The never ending job... how to make a quotation

[chiquito]

Hi, didnt really know where to place this thread, hope its ok.

Im having some issues with a couple of jobs I´m doing for the same client.

I have quoted them as a 1 1/2 week job each, a clear and precise quotation on the amount of work to be performed and the amount of images and quality to be delivered, but coinstant changes and poor definition on specifications draws back any possible chance of making a clear deadline. (its been almost 3 months now)

My question is how would it be the wiser way to pass on aditional costs for this, should I make it per hour? per test? per image? I have already absorved a great amount of time and effort on this, the client is worth keeping... but I wouldnt like to feel like a sucker or like a mercenary. Its like extending a rhing to the point were you just dont want to deal with it anymore.

Has anyone ever been into this position? Any advice?

Thank you,

martin AKA chiquito;)

[Ghan]

Had the same thing once. My solution was this:

I scheduled a meeting with the customer. In that meeting i presented all the work i did so far and explained that the initial quotation was on the assumption that there wouldn't be any changes and all the blue prints i got where precise and clear.

Then i explained that, because of changes and drawings that wheren't clear, the quotation was no longer valid.

Then i made an agreement with the customer that all extra work would be billed per hour.

The advantage in this for me was that the customer was forced to be more specific and that he would make less changes because it would cost him extra for every mistake he made by not being clear.

 

Hope this helps a little.

 

Greetz

Ghan

http://www.alles3d.nl

[innerdream]

Assuming your written proposal has spelled out what the client can expect I would point out to them that your work is falling outside the initial scope of service. I personally would bill by the hour and by the image if you are going to generate additional images not outlined in the initial scope. You will probably have to eat some of your time if you want to keep the client happy. It's an unfortunate aspect of selling a service.

[chiquito]

Ghan, Innedram, thanks for taking time in responding.

I believe I´ll have to sit down with the client and see where we are standing, As for eating some time... jejejeje I´m already stuffed.

Thaks again

martin

[PGD]

I had this once too, not to this extreme but time consuming nonetheless.

 

I was supplied poor reference material for an illustration much like your case. The image was re-drawn several times, I said the modifications, time re-drawing would be booked by the hour... Only to be firmly ***t on when the invoice went in. They paid more than the initial quote but way less than the job ended up coming in at.

 

So, my advice would be to call that meeting and take all your work. The last thing you want to do is surprise them with a whopping invoice as chances are they will tell you where to go with it.

 

In the future this point needs to be clearly made from the outset. They should remember too and make sure proper plans/detail etc are supplied.

 

I'd go with the price per image too I think.

 

Good luck