What would Mo Do?

[mattbing]

Hey folks.
I have a bit of an ethical delemma.

I have this website I said I'd redo, and I've been kind of putting it off and so on (new job been crazy busy). Anyways, the client emailed and said hey are you still interested, and I emailed back that yes I was and would have some stuff for them this week. Well I finally got around to looking at the files last night, and realized that for the amount of money I would be paid I just don't want to take it on (my computer for some reason is running extremely slow for some reason when I use ceratin programs). It's just not worth it, especially at this time of year.

So I was going to call her and say I'm sorry but at this time I really cannot work on your project, it wouldn't be viable for me to have it ready for you in the timeperiod you need it in. And it wouldn't be fair to you or me, but I could refer you to someone else that might be interested.

Still havn't fully decided if I'll drop the job or not. Your thoughts?

[Kool]

Sounds to me like you made a commitment to do the site, twice.

[mattbing]

Sounds to me like you made a commitment to do the site, twice.


Yeah exactly, I feel I should do it, but working on my computer the site is going to take twice as long as I thought it would.

[captain spanky]

you promised something for them this week and only looked at the files wednesday night? you didn't give yourself much time there did you? if you pass the job on now, it's going to look really bad on you so the only karmic thing to do would be to pull an all nighter and get something to her at least...

[cnic]

Uhhhg..... tough one. On one hand, if you keep the job and satisfy this customer, you will be a hero..... and she will tell her friends about you.

On the other hand........ if your too busy, your rush through it and make yourself look bad... and she will tell her friends about you.... poorly.

I would probably ask myself :
"Self, if I keep this project, do we have the time and /or the tools to complete this job well? Because Self, you and I both know we never do things half way... its either all or nothing around here."

Self would answer:
"Listen My, there is no small amount of money worth burning up our sweet reputation. However, if this gal knows a bunch of other gals, maybe we should sweat it out and get this job completed! She could hook us up with more work and keep this operation running."

I dont know man, fill in your own "self" response.

Good luck!

.

[morea]

yuck. I can totally understand the desire to pass up the job, it sounds like it's not going to be fun at all...

still, like Kool said, it's probably in your best interests (professionally, since word of mouth has tremendous power, and karma-lly, since it also puts the client in a bind if she can't meet her timeline) to try to get it done.

You could let the client know that you are having the problems with your computer, and maybe she will tell you that the deadline isn't as sensitive as she made it seem to be... but I would still try to get her *something* as soon as you can.

I've had one particular client that I have had to work several all-nighters for over the course of our relationship, and although it is invariably their fault for making changes at the last minute, I have always done my best to accommodate them. They thanked me by paying me a little more than my invoice last time I worked on their project... and they always come back to me.

Good luck with this!

[Kool]

Yeah exactly, I feel I should do it, but working on my computer the site is going to take twice as long as I thought it would.

That's not really the clients fault though is it? You know what the right thing to do here is. You should honor your commitments. You had a chance to back out and still said you would do it.

[cj2a]

Morea is right...word of mouth is extremely powerful marketing and you never know who your client knows. Good work and extra effort could result in positive comments and referrals...breaking a commitment could come back to bite you. Explain your concerns, see if there is additional time available, but try to honor your agreement at all costs, IMO.

[PrintDriver]

I'm with Kool.
Saying yes twice is a commitment you should honor.

This is a lesson in 'Don't put off til tommorow when the files are in today.'