Top 10 Ways to Not Ask for Website Services
Every now and then we get emails from people who want or ask for the "not so typical" things. If you're in the web services business, i.e. web development or design, then I'm sure you can relate. Note: These are actual emails we've received from people asking for web development or web design help ...no lie.
- "My mom built a site 5 years ago and..." - With frames and all! I'm not lying.
- "I don't have much money, but..." - That's a deal breaker ain't it?
- "Could you build my site for about $15 per hour?" - uhhh, yeah, sure.
- "I was wondering if you do design for free" - Sure, no problem! We'll skip paying employees this week.
- "We makin out for us contact you with buildnig good Drupal" - Errr, no comment.
- "My manager told me to contact you guys but I think it's stupid" - Great, thanks for clearing that up :-(
- "Do you know of a good company for Drupal design" - Right down the street. Turn left, then you're there! Grrr.
- "If you can do this for free, I can help you get thousands of clients" - What a Deal!? When can we start?
- "We mostly design in front page" - You've said enough, but no thank you.
- "you will design this for us" - Yikes! I'm actually a little scared now.
- "I don't know what to do. If I dont' get this sitecompletely built in two days from now, I'll be very mad" - I am sorry, but two days! We're not magicians.
I know, there are actually 11 above but I couldn't leave the 11th one out now could I? If you'd like to contribute your most favorite, funny, or crazy requests from people asking for services of any kind - marketing, design, development, etc., please add them in the comments section below. All the random requests from people above just makes it worth coming to work everyday, doesn't it? :o)
Comments
Top 10 Ways to Not Ask for Website Services
I'm personally fond of number 8. We have this project, and I can't pay you, but I can make you part owner, and it is worth millions.
Great list.
-4MySales
From Malaysia
This came recently from a potential customer:
"I hope you won't charge me over my budget. I just checked [competitor] and they're charging RM950."
That is the most common here in Malaysia. The comparison between another overlooking the fact if it's a student, a professional, a freelancer or a company.
You get what you pay for.
Hi Danny,
We don't get that much lately, but used to a couple of years back. I expect those trying to hold onto every penny will dig around to compare prices but fail to ever look at portfolios, involvement with communities like Drupal, etc., and overall quality of work. You should just tell them good luck ;-0
good tips
Well written Brian. Sometimes people expect to you develop websites from anywhere.
At $15/hr i feel it is decent rate for website development.
bargain hunters
I run a tiny xhtml/css coding service. My rates are clearly posted on my site, but from time to time, I get the bargain hunters:
"I am looking for an offer. Here is a sample comp... I need a reasonable quote before I can release any more comps. Most offers I have recieved are under $100."
Sorry, you had me at "offer"! Why waste your time and mine when my rates are clearly posted and nowhere near that price point? Unbelievable. And this was after I had already told them that my prices were not negotiable!
It's amazing how many people want us (web developers and designers) to devalue our work
How about these two delectable inquiries...
"Can you make me a copy of Yahoo for $500? I want it just like Yahoo but better."
or...
"I've heard good things so I want to do Drupal, will it be cheap? I am poor, hope you know I can't pay much and when it can be ready?"
Too Funny
Hey James, I love the ones asking for how soon projects can be ready when they have no money in the first place.
Andy, that one is weird. Especially with prices in large bold font at the top of the homepage.
How 'bout this gem...
I had to come back and post this recent inquiry:
"...I want to add elegant css with the same layout and some web 2.0 pizzas..."
Funny what a little misspelling can do - I'm sure they mean `pizzazz`, but I like `pizza` better...
So I guess web 2.0 pizzas have user contributed toppings, and then everyone has a slice and votes it up or down all via an ajax powered web interface?
Pizzas are the new rounded corners.
Hi Andy, that's a good one
Hi Andy,
I guess you could always charge extra for mushrooms and pepperoni!
this is too funny!
well i don't what to say, but I mean after all the world has a lot of different kind of people!
Geee... And I thought it was just me! *snicker*
Now granted... I generally cater to small businesses or people wanting very small personal sites as that was what I set out to do but some of the requests I have gotten are insanely amusing.
I thank you for the giggle while reading those. They are priceless.
How about after you take a client on, have the site details defined, are 3/4 of the way through the project and they ask for a functionality requiring extra hours of development, and ask if you can have the project ready sooner than agreed upon but they've written it in the same manner as one would "text message" on a mobile phone.
"U gon adz d ad w/ otr prsn edtn thy adz rgt!? Don chg me 4 dat. k!?"
*err... ok! Let me get right on that!*
Or... "I heard you are a female designer. I'm hot and live in your area. If you do a site for me I will take you to dinner, and show you a good time."
*Sure... My finance is coming as well. You don't mind do you?* - This isn't to say I do not have lovely clients who take me to dinner or lunch regularly but they also pay my regular rates and most are female.
Oh the fun of it!
Shelley
Web Design Ain't Cheap!
$15/hr my hiney!!! I do completely custom work for my clients which sometimes takes three weeks to build just one site. Most sell for around $4000. I'm not cheap, but neither is the finished product.
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