ASPA
  • Home
  • Online Classes
  • Join ASPA
  • Get Certified
  • Videos
  • Store
  • Equipment & Supplies
Picture

Five Signs You Have a Bad Customer

1/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Landing your first few customers is a monumental step; it's a sign that your business is starting to bloom.

​Unfortunately, this is also a time when you're most vulnerable. In your excitement to get to work, it's easy to completely overlook the fact that a potential business partnership might be a complete train wreck.

​Imagine putting hours or even weeks of time into helping someone, only to have one or both of you terminate the relationship. The concept seems painful when you're new to the game, but it's a reality that every business person will eventually face.


Fortunately, bad customers are like rotten eggs; you can smell them from across the room. Turning down a job may result in missed revenue, but understanding how to recognize a nightmarish client is critical for preserving your sanity and self-respect.

Haggling
When you're just starting out, it's easy to concede when someone tries to undercut your requested pay rate. This is a bad idea. Agreeing to lower compensation makes you seem weak. If a client manages to manipulate you that easily, imagine what else they could do.

You don't try to negotiate pricing with your plumber or electrician, so why should your services be treated differently? You know what you're worth, so stick to your guns. Explain why you charge what you do, backing your argument with samples. Good clients favor quality over cost. If they like your work, they'll pay for it.

They don't know what they want
We've all asked someone which restaurant they want to go to, only to be met with "I don't care, you pick." It's mind-blowingly frustrating. You pose them a question and instead get a vague response; when you do make a choice, they complain about how lousy the food is. Imagine the same thing happening with a client. If they leave everything up to you, chances are that they won't like your finished product.

The instructions are unclear
Sometimes, clients know exactly what they want, but can't quite express it properly. A little initial confusion doesn't necessarily mean you're dealing with a bad client; however, if you hand them the first draft and they still can't seem to explain things clearly, there's a good chance your work will go through endless revisions and tweaks.

Another problem is that your supposed 'mistakes' can make the client think you're incompetent, even though it's their fault. Happy clients provide good testimonials, so don't let poor communication on their part ruin the chance to build your reputation.

They micromanage
One major benefit of being self-employed is that you don't have a boss breathing down your back. It's perfectly understandable for a client to have specific expectations, but having them constantly demanding updates about everything you do detracts from your sense of independence.

While you grow as a contractor, you'll find your 'groove', a certain technique or approach that works for you. When a client forces you to deviate from that norm, it's a recipe for confusion and conflict. Ask your client for some breathing room. If they still insist on micromanaging, then it's best to end things before they get worse.

They're impossible to deal with
Professionalism is critical in any business. Rude or abusive behavior is absolutely unacceptable. Bad bosses are one of the leading causes of turnover in the workplace, and freelancing is no exception.

Constructive criticism is inevitable during your partnership; as long as it's respectful and clear, it helps you provide an excellent final product. However, if the client says things like "this is terrible," it does nothing to further the project and only serves to demoralize you. Don't put up with this. A customer willing to throw insults like "you're clearly not cut out for this" is clearly not cut out to hire freelancers.

Customers who don't respect your rates, offer you no clear guidance, or treat you like a commodity aren't worth the money. Don't let eagerness cloud your judgment.

- Alexander G. Smith reporting for American Screen Printing Association.


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    ASPA Staff and others

    Archives

    April 2021
    October 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019

    Categories

    All
    Aspa Institute
    Athletic Shirt Printing
    Bad Clients
    Bad Customers
    Business Mistakes
    Business Reputation
    Business Risks
    Business Survival
    Business Tips For A Recession
    Buying A Screen Printing Business
    Buying A Tshirt Printing Shop
    Buying Used Printing Equipment
    Clc Transfers
    Commericial Embroidery Services
    Complaint About Bad Tshirts
    Contract Printing
    Contract Screen Printing
    Customer Complaints
    Custom Tshirt Printing
    Digital Printing
    Diploma In Screen Printing
    Direct To Garment Printers
    Direct To Garment Printing
    Dirty Language In Public
    Dtg Printers
    Embroidery Businsess Start-up
    Embroidery For Screen Printers
    Employee Motivation
    Foul Language Printed On Shirts
    Getting A Government Contract
    Getting Funding For My Business
    Getting Government Work
    Getting Paid For Your Work
    Golf Ball Printing
    How Much To Charge For Tshirts
    How To Collect For Non Payment
    How To Collect For Non-payment
    How To Get Free Advertising
    How To Get Free Publicity
    How To Print Small Items
    How To Sell Your Printing Business
    How To Set Prices
    I Need Money To Start My Business'
    Inkjet Transfers
    Inkjet Tshirt Printers
    Keeping Employees Happy
    Large Tshirt Order
    Learn Screen Printing
    Learn Tshirt Printing
    Low Cost Advertising
    Marketing Strategies
    Multi Color Screen Printing
    Opening A Screen Printing Shop
    Pad Printing
    Political Message T-shirts
    Pricing For Profits
    Pricing Your Products
    Printing A Sample
    Printing Offensive Messages
    Printing On Pens
    Printing Samples
    Problem Clients
    Problem Customers
    Raising Tshirt Prices
    Screen Printing Earnings
    Screen Printing Prices
    Screen Printing Profits
    Screen Printing Salaries
    Screen Printing Shop In The Winter
    Screen Printing Supplier
    Screen Printing Vendor
    Screen Printing Wages
    Sell A Screen Printing Business
    Selling A Business
    Selling Custom Apparel To Schools
    Selling School Tshirts
    Selling School Uniforms
    Selling Team Wear
    Selling To The School Market
    Selling Tshirts
    Selling Your Print Shop
    Selling Your Tshirt Shop
    Sell More Tshirts
    Setting Tshirt Prices
    Slow Tshirt Printing Season
    Starting An Embroidery Business
    Starting A Screen Printing Business
    Starting A Tshirt Printing Shop
    Succeeding In An Economic Downturn
    Swear Words On T-shirts
    Transfer Printing
    Tshirt Business For Sale
    Tshirt Marketing
    Tshirt Pricing
    Tshirt Printing
    Tshirt Printing Business
    Tshirt Printing Prices
    Tshirt Shop Customer Complaints
    Used Printing Machines
    Used Tshirt Printing Press
    Where Can I Get Money For My Tshirt Business

    RSS Feed

Advice Notice & Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Sitemap | Contact Us | About ASPA | Advertise with Us | ASPA Members

Copyright © 2004-2021 American Screen Printing Association Inc. (ASPA) | The #1 Ranked Screen Printing Association on the Web | All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Online Classes
  • Join ASPA
  • Get Certified
  • Videos
  • Store
  • Equipment & Supplies