Has common courtesy gone extinct?

[cbiweb]

I don't know what other section of vb.org this can be posted in, so I'm posting it here. Moderators please move it to a more appropriate section if necessary.

A few days ago I responded to someone in the Requests for Paid Services forum. After a couple PM exchanges I was told by the prospective client, "That sounds great. Let me know what information you need to get started." So I PM'd him back with the info I needed. This all took place in about 6 1/2 hours. While I waited for the needed info I started doing the work on my own test board, since it was only template changes for the most part and I could work them out right away.

Then I never heard from the person again, even after PM'ing him the next day to let him know that I'd done half the work and ready to finish up as soon as he sends the info I need. But he never replied. When I checked his site, all the work had been done, but of course not by me. So I PM'd him to ask what happened. No response.

I know things can happen, minds can change, but wouldn't it be just plain courteous to let a person know? At the very least I think I deserve an explanation. So if anyone reading this post ever asks for help, but for some reason you change your mind, please be nice enough to let the other person know, and the reason why.

I have other projects on the go, and some pending, waiting in line. It would have been good know that I wasn't going to be used after all, and I wouldn't have wasted two days of my time and other people's time who are waiting for me to do their projects.

Thanks for reading.

CBI Web

[vbenhancer]

i'm all with you on that.... been there, done that, suffered from it a lot as well...

for about 500 clients i had in the last 6 years, i could say i faced more than 100 that did exactly that... *(and some coders even gone to the insult by telling the clients to not answer back or they would have trouble... come on!)

... be fair, tell your coder that you do not need him anymore... if you have to!

[Lynne]

Totally agree. They should have told you they weren't hiring you. At the same time, I can also say I don't think you should have started to code it without knowing you were hired. But, that doesn't mean I don't think they should have told you they hired someone else when they knew they weren't hiring you.

[cbiweb]

Originally Posted by Lynne

...I can also say I don't think you should have started to code it without knowing you were hired...

This is the first time in more than ten years in this business that I've ever done such a thing, mainly because it sounded like I was actually hired. Thought I was doing the guy a favor by getting ahead of the game to save HIM some time. That's what I get for being nice.

[Sage Knight]

Happens with me nearly all the time. I then just stopped going for requests.

[Ziki]

Luckily it does not happen to me often, but it already happened to me that I got ditched AFTER finishing a long term project for 600$ and never got the money because they said it wasn't finished....

[vbenhancer]

after a time, i decided that even if i'm not hired, when i find a project to be interesting, i start to code it because of the interest, and if the client goes bye-bye, i can release the result anyway... but i suppose designers have less flexibility than coders...

[Paul M]

I dont do custom work anymore as I dont have the time, but if I did, I would require a deposit, and not start until I had it. If that was an issue to the other party then im afraid they would simply have to find someone else.

[cbiweb]

Exactly, Paul. The thing is, as mentioned above, this is the first time I've jumped the gun, because it did sound pretty definite. In the past I've always asked for a deposit, and always had a digitally signed, legally binding contract. I worked for no one unless they agreed to both. So I come out of my web design retirement a few weeks ago for a couple clients who really wanted/needed me to work for them, and I decide to take on a few more smaller jobs in between, keeping it casual, and wham! I get suckered. But you know the saying: "Fool me once..."

[Boofo]

That's exactly how I do it. I require 1/2 up front and the rest on delivery. Very few users will balk at that and those that do, will balk at paying anything in the first place.