Lame Client Excuses To Get Discounts.

hitmeasap Level X⁵

November 23, 2016, 5:49 pm

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Hey guys,
I just thought I'd share a few lame client excuses to get better deals or discounts.
First of all, we have these sort of things. Short and to the point.

"I don't have more than $XX right now. Can I get it?"

"I can't afford it right now, but I will pay you later if I get it now."

Then we have the more "advanced" one, which often looks like this:

"I wonder if you're able to give me a discount for recurring orders? - I have many clients and I need to find a good supplier. Before I decide, I'll need to make sure that you deliver excellent quality, so I would like a test run, or at least a good discount for this first order."

The thing is, that we as freelancers often take risks and we do it even more as soon as we hear the "magic words". - Those words would obviously be "recurring customer" "tons of future orders" etc.

And buyers are aware of this too. - Which is why some of them will do whatever they can, or say whatever they can, to get freebies. - Don't fall for it!

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anwebservices

I will just say LOL

Because you remind me of so many like that. having such questions from time to time, but i don't fall for it. My prices are set and that's it.

One more try to get you in:
I will leave you very good feedback!
(if they leave any...)

10 years ago

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hitmeasap

Oh, I totally forgot that one! - You are so right!

"Please Sir. I will give you a very good review if I can get this for $X instead of $XX. I don't have all the money right now, but if I get this from you, I will appreciate it very much and I will give you a perfect feedback after so you will get many orders after this one. I will always like you after this and I will buy from you forever after this. What do you say? Can you help me? Thanks."

Bwahahaha, it's impossible NOT to laugh at these things. Thanks for the reminder

10 years ago

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EliteWriter

Oh yes! I got all of those excuses throughout my career. I definitely agree with you and know what you mean. I do give a discount, but only when I am quite confident that the buyer can be trusted. So generally I advise new clients to place a small order the first time round (so that they will also know what I am able to offer). Once I see that they approve it and are pleased with the work, then I can feel more at ease trusting them. I never accept the pay later offers, ever!

10 years ago

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Lynne

Yes prove you are trustworthy before you are trusted! I would only trust someone after doing business with them for a long period of time and people that ask for discount and start pushing for freebies and credit right from the start are usually not the people that land up being trustworthy in my eyes.

10 years ago

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EliteWriter

Yes indeed! Just this morning I had a person who sent a message asking for a good price right away, claiming that he will be ordering a lot if he is pleased with the content and with the offer. I stated my price, and he seemed to be shocked and did not answer me again. I have made it my policy to stick to my prices, which are reasonable enough I believe.

10 years ago

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Everett

My absolute favorite one is:

"I can't afford it right now, but I will pay you later if I get it now."

I love the ones where they promise you everything, and the entire world to get it for free. I have a script that you can complete offers on to get points and then withdraw those into cash, and here's what I get a lot of the time:

"Sir, i do not have the money to buy your script but I will allow for you to keep your offerwall code so you can earn, and when you have met the $30 needed for your script I'll remove it".

Seems like a nice deal? Nope! If you can not afford to buy a script at $30, then how would you afford to keep a website running? How would you afford to advertise said website? People are ridiculous when it comes to getting free products/item/services on the internet. I wonder if these people are the same type that go into a retail store, and try to haggle the price on price tag stickers.. lol

10 years ago

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anwebservices

Well i have to say that haggling is very common in some countries, whatever they buy and wherever. So they trying us too. But it just doesn't work here like that. (Or maybe someone fall for it, who knows...)

10 years ago

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hitmeasap

In fact anweb, I do believe that most freelancers fall for this. Experienced freelancers, and for us who've been around for a few years already, we most certainly won't fall for this, but the others might actually do that. Newcomers and inexperienced freelancers probably fall for this more or less every day. After all, it's cold cash everyone's looking for and these sort of "offers" might just be "impossible" for them to forget, as they see it as they would probably give up on money.

It's sad but I bet it's true.. And I do believe that this is actually one of these "steps" most of us have to take to learn from mistakes and get some experience under our belts too.

10 years ago

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Everett

I, unfortunately, believe you are correct. You see, as freelancers with their only income source by freelancing they want to get as many clients as possible. They want to sell as many services as possible. Some even trade for services to get clients.

People whom fall for the "I'll pay you in the future" scam, think that since they won't get payment now they can possibly get it in the future and it'll be money that they'll earn in the future. How many freelancers fall this? I don't know, but I hope it's not in the hundreds, or thousands.. but it probably is..

If you can't afford to pay a freelancer, why are you searching around for services in the first place?!

10 years ago

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hitmeasap

If you can't afford to pay a freelancer, why are you searching around for services in the first place?!

Most likely because they're looking for a stupid enough Freelancer who'll fall for their false statements and insane suggestions.. And if they send the same question or suggestion to 10, 20 or perhaps even 50 different people, someone will take their bait. Sooner of later you know. It's horrible.

10 years ago

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Lynne

LOL its called window shopping with a purpose?

I often shop around when I can't afford it. I then make a little spreadsheet of things I need for my business. Then I prioritize that list and do some sums.

Step 2 I start saving! I have some things I need coded for my next website and I don't have the money yet. I ask freelancers for quotes and I let them know when I hope to start the project so they know it is not immediately. Like for example now all the quotes I need are only for earliest February.

10 years ago

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Lynne

Andre I started giggling when I read this post. I had an online store as you know, and you will be surprised how many funny messages I received from people wanting discounts and products upfront which they would then "pay off" later.

I look at this and wonder how people think?

My favourite was when a woman kept pushing me one day, she emailed me about 4 times and she sent me a few messages on Facebook. She wanted some products delivered and she said she would pay on payday, which was about 3 weeks away. Each time I was very respectful and polite telling her I don't offer credit facilities.

She then sent me a text asking again so I called her. She got upset with me when I asked her how successful she will be going to the local supermarket, filling her trolley and when she gets to the till asking if she can pay at the end of the month. She then called me rude. Oh dear.. it takes all types!

10 years ago

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Barida

It is always funny to see that many clients would use such excuses as a means to b=get the better deal out of a business that has with a freelancer. However, I believe that many freelancers already have a price that they won't go below in the course of delivering their services to the clients, so it is always better not o work beyond it to avoid such clients coming back with such prices for such services in the future.

9 years ago

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Seoclerks

Lame Client Excuses To Get Discounts.

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