Ditching Clients

I've been debating about whether to ditch a client or not. It's the one I've talked about here and here (and the last project was just to awful for the blog). It isn't the work that bothers me but the lack of communication and unprofessionalism of the company I do the work for (they are a prepress company). A couple of weeks ago it was the last straw and I wasn't going to work for them again but then I got a heartfelt apology (my messages had been sitting in their spam folder) and I got paid within 2 weeks rather than the usual 6. So I'm undecided again - they pay well if I can just suffer the headache...

... also this week a client who I thought had dumped me got back in touch (after a year) and gave me enough work to keep me busy for the next few weeks and a slightly better rate (after some negotiation).

All this comes after really messing up a job for a friend last week. Rushing through to get it done, as other factors had impinged on my time, rather than taking the time to triple check that I had done it properly. Even after a second chance I'd got myself so worked up that I missed the wood for the trees - she deserves a large drink the next time I see her and will probably never ask for a favour again! The OH got a serious talking to but really the blame was all mine.



So a new, improved, more focused Dougalfish is born who is prepared to negotiate for what she wants, will strive for excellence in her work and will say 'no' to clients she can do without ... well that's the theory ;-)

Are clients on the same planet? ... I'm beginning to think not

I couldn't believe my eyes this morning when I opened my in box. The client from another planet had sent me yet another a message.

Now this wasn't the same as the one I'd had a few days ago asking me why I had made certain changes to the MS (because that was what was specifically requested in the brief), or to tell me they'd received my invoice and were paying by return (I can wish), or that they were offering me more work (well it was a really good rate of pay so I'd be tempted).

No, it was a message from the editorial manager asking me to report on the status of the project and when I would be likely to return it

... erm I returned it 8 days ago.

I know they received it as I've had a 'huge thank you' message from the client (and queries from the EM). I did notice that the message was sent to several people so maybe EM forgot to take me off the list, but even so.

I did notice on a forum recently that the client was advertising for a new editorial manager, I wonder ...