Comments on: 6 Reasons to Fire Toxic Clients http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/ COMPELLING BRAND IDENTITIES IN PRINT & WEB Tue, 21 May 2013 10:35:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: Emily Brackett http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-984 Emily Brackett Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:17:25 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-984 @Mike H Thanks for stopping by and you are welcome to vent. I agree, it’s best to avoid toxic clients, but we sometimes the signs are not clear. However, once you do recognize them as a poor client, it is best to avoid doing anything further with them.

]]> By: Mike H http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-983 Mike H Thu, 27 Sep 2012 03:55:58 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-983 We are in the process of dealing with a toxic (or as we had labelled them “Rogue”) client. This client has been with us for over 5 years and previously we have not experienced any payment issues. For some unknown reason suddenly the cost of the latest piece of work is in dispute. Lets not mention the fact that the client failed to deliver required material by an agreed date, gave us a required completion date, then mysteriously the need to have completed by that date changed after they decided to add multiple requests for additional work. Scope creep is what I call it. Phone calls go unanswered, e-mails are ignored. We all need to learn how to deal with these types of clients – guess the best way is to avoid them in the first place. Unfortunately the signs are not always obvious. The worst thing is that our graphic designer’s confidence has taken a serious hit and she is somewhat despondent about the whole situation. Sorry to vent my frustration but knowing others are having similar issues and their responses to their situation does help. Still the sun will shine again tomorrow and we will be able to see what a beautiful world we live in.

]]> By: I am DONE with TOXIC Clients http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-982 I am DONE with TOXIC Clients Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:34:39 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-982 [...] because I am not 21 anymore and has started valuing my time but to me it looks like I am DONE with toxic clients (there are at least two with us). They ask for everything, pays less/late and undermine work and [...]

]]> By: Emily Brackett http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-981 Emily Brackett Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:35:41 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-981 Jane, sorry to hear about the situation. Hope you’ve learned and can move forward.

When I hear these stories I can also see the far reaching ramifications of toxic clients. In your case you nearly lost your house. Think of how many more problems that would have caused you and others around you.

]]> By: jane k http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-980 jane k Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:41:17 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-980 Thanks for the writeup. I’m so sick to my stomach with a client, which nearly resulted in me losing my house (late payment, really late). While I’m partly to blame for concentrating on a project instead of spreading out, I was hoping that my work is paid on time, turned out the 2 months I spent on their project stretched to 4. I drained out all my savings on clearing up the mess and thank god I managed to stay on my two feet. The good thing is, I learnt to pick and choose my clients and soon, I’ll move up to a rented place with extra after selling my house. No more mortgage in the meantime until I make enough to pay cash.

]]> By: Emily Brackett http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-979 Emily Brackett Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:01:59 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-979 Deborah, Thanks for weighing in. Good point about communication. It can be a fine line between someone giving me lots of great, useful info and then that overstepping into them just trying to make all the decisions. I think if you have good communication and a professional designer you’ll get the best results once you step away a bit.

]]> By: Deborah http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-978 Deborah Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:17:46 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-978 Yikes! As I read this blog, I felt two things:
1. I’ve been in that situation where the “client” was a boss. I should have brought all of this to his attention and then moved on. (Lack of support, refusal to return calls/emails, inability to establish priorities, etc.)
2. I worry that I’ve been this client! (Not with you, Emily. And not as bad as you describe.) I’ve been a PITA client sometimes when I’ve made assumptions that my designer knew what I was trying to accomplish as a business, and had thought through everything on the same obsessive level. So I’ve been “disappointed” when our stars didn’t align and they miss an obvious point. Communication is a lesson that is presented until it is learned!

]]> By: Emily Brackett http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-977 Emily Brackett Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:22:27 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-977 Sunny, welcome to the blog. You mention a very important point: ignoring the profitable clients to service the bad ones. Now go fire ‘em!

]]> By: Sunny http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-976 Sunny Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:23:35 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-976 Oh… I so total agree. I am in the midst of firing one right now. Can you imagine, client request for more stuff , but dun even want to pay a single cent….I have been neglecting my more profitable clients…NO MORE OF THIS…Tomorrow is so going to be a great and fantastic day.

]]> By: 10 Reasons To Be Your Designer’s Best Client | Visible Logic: Design Advances Success http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/2010/07/6-reasons-to-fire-toxic-clients/#comment-975 10 Reasons To Be Your Designer’s Best Client | Visible Logic: Design Advances Success Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:16:19 +0000 http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/?p=883#comment-975 [...] Home About Services Clients Logos Logos Web Print Publishing « 6 Reasons to Fire Toxic Clients [...]

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