Comment by cambaceres | Hacker News Reader

Comment by cambaceres | Hacker News Reader

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I have not had the time yet, will do it ASAP. I watched the full video you recommended though, that was exactly what I needed to see now!

Our current situation looks like this: Since we are in the beginning of this business we work with it on our spare time, while keeping the day jobs until we get more gigs. We have gotten our first gig, which is to build an application used in the shipping industry. We wrote a contract for the first delivery worth approx $25,000, and we have gotten a full payment. We have gotten promises on 2 more deliveries that will average approx $30,000. The issue is that now they are trying to put a lot of shit into the first delivery, although it's not in the contract. We (the two of us in the company) have let ourselves be a bit pushed around in the past weeks and have put at least 20 hours each into building stuff that was definitely not in the contract, with the fear that if we say no then they wont let us continue working on the app and we can forget the coming $60,000.

Anyway, your comment and the video made me realise that the way we are trying to please them right now is just stupid. We have the next meeting with them on Monday, and I know exactly what to say: Fuck you and pay us :D

I know you just started and that is very cool. In the future, as I said in prior post, be crystal clear on the point up front in the next client. Make sure to mention it and emphasize it. So say, "Just like in construction you wouldn't expect a contractor to move a wall for free after he built it, because you want it changed...it's the same thing, if the specifications change during the course of the work, then we need to come up with a new price." If they say no, better to know up front and turn the work down, because then they are going to be asshole customers who don't want to pay you.

For this particular situation that you are in, I'd probably say that it is kind of on you guys that it was not clear. Which is ok, you didn't know. You didn't emphasize that you don't work for free up front before you started the project, and then you went ahead and did extra 20 hours of work without saying something. I'd try to get it paid, but if they say no, then take your lumps, and on the next job say that "OK, but on the next one we will bill for extra." I'd try to get the 20 hours paid, though, but if they get too pissy I'd probably cut it to 10 hours, or even $0, if I had to, because it's your sort of mistake, on the unclear communication.

And remember, the whole Fuck you pay me is last resort, you always want to be friendly until you can't be. It does not really sound like a literal fuck you pay me situation. Just work it out. I don't know how much you would charge per hour, but if it is $150, that is $3,000. Don't lose $60K for $3,000. But still try to get paid for it, but don't be too hard nosed. You kind of have to play it by ear, but keep it light and friendly, with a small dose of humor, too, if possible.

A lot of it is in the presentation and the operations of it. I could tell a lot of stories of stuff.

Anyways, I think you get the gist of what I'm saying. Hope it all works out for you.

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