I’m no stranger to that happening, and it’s usually only mildly annoying, but one time it was so egregious I actually fired the customer and just cut my losses lol.
Their “oh, I forgot to mention” changed the entire paradigm of how the application worked. Aside from the UI element components that could be re-used, everything was going to have to be completely re-written / re-implemented on both the UI and the API portions. Some of the code could have been re-used, but there wasn’t a single spot that wouldn’t require reworking to make their last minute addition feasible.
I told them they were asking me to write an entirely different application than was originally spec’d, and that I had fulfilled the original specs (they agreed on that part). However, they wanted their “one more thing” implemented before they would pay. I could have powered through, but my rate was basically cut in half at that point because of the amount of work that would have been, so I said “fuck it”.
They were terrible to work with, anyway, so I’ve got no regrets about burning that bridge lol.
We just got a project headed over, because their customer wasn’t satisfied, which already is a bad sign.
The problematic parts of the project involve exclusively their bespoke code that graphQLs some live routes data for a specific transportation type.
They made a filter for the frontend, for customers to be able to quickly narrow the routes relevant to them.
They did promise a Documentation and a GitHub transfer to our Account ( including their GitHub Actions for CI/CD ), not only promised, but it’s all written down in a handover contract. They sent some zip beforehand, stating “Here y’all can check the project out, before the handover”.
Today, we got the info that the files we got earlier, were the “handover” and we couldn’t get a nice GitHub transfer, because they weren’t allowed to disclose proprietary information.
Attached was the “Documentation” of 46 Pages. It consists of the complete copies of the config files ( 31 pages / for example, the content of packages.json or .env ) and lists like: Plugins installed, npm modules used and printed out directory structure.
Nothing we didn’t already know by just looking at the project ffs.
I won’t even go into the part about their custom code. It’s only half a page. The most important information for us.
We can’t afford to say no to this project, fuck.
They could have at least waited until after Christmas, to send us this Photon Torpedo, so we could all have some nice days and only enter the Negative Zone on Friday, after the fucking holidays.
We also had plenty of “ah, i forgot a small detail” customers, but this today made me want to punch fellow developers for the first time. How dare they pull this trick on us?
That’s one of the things I cherish about only developing as a side job / freelancing. When this was my actual day job, I’d have to power through the shitty customers. At least in that case, I got paid by the company all the same. Now, I only deal with people who don’t ask for a new foundation to be poured as I’m finishing the roof work.
We used to always have a fist full of customers. We are a very small agency and having 2 big and 3 smaller projects going, met the sweet spot of productivity and money made.
This was the first year, we’re mainly on one big project. Finishing one, while simultaneously starting the one i wrote about.
You can concentrate more, while on just one protect. Ok, but the urgency of this project having to succeed, is also ever present.
I think this stresses me more.
The customer seems to be one that has high demands, but listens and ends up going with the recommended solution, when he got something wrong and doesn’t insist on x being y.
I’m no stranger to that happening, and it’s usually only mildly annoying, but one time it was so egregious I actually fired the customer and just cut my losses lol.
Their “oh, I forgot to mention” changed the entire paradigm of how the application worked. Aside from the UI element components that could be re-used, everything was going to have to be completely re-written / re-implemented on both the UI and the API portions. Some of the code could have been re-used, but there wasn’t a single spot that wouldn’t require reworking to make their last minute addition feasible.
I told them they were asking me to write an entirely different application than was originally spec’d, and that I had fulfilled the original specs (they agreed on that part). However, they wanted their “one more thing” implemented before they would pay. I could have powered through, but my rate was basically cut in half at that point because of the amount of work that would have been, so I said “fuck it”.
They were terrible to work with, anyway, so I’ve got no regrets about burning that bridge lol.
We just got a project headed over, because their customer wasn’t satisfied, which already is a bad sign.
The problematic parts of the project involve exclusively their bespoke code that graphQLs some live routes data for a specific transportation type. They made a filter for the frontend, for customers to be able to quickly narrow the routes relevant to them.
They did promise a Documentation and a GitHub transfer to our Account ( including their GitHub Actions for CI/CD ), not only promised, but it’s all written down in a handover contract. They sent some zip beforehand, stating “Here y’all can check the project out, before the handover”.
Today, we got the info that the files we got earlier, were the “handover” and we couldn’t get a nice GitHub transfer, because they weren’t allowed to disclose proprietary information.
Attached was the “Documentation” of 46 Pages. It consists of the complete copies of the config files ( 31 pages / for example, the content of packages.json or .env ) and lists like: Plugins installed, npm modules used and printed out directory structure.
Nothing we didn’t already know by just looking at the project ffs.
I won’t even go into the part about their custom code. It’s only half a page. The most important information for us.
We can’t afford to say no to this project, fuck.
They could have at least waited until after Christmas, to send us this Photon Torpedo, so we could all have some nice days and only enter the Negative Zone on Friday, after the fucking holidays.
We also had plenty of “ah, i forgot a small detail” customers, but this today made me want to punch fellow developers for the first time. How dare they pull this trick on us?
That’s one of the things I cherish about only developing as a side job / freelancing. When this was my actual day job, I’d have to power through the shitty customers. At least in that case, I got paid by the company all the same. Now, I only deal with people who don’t ask for a new foundation to be poured as I’m finishing the roof work.
We used to always have a fist full of customers. We are a very small agency and having 2 big and 3 smaller projects going, met the sweet spot of productivity and money made.
This was the first year, we’re mainly on one big project. Finishing one, while simultaneously starting the one i wrote about.
You can concentrate more, while on just one protect. Ok, but the urgency of this project having to succeed, is also ever present.
I think this stresses me more.
The customer seems to be one that has high demands, but listens and ends up going with the recommended solution, when he got something wrong and doesn’t insist on x being y.