THANKSGIVING POSTER RANT: "IS THE CUSTOMER ALWAYS RIGHT?"
Hi there! :) Thanksgiving is way over November 22nd but some weeks back, I believe the week of Oct 14th & 20th, I was approached by a very dear friend of mine to design a poster(s) for a client we'd previously worked for. Despite being a little reluctant to go ahead, 'cause previous interactions with the client had put strain on our friendship, I listened. Now, it's good to point out here my friend (taking note of our 1st encounter) had consulted withe client, considered the offer as one I'd accept in tie to nature of work, quantity, complexity & quality. Great! Ok so I took it, it'd be an easy pinch.
Now, not to go into detail how awfully this ended, in respect for the people involved, I'll say this: I'll never work for that client again. It's not the 1st time the job ended up frustrating & infuriating cz the client was indecisive at my expense (beyond our agreement), took advantage of the connections involved, demanded redrafts (which aren't applicable at their offer), said the work didn't catch their eye not considering posters are meant for their target audience and to add on top they have the most -ve things to say to the connect (my friend) weeks after not taking my advice (which also happened to be made free for them) about the work!
It's annoying so I withdrew all my business with them to post up this weeks after. A day after the back & forth, they on-passed a message that they'll get another designer, well I wish them "good luck & au revoir Shoe Shinner [Shosanna]" Because every job/item has a price & mine- unfortunately- will no longer be aimed at the lower segment especially those who are quick to claim dibbs on "The Client Is Always Right" claim while I’m giving professional advice as a bonus. I'm sure doctors have a field day with that one so do architects, engineers, designers, and advertisers who often take the heat just to stay in business.
So to cut to it, I was curious what the other designer gave them and alas! The designer jacked my design! But what did I expect if a client came in sobbing through my doors of the troubles they'd faced under a previous big bad wolf designer who'd emailed them these awful sample posters for their VERY BIG BUCKS and got mad when they said they didn't interest them? I'd use my professional eye see the previous designers work, see they’d obviously done all the ground work & simple as 1-2-3: replicate another version so I make easy money. What effort is there? It was as easy as taking candy from a baby!
So share what you think-
Is the customer always right?
If you were me would you choose: Money Vs. preserving you're rep as a professional?
And is the other poster (#3 & 4) a direct bite at my poster or I'm I bitching cause I got my design whooped? Let me know.
Subscribe, Comment and let me know if you like the poster. I will post the other designers' designs for comparison when I get them.