I thought the client that sent me a short email to tell me I’m fired after 20 plus years was a little ungrateful (read that story here), but today I received this email:
“We moved to <new system> back in October, but may need a little help yet with the event coming up next month”
So not only did this client of 20 plus years fire me, they didn’t even bother to tell me.
Granted, it’s business. They don’t owe anything. They’re not required to do anything.
And, I provide the level of service I do because that’s how I want to run my business – not because of client demands or because I want their praise, but for my own personal reasons.
But, damn, that’s cold and it hurts.
Are you trying to keep your rates low to help out your clients? Do you go above and beyond providing quality service & support? In short, do you think your clients appreciate you? Don’t be so sure.
Update 2/13/18: So of course I get the call. The new programmer has been working for 3 months and can’t quite get this registration system working. Could I maybe, pretty please, get the website they said they no longer wanted working again, update it to all the new information, and make it live for them? By Friday.
I desperately wanted to tell them to take a hike, but I am a fool like to provide great service so I agreed. I did charge them a $500 “rush job” fee though.