Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit

[NormanTeh]

I've come to a cross-roads on a particular matter and since the people in this forum is ever so helpful I would like to ask your opinon on this matter.

My client is a lady who is starting a business in the fashion line. I was hired to design 5 tops and 5 t-shirts for her within 3 months. So far there has been no problems but I did a large mistake in my contract and I didnt state the amount of edits is allowed and I didnt charge edits. Actually to be honest I dont know how to deal with this whole edit issue?

How does one come to charge per edit? How many edits are allowed until we start charging?

The only minor problem when working with her is that her and her partner in Australia are extremely indecisive about things. To be frank I think I must have edit their works over 10 times. Small minor edits though, like colour and all, thats why I felt I didnt need to charge on that matter. But now since the project has ended she wants me to edit a particular design for the girls top, how should I reply her?

It isnt a large edit, but then again I dont feel right about her constantly editting miniscule things and I thought if i did this i might win business back. I am after all a student but I freelance part-time so please forgive my ignorance and naiveness on handling this matter.

Any suggestions or comments are much appreciated!

Cheers

[PrintDriver]

Oops on the contract part. Most designers like to limit edits to around 3 in contract.
In print, we don't allow edits and charge from the first to the last.

You may have to have a talk with your client and try to impress upon her that even small edits at this point take time. Especially since the project has been completed. If the project is done per contract you can politely hint that any further work would require an additional contract. Depends on how lucky you're feeling. You started on the wrong foot and now the client is willing to expoit that.

Good luck.

[greyghost]

Unfortunately, the world is full of people like your client. I have had some that changed their ad 12 times. In my contracts it is clearly stated that no more than 3 proofs, else a charge of $XX is added per proof.

In the person that had 12 proofs, she was the client for a magazine, the magazine didn't have any such rule, but I did. So, after all of that, the zine didn't make any money on that ad. They didn't complain - much - about the fees as they knew it was their fault, they just really wanted this particular client because they saw her ads run everywhere else and felt she had to be in their magazine too.

Anyway, I agree with PD, this is new, additional work and politely explain that. And amend your contract, love.

[TheBluePanda]

Clients will edit things until the cows come home. And even after the cows are home, the clients will ask the cows to help out with the edits. And then it just turns into a big mess because cows usually have old software, so theres compatibility issues, not to mention the fact that cows have no motor skills and cant even turn on the computer.

[balou]

I agree with above. Communicate and renegotiate. What have you got to lose? Other than the $ you're losing now with the "donated" edits. ;) Keep us up to date.