Bad Clients are Bad for Business
Posted on Monday, June 1, 2009 by Frank RocheWe’re lucky to have really great clients at our company. They know we run a successful HR communication consulting business and that we charge for our services. For that, we strive to do more than we’re asked to do — we anticipate. We were profitable from the day we started. We didn’t borrow a dime.
Unfortunately, anyone who has spent any time in a services or creative business has run into the situation like what happens in the video above. Whether you’re running a business or are an internal HR consultant to your client group, remember what Robert Half said: Free advice is worth the price.
[via Swiss Miss]
Bill Strahan
Jun 1st, 2009
Thank you, thank you, thank you. This was the best.
I have been on both sides of the “video rental counter”, each for many years. This is perfect.
This got my highest compliment. I knowlingly missed a train home in order to watch the rest of this video.
Bravo.
Stress Training Mark
Jun 1st, 2009
Love it thanks.
I’ve used the restaurant analogy when buying too (PR and SEO) – “Would you go into a restaurant and pay them money to maybe get you food?”
All the best from Brighton,
Mark
Frank Roche
Jun 1st, 2009
Bill, that is high praise. If I miss the 5:35, it means I’m griding.
Isn’t that video something? It really tells a great story…funny that the good people get this one so much, and I’m afraid the knuckleheads will miss the point. I love it.
Frank Roche
Jun 1st, 2009
@Mark, really good way to frame it. And always great to hear from you in beautiful Brighton. (One of my favorite places in the world.)
Frannyo
Jun 2nd, 2009
Love this. LOVE.IT. I’m forwarding to every salesperson in my company. We are a tiny consulting company working for giant, Fortune 50 corporations, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to talk them down off of giving write offs and discounts. Thanks!
Rick
Jun 3rd, 2009
I have this conversation all the time as a consultant. I recently even argued for 20 minutes with a colleague in another area of our company saying that I was NOT going to automatically cut my price to some number that the potential client wanted for a project. A number that he made up on the spot –with the promise of more work of course. No wonder that other area of our company loses money.
I have also been asked to retoactively cut my fees on work that was praised and exactly what was requested but they decided after the fact that this was a service that they could have done in-house and saved some money. My only response was HUH?
Frank Roche
Jun 4th, 2009
@Rick, yeah, man, the only answer is “Huh?” I mean, in the real world (read: not in consulting) that would be called fraud for someone to talk something of value and then not pay for it. People get kicked off eBay for less. I am constantly astonished when stuff like that happens. Those are bad clients…my only solution? Dump them.