Difficult Customers

Anyone who has ever been in business knows that occasionally there is a customer you would have been better off not having. As a writer, I mean people who want quality work for what amounts to pennies per hour. I have learned to screen out these folks on fiverr most of the time by staying firm with my prices. This does not always work, however.

I still get some bait and switch customers. They order a few things to be sure they like me (I always recommend a new customer order something small to ensure compatibility) and then want a "volume discount" because they they have 200 product descriptions to order. I have no "volume discount" because I know how long it takes me to do things and how much I want to charge. When I turn them down, they sometimes agree to the price--only to complain about the quality of my work. The same quality that drew them to me in the first place.

Just venting now, as I have a customer like that at the moment--wasting valuable time. At the same time, I have some lovely repeat customers who positively gush over my work. I do give them a "good customer" price break after many orders, but then they turn around and tip me! Hopefully I will get better at screening customers over the coming years.

It's the same in all businesses. People who spend $$$ on kids' sports balk at spending a similar amount for math tutoring. People spend $$$ on a wedding gown but whine about the time and money it takes for a skilled seamstress to hem the gown.

All I can do is be as clear as possible with prospects about what I do, how long it takes, and how much it costs. As Kayleigh McEnany once said, "I can explain it to you. I can't understand it for you."