So I have a side-gig where I write essays/proposals and other things for people. I find it's been an okay way to make some extra income.
I got this one new client a few days ago who's been kind of difficult and demanding since the beginning. I agreed to write an essay for this person for a modest price of $80, because it was short and I figured wouldn't take a ton of time.
Now bear in mind, I always make sure my clients are satisfied with their work. And I always tell them that if they want anything changed I'll do it for them after free of charge. I have an extremely good reputation among my clients and many of them recommend me to others.
I sent the essay to this person, and they said it wasn't done well, and was full of spelling mistakes and incomplete sentences, and the references weren't done properly. They said they wouldn't pay me until it was done properly. I looked it over and it had no spelling or grammatical mistakes, and they references were acceptable to regular standard; but I considered that maybe their professor had different requirements. So I asked the person to highlight the spelling and grammar mistakes and tell me what I could fix. They then changed their story and said that it just didn't have enough depth.
Adding to that, they said they were going to lower the price, and weren't gonna pay me the full amount. So I was getting annoyed at this point because now I'm thinking this person is trying to rip me off. It's even more shady because this person didn't even give me their name nor an actual way to contact them. I've constantly asked this person what exactly is wrong with the essay, and they give me a vague runaround answer.
I'm really considering just telling this person to screw off and deal with it on their own, because at this point, the money isn't important to me anymore. At the same time, I don't want to tarnish my reputation by leaving someone unsatisfied with my work. In business I understand you're supposed to listen to your customer, but this person isn't telling me what they want and is only bitching.
What do you guys think? How should I deal with this?
I got this one new client a few days ago who's been kind of difficult and demanding since the beginning. I agreed to write an essay for this person for a modest price of $80, because it was short and I figured wouldn't take a ton of time.
Now bear in mind, I always make sure my clients are satisfied with their work. And I always tell them that if they want anything changed I'll do it for them after free of charge. I have an extremely good reputation among my clients and many of them recommend me to others.
I sent the essay to this person, and they said it wasn't done well, and was full of spelling mistakes and incomplete sentences, and the references weren't done properly. They said they wouldn't pay me until it was done properly. I looked it over and it had no spelling or grammatical mistakes, and they references were acceptable to regular standard; but I considered that maybe their professor had different requirements. So I asked the person to highlight the spelling and grammar mistakes and tell me what I could fix. They then changed their story and said that it just didn't have enough depth.
Adding to that, they said they were going to lower the price, and weren't gonna pay me the full amount. So I was getting annoyed at this point because now I'm thinking this person is trying to rip me off. It's even more shady because this person didn't even give me their name nor an actual way to contact them. I've constantly asked this person what exactly is wrong with the essay, and they give me a vague runaround answer.
I'm really considering just telling this person to screw off and deal with it on their own, because at this point, the money isn't important to me anymore. At the same time, I don't want to tarnish my reputation by leaving someone unsatisfied with my work. In business I understand you're supposed to listen to your customer, but this person isn't telling me what they want and is only bitching.
What do you guys think? How should I deal with this?
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today