Lost another client yesterday

[Hrabovsky]

Hutch farmed it out to this nut job. Freelance graphic designer Graphic design for social change.
Pretentious and narcissistic nonsense. $20 websites. $15 dollar logos. These dudes are Legion.

[DenisMutter]

their headline should be "Don't care at all what your shit looks like? Call Us Today!"

[eyepeace]

Hutch farmed it out to this nut job. Freelance graphic designer Graphic design for social change.
Pretentious and narcissistic nonsense. $20 websites. $15 dollar logos. These dudes are Legion.

that site actually made me queazy. uuugh.
I'm gonna go lie down now.

[RichieGoodtimes]

This logo accidentally got cropped on the bottom. It finishes off with:

for
Kids

[Hrabovsky]

It's stuff like this...
Need Graphic Designer for Quick Project

Need a graphic designer to create marketing materials for automotive business.
We will provide all creative direction, text, etc. We just need you to do what you do best...design

We will need designed:

business card
4 x 6 postcard
5 x 7 postcard (same as 4 x 6 just larger)

Compensation - $75.00

Please email a link to your GD work or attach business cards/postcards you have designed in the past. Please write - Graphic Design in the subject line

WARNING - If you are a well established GD with an extensive resume...THIS JOB IS NOT FOR YOU!!!!! So please DO NOT SEND ME ANGRY EMAILS...because I would like to use USA designers...but if I get ANGRY emails about nobody will work for XYZ amount...I can and will just submit this projects to Odesk and hire someone in another country for 1/2 the price...UNDERSTOOD! I do apologize to those who are respectful...this note is for those who aren't and send nasty emails.

Disrespectful email sent.

[kylewbaker]

Don't compromise -- spend more time identifying good clients and going after them. If you lower prices now you'll have to "raise" them to get back to normal. The moonlighting alternative sounds more attractive to me, even if there's less money, there's more integrity there.

Good clients are out there -- even with an over-saturated market you have the agility of an independent contractor. Your product is not gasoline and people who value design know this.

Here's a thought. Take the time to prepare a response/rebuttal for when this (inevitably) happens again, and you'll have a better shot at keeping the business (or possibly getting it back sooner). I think the most compelling argument is all the hidden/less-obvious costs associated with taking on a new supplier, especially one with alarmingly low rates. So much time is spent in communication, which can be a huge cost to the client (and contractor, and since it's generally non-billable it often leads to compromised quality).

Another angle is to find out how long these "competitors" have been in business -- are they established and have "given in" or are they just trying to get a food hold and working for peanuts to get there? B/c if they're good, they shouldn't be undercharging for long.

...I also know a few teachers that are recommending their students to spec work websites.

Ugh.

Man, that is just belligerent. A serious breach of their responsibility as teachers. Especially considering the countless charitable/pro-bono work to be found.

I find it refreshing to be reminded how little value people place on design. It helps me KEEP MY WITS ABOUT ME.

That's something I don't need to be reminded of. Identifying prospects like this and cutting them loose before you've wasted any time on a sale is an important skill, I need more practice.

[HUNT]

Need Graphic Designer for Quick Project

Ignorance,stupidity and a false sense of patriotism achieved!

[windflame]

Man, that is just belligerent. A serious breach of their responsibility as teachers. Especially considering the countless charitable/pro-bono work to be found.

When my friend told me about it I told him about how this was a bad thing. When he brought it up to the teacher she said, "So what, you're a student in need of cash, the jobs are there, just win them!"

Clearly no regard for the pattern this sort of thing sets up. When I heard back about that I talked to my boss (I work for the department at my school to help skim a bit off of my tuition). She freaked out and said she'd bring it to the chair.