Still cringing about that client who changed scope 4 times in one call

I was on a Zoom last Tuesday and the client kept saying 'while you're at it can you just...' and by the end I had agreed to 3 extra deliverables for free. I had to email them after and say the original quote only covers the first two items, and they actually ghosted me for two weeks. Has anyone else had a client try to stack work on a single conversation?

4 comments

4 Comments

ray5621mo ago

Man I read something just yesterday about how clients pull that 'while you're at it' stuff and it's basically a power move. They know you're on the spot and don't want to look difficult, so they load you up. You gotta have a script ready like 'happy to discuss that but it would need a separate agreement.' Ghosting after you push back just proves they knew they were trying to get free work.

abbyhall1mo agoMost Upvoted

Used to think I was just being difficult if I pushed back on stuff like that, but seeing how they ghosted you after you said no kinda flipped a switch for me. Now I just tell people up front that any extras need their own quote.

the_rose22d ago

There was this article I stumbled on about the "emotional labor" of saying no that really stuck with me. It talked about how so many people train us to be agreeable from a young age, so when we finally push back, it feels like we're the problem. But like you said with your quote rule, that's such a clean way to set the boundary without overexplaining yourself. The ghosting is honestly a gift though (makes it real easy to know who was just using you). @abbyhall your upfront approach is smart because it filters out the ones who would've wasted your time anyway.

rowan_ross1mo ago

It's wild how this same dynamic plays out everywhere, not just work stuff. Like, have you ever had a friend guilt you into staying out later when you're tired, then act weird when you finally start saying no? Once you see the pattern, it's hard to unsee. People who actually respect you don't pull that ghosting crap.