can advertise for me! He can get me tons of business! And he needs the costume in May.
I've heard a lot of artist friends complain about this one, the guy who wants to pay little or nothing, but think of all the exposure his project will get you! It'll more than make up for the lost money in advertising value! But I've never gotten one until now. Gotta say, I'm not exactly thrilled by the experience.
Anyhow, I'm biting my tongue on some really rude things, but I explain to him that May is what counts as a "rush job", I'm already booked full until June, and even if I could somehow make room for his project, which I cannot without breaking promises to customers who have already paid me full price for my work, I would charge more for that service, not less! So sorry, I can't help you. There are plenty of other people who can, good luck finding one.
But the advertising services he's offering me usually cost six thousand bucks, says he!
OMG! Six thousand bucks! I will totally take your word for that, though if your advertising services are so valuable, why can you not come up with the extra $300 needed here? (I didn't say that, but I sure thought it.)
And then as proof of this mysterious and strangely expensive advertising, he links me to a Japanese cosplay website. I honestly have idea what that was supposed to show me. I couldn't understand a word on the site, since I don't read Japanese.
So I told him one last time that no, I would not take his ridiculously cheap price, and no I don't need any advertising, I am actually quite well supplied on that front. Goodbye, good luck finding another maker, there are plenty more out there.
And I guess hope springs eternal, because he responded by telling me again that if I changed my mind and decided to "help" him (that's a great way to put it, I'll give you $300 worth of free work, while shoving aside my normal paying clients to get your stuff done on time, that's some "help" there) he could give me this mythical six thousand bucks worth of advertising, and it would totally be worth it.
I decided that I was so utterly through with this, and signed off to go take that nap.
The guy was fairly polite, and honestly he may not have been completely sucky, he probably was more clueless, but GAH that was frustrating. I could so use that commission, but there's just no way it's worth it to give such a ridiculous discount, even putting aside the whole rush job problem.
Oh and a bonus mini-suck. Yesterday I had a customer IM me first thing when I got online. "You're up earlier today than usual." AUGH CREEPER! If you're paying so much attention to my coming and going that you know my schedule, and you're NOT a friend, just a customer... that's just creepy. I mean, I've had way creepier, but I've started just leaving my IM off all the time now, because this really did kind of disturb me.
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