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According to the article: "...The customer considers that if I don't want to record the video, it's because I have something to hide and want to lie about the

According to the article: "...The customer considers that if I don't want to record the video, it's because I have something to hide and want to lie about the real time spent on his project". Dealing with a client that tells you from the outset that they believe you are going to lie to them isn't merely an annoyance. It presents a risk to your career. This client will never be satisfied, or trust a word you say. He will inevitably sue or trash your reputation because, in the end, it isn't possible to satisfy delusional clients. That risk isn't worth any amount of money.

PerryCox 14y ago
These kind of quotes from a customer should be instant red flags that they are not someone you want to work for. Devilboy does have a good bit of advice about charging an outrageous amount, but it's important to pick your battles. Sometimes no amount of money in the world is worth the headache that a customer like this could cause.
- carbocation 14y ago
  There is always some amount of money that is worth the trouble. Now, it may be some amount of money that cannot be paid by any entity aside from governments, Exxon, Apple, and a few others, but it is some amount of money nonetheless.
  - Amadou 14y ago
    True. The problem is getting paid. The client can agree to a ridiculous rate, but actually collecting is a whole different story. My gut says clients with red flags like this will be exceptionally difficult to collect from.
    - mikeash 14y ago
      You could perhaps deal with it by insisting on being paid up front. But then I'd worry about the potential for lawsuits, if the client really is that crazy, and that's a potentially unlimited downside you can't work around with higher rates. The more he's able to pay you, the more he's able to pay his lawyers when he sues you.
  - geon 14y ago
    > There is always some amount of money BS. Happiness as a function of wealth is not a linear curve. After the first few millions, a hundred millions or a billion isn't that a big deal. Therefore, if the price to justify some headache or discomfort is above a million or so, just getting rid of the headache is more valuable.
    - bulatb 14y ago
      Hundreds of millions is two orders of magnitude more money than "the first few millions." To me that seems pretty significant. And even more so when you factor in how many more things (or even classes of things) you can buy with $10E8 vs. $10E6.
      - auctiontheory 14y ago
        There's nothing I want to buy that a few million won't cover.
    - loup-vaillant 14y ago
      Happiness isn't the only thing we care about. With enough money, I'd start thinking about optimizing the world, or at least give something to the most efficient charities out there.
      - electromagnetic 14y ago
        With enough money, I would do the same. With too much money (say in the billion range) I think I would go all well-intentioned super villain on the world.
        loup-vaillant 14y ago
        Seriously, if you're careful enough, that could be a good thing.
ExpiredLink 14y ago
> it's because I have something to hide and want to lie about the real time spent on his project You don't sell time, you sell a product, even if it's part of a 'project'.
baddox 14y ago
This debate is silly. Yes, obviously ridiculous clients like this are bad news and should be avoided, but yes, technically there probably is a price I would accept. Even if you're going to ruin my reputation and my career, I would still probably do the task for, say, 100 billion dollars.

PerryCox 14y ago

These kind of quotes from a customer should be instant red flags that they are not someone you want to work for. Devilboy does have a good bit of advice about charging an outrageous amount, but it's important to pick your battles. Sometimes no amount of money in the world is worth the headache that a customer like this could cause.

carbocation 14y ago
There is always some amount of money that is worth the trouble. Now, it may be some amount of money that cannot be paid by any entity aside from governments, Exxon, Apple, and a few others, but it is some amount of money nonetheless.
- Amadou 14y ago
  True. The problem is getting paid. The client can agree to a ridiculous rate, but actually collecting is a whole different story. My gut says clients with red flags like this will be exceptionally difficult to collect from.
  - mikeash 14y ago
    You could perhaps deal with it by insisting on being paid up front. But then I'd worry about the potential for lawsuits, if the client really is that crazy, and that's a potentially unlimited downside you can't work around with higher rates. The more he's able to pay you, the more he's able to pay his lawyers when he sues you.
- geon 14y ago
  > There is always some amount of money BS. Happiness as a function of wealth is not a linear curve. After the first few millions, a hundred millions or a billion isn't that a big deal. Therefore, if the price to justify some headache or discomfort is above a million or so, just getting rid of the headache is more valuable.
  - bulatb 14y ago
    Hundreds of millions is two orders of magnitude more money than "the first few millions." To me that seems pretty significant. And even more so when you factor in how many more things (or even classes of things) you can buy with $10E8 vs. $10E6.
    - auctiontheory 14y ago
      There's nothing I want to buy that a few million won't cover.
  - loup-vaillant 14y ago
    Happiness isn't the only thing we care about. With enough money, I'd start thinking about optimizing the world, or at least give something to the most efficient charities out there.
    - electromagnetic 14y ago
      With enough money, I would do the same. With too much money (say in the billion range) I think I would go all well-intentioned super villain on the world.
      - loup-vaillant 14y ago
        Seriously, if you're careful enough, that could be a good thing.

ExpiredLink 14y ago

> it's because I have something to hide and want to lie about the real time spent on his project You don't sell time, you sell a product, even if it's part of a 'project'.

baddox 14y ago

This debate is silly. Yes, obviously ridiculous clients like this are bad news and should be avoided, but yes, technically there probably is a price I would accept. Even if you're going to ruin my reputation and my career, I would still probably do the task for, say, 100 billion dollars.