Rant: Client asked for "minor tweaks" then wanted a full redesign 3 times this week

Started with moving a button. Then changing fonts. Then new color scheme. Then completely different layout. I should have drawn a line after tweak 2. Charged flat fee too. Never again. How do you guys handle people who call everything a "small change"?

4 comments

4 Comments

jana50913d ago

Man I read this article the other day about how some designers call those "scope creep" meetings and it really stuck with me. Basically you gotta stop them early because once you let one "small tweak" slide they think everything is fair game. I been doing flat fees too and honestly it's a trap unless you have a really strict contract about what revisions mean. Three rounds of redesigns on a flat fee? That's just unpaid overtime with extra stress. Next time try telling them the first two tweaks are included and after that you bill hourly, that usually makes them think twice about what's really a small change.

juliaa6513d ago

Always thought flat fees were fine till now, you and @lilyt23 totally changed that...

lilyt2313d ago

Wait, have you ever tried just scoping everything out in a super specific document before you even start a project? I had a client last year who kept wanting "little tweaks" too, and it was driving me crazy until I started writing down exactly what each round of revisions covered, like list it out bullet point style. Once I did that, I actually printed the scope and had them initial it, which felt kinda old school but it worked because they couldn't pretend they didn't know what was included. Also I learned to charge a deposit that covers the first two revisions, and if they want more, they pay upfront before I touch anything again. That part is key because once money is involved, people really think hard about whether they need that extra tiny change. I still do flat fees sometimes but only with that strict revision cap, and it's saved me so much headache.

black.oliver13d ago

Oh man, this whole thing reminds me of when I hired a guy to paint my living room last year. We agreed on a price for the main walls and then I was like "hey can you also do the trim in the hallway while you're at it?" and he just laughed and said sure, no big deal. Then next thing I knew I was asking him to touch up the ceiling corners and then the baseboards in another room and it just kept going. I gave him a bonus at the end because I felt bad, but like, I could see how that kind of thing would get out of hand fast if someone wasn't paying attention. I mean, it's funny how one little ask can turn into a whole other job without you really noticing until it's too late.