a full profit retainer. Meaning; reverse the situation; start
HOPING for his calls and disruptions--if he has to pay a retainer
in advance for every meeting, you will get rich!
can guide you further
Tell your boss everything especially the time he's taken up and the fact that you have not made as much money for the company as a result ...
Do not say as I you are complaining about him say it in a manner that you are asking for her help/guidance..
Ask her if the price should go up because of the brochures etc after you have explained everything above and got a reply.
End of the day he's losing the company money and if I were the boss I would not be happy with that..
Time is money
I like to say, in my business, "If they were designers they wouldn't be here." What you have is someone who doesn't know what he wants, he only knows what he doesn't want, when he sees it. If it were me and him alone I'd just tell him, very nicely, to take a hike and come back when he gets his act together. Since you have a boss and you have some politics going on, go to her and explain everything very reasonably. Once she understands you should have a green light on cutting this guy off, or at least charging from now on without repercussions. Charge some extra to make up for your time already spent. I'll tell you, though, even for pay this guy is nothing but trouble. I'd just dump him if I could. I have a professional business, meaning we deal with professionals in our field. I discourage amateur clients from the beginning.
So you own a business and have a "boss"?
You have a very original way of running a business
Dear Suzy,
I was in Advertising myself and I know exactly what you are feeling right now. I suggest that you take a deep breath and tell your boss everything that you have had to go through with him. If she is at all a professional woman, then I am sure that she will herself find a way out for you from this ordeal.
Email : theguide118@yahoo.com
Who's company is it? You say it is yours but you also say he is working with your boss. If it is your own, then cut him loose, you can't work with him. If not, then you keep entertaining him and trying to please him.
Thanks, guys. I've been doing this for about 5 years and have never had this issue with anyone else. I just recalculated and figured it to be more like 10 hours of free work. He's driving me crazy. I really appreciate your advice. It's all so helpful and I feel much better equipped to deal with him. I'm going to talk to my boss, like Happy and Billy suggested, and then I'll spend some time coming up with a form/contract for future clients to fill out, as ValleyCat suggested. Happy, I did try to change the category. I guess it didn't go through. :)
It sounds like a session of have your hair pulled relentlessly by the jaws of a warthog. There is no easy solution to this as you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. This is your job but I would go to the Human Resource department, tell them (as they're obligated to keep your issue in confidence). Then I would ask that they be present during a meeting -in your work place. Explain to this man that you are so busy at the moment that you would only be able to meet with him on your site. You leave the door open if poss and definitely have someone there, even if it's only the tea lady.....You might want to take your iphone and record these sessions in case something is said by him which is inappropriate....
After that first meeting consult and before you prepared his custom samples you should have instituted a contract or started charging him.
Tell him you would be happy to consult with him again and that your fee is $x per hour for the actual consult and any time you spend setting up more samples etc. OR that you would be happy to meet with him to set up a standard contract for work to be performed and have it include a specified number of meetings, number of custom samples and deadlines for both of you, with additional fees for any additional time and effort you put in to this.
My advice is to talk to your boss. Seriously. I have a boss, and he certainly does NOT want me wasting time. I'm sure your boss feels the same way, that your time should be spent productively, working on things that make money for the company.
But, one quick question for you: how exactly did you figure this question belonged in Marriage & Divorce???
I own a marketing design business, and I am used to tweaking things and making changes to my work when a client requests it. But I have this one client who has been telling me for nearly a year that he wants me to design a brochure for him. I have met with him in person in a meeting that lasted longer than an hour (mind you, I don't usually meet w/ anyone in person - it's usually all done via email), I have had a 30 minute consultation with him AND his wife, AND I have done 5 custom sample options based on what he said he'd like. All together, I've probably spent over 5 hours on this guy so far, and I haven't made a dime. He just called me again and says he'd like to talk MORE about the brochure. UGH! I can't imagine what there is left to say. The other issue is that he is working with my boss on this sales project. So if I cut him loose, then I'm worried she'll get mad because she's the one who sent him to me. I feel like I have no alternative but to deal with him, but it seems never ending, and I just want to be done with it. Advice? REAL advice appreciated, this is seriously giving me a headache. :(
Talk to your boss about the situation. No one likes working for free.
