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(Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.)
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“AITJ for dropping a favor client after she talked to me like I worked for her and then refusing to come back when she got desperate.
I do graphic design professionally. occasionally I take on small projects for people I know as a favor, way under my normal rate, just to help out.
A friend asked me to help his aunt who needed branding done for a small business she was starting. I said yes because he asked and I had a gap in my schedule.
I charged her maybe a third of what I would normally bill. she knew this because my friend told her upfront."
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“From the first call, she had an energy I recognized immediately. the kind where someone thinks paying anything at all means they own your time completely. She would message me at eleven at night expecting responses. She sent feedback as demands not suggestions.”
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(Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.)
This Karen client was already pushing the boundaries of human decency, but this graphic designer didn't let her poor attitude get him down. Instead of letting her walk all over him, he decided to take control of the situation, refusing to let her talk down to him like some lowly servant.
He would show her that she doesn't get to dictate the rules of their engagement: he does. Holding all of the cards in this game, this graphic designer knew he had something she wanted that she had to pay him to receive. If he withheld that deliverable, she had nothing to stand on, except her dwindling pride.
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"Once she left a voicemail that started with I need you to redo this by tomorrow.
I flagged it once. said I work set hours and turnaround has a timeline we agreed on. She said she was a paying client and had expectations.
I replied to my friend. told him I was out, and he could let her know.
She emailed me directly, clearly surprised, said this was unprofessional, and she had a launch date coming up.
I did not respond."
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"About two weeks later my friend told me she had gone to a couple of other designers and the quotes came back significantly higher. one had a six week lead time she had not budgeted for. Her launch was already slipping.
She asked my friend if I would reconsider."
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(Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.)
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"I said no. Bot because I was still annoyed, but because nothing about the situation had changed except that she was now inconvenienced.
My friend laughed and said fair enough.
AITJ for walking and staying walked?"
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Via uwuforurmeat
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NTJ at all. This is a classic case of FAFO.
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Often, when you offer discounted rates, you become their bargain basement find. You'd be surprised how many people buy bargain basement items and expect Dior. You did yourself a favor.
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NTJ. Nothing bothers me more than trying to do a favor and getting hit with a demand to upgrade the favor.
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I don’t disagree with anything you did except one thing- you were still working in a professional capacity. I think you should have written her an email informing her that you were dropping her/her project. Just because she doesn’t have manners doesn’t mean you need to go on her level.
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Your client should try that with a mechanic or other skilled trade. She’d get an earful.
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Firing difficult clients is part of good business practices. As long as the relationship with your friend is still good, that’s all that matters.
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I think telling your friend you were out, rather than your client was a cowardly, unprofessional move. Beyond that, you have every right to enforce boundaries.
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NTJ but realize something....when you cut your price to one third and told her...that right there was the moment she lost respect. Don't disrespect yourself, your time, your value; and then be surprised they don't respect you. You see 'favor', they see 'dope friend of my dope nephew'.
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