One round too many?

[annc]

I'm currently working on a regular quarterly magazine that's in its 100th issue, and the clients are being fussy about what goes in such an important issue.

No problem with this, except that my conditions for doing their work state that the price quoted includes one round of AAs. This time, one of the clients is being very picky, and when I sent the first draft, which complied with the instructions from the editor, he insisted that one article be removed and replaced by another longer one, plus the addition of two more articles (the extra pages partly pay for this), plus the moving of quite a few elements. This took quite a lot of time. Is it reasonable for them to expect me to do this for nothing (apart from the extra pages)? What constitutes 'reasonable' AAs when you quote 'including one round of As'? I've quoted this way for years, and never found that I had to reconsider it until this job.

This afternoon when I got home from work, the picky client had made many more changes, including the removal of an existing article and its replacement by three, plus the removal of a table from where he wanted it moved to in the first round of AAs, back to his report where it was in the original draft. The three new articles he supplied in text only format, no hard copy for layout guidelines.

I sent off an e-mail reminding everyone that as we were into the second round of AAs, they were now paying by the hour. I'm hoping this will curtail the impending changes to the cover... They've done no serious proof-reading yet, and I can see quite a few edits that are crying to be done.

In the meantime, the printer's rep is tearing his hair out, because he has a multi-million dollar press running 24 hours a day that needs to be fed, and the job has been scheduled twice so far. The client is still talking about having the job printed and delivered to them by Friday.

They're actually really nice people and pleasant to deal with. Just don't understand the workings of the industry.

[donmcc]

I'd follow the course you are taking: charge by the hour at your rush rate (I assume you have a rush rate for stuff that makes you stay up till midnight to complete).

Also, let them know that missed press deadlines mean missed delivery deadlines.

[ktinkel]

Ouch. You could make the point that remakes — replacing articles and switching pages around — are not AAs, which are limited to [whatever you think they should be limited to].

They are basically making you do the job one-and-a-half or two times for one fee, which is hardly fair. They may not realize that is what they are doing, so perhaps a quiet note explaining how much work their changes entail will make them amenable to paying lots of extra money! After all, it is their 100th issue.

[annc]

I'd follow the course you are taking: charge by the hour at your rush rate (I assume you have a rush rate for stuff that makes you stay up till midnight to complete).Thanks. That's what I've done, and told them the hourly rate.

Also, let them know that missed press deadlines mean missed delivery deadlines.I have done that. And placated the printer's rep. We'll see how many errors they find, given that they are now paying rush rate for what should have been first round AAs.

[annc]

They are basically making you do the job one-and-a-half or two times for one fee, which is hardly fair. They may not realize that is what they are doing, so perhaps a quiet note explaining how much work their changes entail will make them amenable to paying lots of extra money! After all, it is their 100th issue.I'll have a quiet word to the editor, who has been very apologetic about the changes, and made it clear who is responsible for them all by dragging the chain on the content in the first place. And he's the one who signs the cheque...

[ktinkel]

I'll have a quiet word to the editor, who has been very apologetic about the changes, and made it clear who is responsible for them all by dragging the chain on the content in the first place. And he's the one who signs the cheque...If he is reasonable and fair, then your friends within the organization will probably be able to help your cause. Meanwhile, guess you need to hunker down and get it done. On time. <g>

[dthomsen8]

Ann,

The 100th issue comes only once. Of course you should be paid for the extra work, and it is wise to talk with the editor, but if this is a good client with work for you every month, there should be some slack for this one-time effort. Not a lot of slack, but some, in the expectation of future work.

[dthomsen8]

Rush rate? Oh, how I wish I could have a rush rate, with one client in particular.

[ktinkel]

Rush rate? Oh, how I wish I could have a rush rate, with one client in particular.Printers (and others in related trades, including typesetters and some designers, if they are smart) have long had rush rates.

It helps the client see things in the right perspective.

[PeterArnel]

Ann I am sure u are acute cookie - Get them to agree the extras in writing as it goes its always better. As when its all over they some how forget. I love someones comments that printers have rush rates. If its a magazine printer then if it misses the slot they will struggle to pick it up but I am sure u know all this.
Peter
Isnt print fun - at the meoment I have over $300,000 of work wanted for the end of the moment without anysign over the artwork yet - in fact a client gave us $100,000 of work today and announced it was all wanted on Tuesday ( One job is 10,000 A4 pads 25 sheets a pad with a wrap around cover ) I would say God knows how we will do this ( But I doubt even he has that experience
Peter

[donmcc]

Rush rate? Oh, how I wish I could have a rush rate, with one client in particular.

You should get one (even if only for the one client). If he complains, and he no doubt will, explain to him that he would not expect to have his other employees working overtime for no additional compensation.

It can also be a major incentive to keeping deadlines, if all quotations hold a disclaimer that "work submitted after deadline will be charged at the rush rate of double the normal rate, if original delivery dates must be met."