Got asked to do some work, then they backed out

[CamarotaDesign]

Some guy contacts me and wants to do a dating site that is a cross between myspace and craiglist personals. He was gonna need a lot of programming for what he wanted to accomplish. And he had a pretty low budget.

He had already been working with "a kid in Texas" who wasn't really responding to him anymore. Naturally, I assume it was all spec work....So yeah, one of those types of people.

I told him his budget would cover my costs for designing the brand identity and the look and feel of the site, stock photo costs, and other sub contracting like getting a good copywriter and what not. But not any programming. And I would need 50% up front and a contract.

So naturally the next email I get is "sorry you are too expensive for my humble venture"

I really just wanted to say "Your venture isn't humble, it's a failure before it has even started."

Why the hell do people think they can just start up the next myspace/match.com as a side project with less than 1 month of their salaray invested? If you have a vision for a site and faith in it, invest some money to do a good job DAMNIT!

So, I'm pretty sure that it was a good idea I got rejected. He'll get a poorly produced site, I'll be spared the headache.

[EC]

yup. sounds like it was a nightmare waiting to happen so you're lucky you got out early!

[xplod_ldg]

It happened to me too. It's frustrating. But in this case I think it's for the best.

[CamarotaDesign]

I definitely think it's for the best. It does drive me crazy to know that some chump will take this guy's job, (and here goes beating a dead horse,) and it will further hurt the integrity of our industry. *sigh

[morea]

I agree it's probably in your best interests not to get this particular job.
Hey, you get what you pay for.

On a related subject: Educate Lowballers and Stop Lowballing (http://thecreativeforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155)

[budafist]

Everyone wants get rich schemes. Good that you shattered his scheming in the bud.

[Sphinx]

Ya did the right thing! Good job!!!

[mattmainster]

Just keep an eye out and see where his site goes...I'm sure it won't be anything big on that sort of budget..

[colonel5]

i hope some putz doesn't fall for the "being a part of something great" routine...

[PrintDriver]

Don't worry, they will.

[CamarotaDesign]

Yep.

Oh, I forgot to mention, he wanted to contract out to an Indian Programmer. "Because they are hard to work with, but cheap"

great logic eh?

[budafist]

Some things are cheap for a reason!

[Gromit801]

Anyone who doesn't want to make a deposit, or pay up front is a problem waiting to happen.

[The_Black_Knight]

Cam, you didn't just dodge a bullet with this one, you dodged a full-fledged RPG!

[CamarotaDesign]

heh heh. Yeah i seem to be attracting them lately.

Another friend of a friend emails me the other day wanting a site for their artwork. They said they could pay. So I take a few moments to write her back and tell her what I think would be best. then we talk on the phone, and turns out she doesnt have much to spend (Im sure it was under 100$ and no, I dont want a painting) and really just didnt seem to have her shit together. I called her at the time we agreed, she didnt pick up, and calls back 2 hours later.

I guess her friend was supposed to do it but backed out... well I wonder why?

Dude, I am so past this point in my career. (the point where you will take cheap, lousy jobs for the experience or need of money)