I have a situation that has come up that I'm not sure what to do.
I did some logo work for a new client. I showed her (sole proprietor) the new look and she loved it.
She had requested some quotes on a few other items besides the logo. I gave her a few of the quotes but was gathering info on some others. In the meantime, I emailed her and asked her if she wanted me to send the logo and Invoice her for it, or if she wanted to wait a few days to see if she was going to order something else.
Well, she emailed me back the next day saying to send the disk with the logo and Invoice, but she was going to hold off on anything else because she was just diagnosed with brain cancer! Her doctor said she had about 6 months to live!
Now I feel kind of weird about the whole thing. Here she has brain cancer and I'm invoicing her for $120.00? I have the logos ready to go, but I feel "petty" in the grand scheme of things.
And, yes, I thought about the idea that she might be creating a "story", but I don't know her well enough to decide on that. She was very nice when we met. But, of course, that means absolutely nothing.
I guess I'm looking for opinions on what anyone else would do? Send the Logo and Invoice? Give her a discount? Give her the Logo?
HELP! What would you do?
Randy
Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
I would not send anything but the bill! If she pays it, then send the logo. She sounds flakey to me. Don't trust her. What happened to deposit up front. John Arnott
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
What's "Brain Cancer" got to do with it? You did the work, and should get paid for it! Doctors & Hospitals charge, even if they kill you!
The business will probably survive....and that is what you are really dealing with!
Just my "politically Incorrect" opinion
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
You guys are COLD. I'd give her a phone call. If she indicated that what she said was true I'd offer to hold things until she recovered. And wish her the best.
$120 isn't a lot of money. If she does have cancer then she has more important stuff to worry about.
-dan
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
Geez Randy. I never had that one happen. If I had 6 months to live I would go on a spending spree of epic proportions and never pay for a thing. Let 'em sue me in small claims court Hahahahahaha.
I can tell you're shaken by it. Send her a card along with the invoice acknowleging your concern and sympathy. Let her know you'll miss getting to forge a longer relationship with her and you'd be proud to honor her memory be continuing to be a reliable resource for her successors in the business. It's about all you can realistically do. Expunging the existing debt is a little too altruistic. (you gotta eat). If you never get paid, (and Lord know I wouldn't pay it) at least you'll have a bad bedt writeoff for your taxes.
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
With such a brief relationship as she has with you, I don't think you needed to know this.
I don't see myself going aroud telling new buiss. contacts that I'm going to die in 6 months.
It just dosn't sound like something people do, even under those conditions, I don't think it "cold" of you to be cautious. Theres some "strange folks" out there, some who would "tell tall tales".
Just my opinion.
Roger Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
I would wait 6 months and give her a call!
Not being "COLD" here but just sounds like a fish line.
I am sorry on her part if it is true. And if it is, then the last thing I would buy is a Logo to start a business.
My concern would be (Cigarettes and Whiskey and Wild! Wild! Women!)
You may as well go out with a Smile!
Posted by Jeffrey Vrstal (Member # 2271) on :
quote:Originally posted by Randy W. Robarge: Well, she emailed me back the next day saying to send the disk with the logo and Invoice,...
There's your answer. Send the disk with the logo... be understanding, not apologetic. It's not your fault. Sorry if that sounds cold to some... to me it sounds as if you had arranged a deal. Now follow through and hope she does too. Being professional does not mean that you are cold and unfeeling.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Are you sure she didn't say she was a Cancer and was going to start a Tye-Dyeing business in 6 months?
Posted by Jacki Allen (Member # 2672) on :
Dan is right, you guys are being COLD. It is not unusual for a person diagnosed with cancer to tell just about anyone about it, even strangers. I just hired a my best friends son, who has just finished chemo treatments for a form of cancer not real well known, but not all that uncommon either. Testicular cancer. There is a 90% cure rate for it and he responded very well to the treatment. But when he first found out, he told ANYONE who would listen because he wanted others to be aware and not be afraid like he was to seek tell someone(this is a 16 yr old boy and teenagers tend to be a little embarrassed about talking about any thing "down there" that is unusal, like a 5 lb tumor).
Anyway, now that I made all you guys squirm in your seats, My advice would be, like dan's. Keep her stuff on file, forget the bill. Encourage her by being optimistic about treatments available and tell her to come back when she is cured. $120 is not a lot of money, and I think you will find you sleep better at night.
Posted by Chuck Churchill (Member # 68) on :
Dan is right...you have some very cold replies here. A year ago my older brother went from being a university professor with a year to go to retirement in January to dead of brain cancer in May. Brain cancers can be beaten but it was not to be the case for Vern. The diagnois of brain cancer will change your outlook on your life in a instant. Your first thoughts are to put all your affairs in order and relive your whole live by contacting everyone that was ever important to you. Meanwhile the docs are sending you for tests, MRI's and anything else they can think of to figure out how to attack the cancer. As the diagnosee you are trying to build the will to beat this disease.
Having a business that you have built would further complicate your emotions and reactions right after the diagnosis. One would have to decide if the business could survive and how to make that happen. Your client may of decided that the business can survive her exit and this logo may be an important symbol to her.
I think you need to talk to her face to face (or someone very close to her if her emotional state prevents her from seeing you). You will know real fast if this is a small scam or if she really does have brain cancer. People that have gone from healthy to being told you have six months to go will have very different attitudes and personality than before the diagnosis. You should offer to hold onto everything for three months while the doctors are treating the cancer. She will either accept the hold offer or say....I really want to have that logo. The survivial of my business is important to me and the logo is part of the way I am going to make sure it happens. She gets the logo, you get paid and we all hope for the best in her treatments.
I can't imagine someone using brain cancer as a scam to get a free logo but if that is what going down you never had a potential client in the first place.
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Chuck...sorry about your brother. My Dad died of the same thing. I also cannot imagine anyone using this as an excuse. She was in a state of shock I am sure. I would send a small note stating your concern, and do like Chuck says and offer to hold the logo.
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
I think she might be trying to take you for a ride. But then again it's only $120. Personally if I were diagnosed with a life threatening illness and given 6 months to live I could care less about a new logo or anything else but going out a making the most of what time I had left.
Posted by ScooterX (Member # 2023) on :
if you want to be "warm" then offer to cancel the bill and NOT send the logo. (why would she need a logo if she's gonna be dead?).
i wouldn't send the logo without getting the money first (unless you already had a partial payment from the sketch deposit). once she has the disk its harder to collect the bill.
i wouldn't bill somebody for a sign if their building had just burned down... but i wouldn't give them the sign for free either. i'd hold it and wait until they got the business going again. if they never did, then i'd use the wood for something else.
if you want to be "cold" then sell her a "going out of business" sign (and get the payment up front).
Posted by Dennis Keeley (Member # 2868) on :
I would write her a note stating that you are sorry to hear of her situation and that you will gladly cancel her order and any financial agreement she has made or implied. However is she or a other entity still needs the logo, she can pay the amount owed and you will gladly get it to her.
Posted by Randy W. Robarge (Member # 2022) on :
Well, I did send the logo and invoice. The only reason being that she told me to in the same email that she told me of the illness. I really appreciate every response you have given me.
I hope a situation like this never happens again.
I'll let you know if I receive any payment.
Randy
Posted by Tasmus (Member # 445) on :
HEY!!!
Tell her to put it on her credit card.
That way she is not cash strapped and you get your money!
HA!
Barry
Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
Don't say what you would or should do until you have "walked in her shoes." I think you did the right thing in living up to your end of the deal and she will most likely follow through with her obligation. Being told you have cancer and could very likely die from it affects everyone differently. "Been there, done that and bought the T-shirt!"
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