Sorry, but NO I do not work for free

I received an enquiry just earlier today, and I thought I would share it with you.

Enquiry Details!

Hello,

Initially we want a website designed and built, SEO and an Adwords campaign put in place, then Facebook and Twitter later on etc.

We would like to offer an equity share with the new company, each online booking completed would result in a percentage paid to you the web designer. As you push the site higher in the rankings we would be receiving more calls and online bookings and be converting more sales!

A similar site is www.sunshine.co.uk they only do online bookings NO telephones, which is what we would want to do to start with. Obviously this website is a monster and their turnover is 17 million pounds...but we can work towards that goal :) The first year we will gross sales of 1 million pounds (we are currently grossing 2 million pounds for a company we freelance for on a self-employed basis) so we know this is achievable.

We would require you to work on the site each day to upload data reference the holiday packages available. You should see a return of approx 100-200 pounds per day. The current web designer for the company we freelance to earns between 100-120 thousand pounds per annum! If this is something you would like to speak further with or have any other questions please feel free to contact me for further information.

Good Luck! Thank you Jay.

Sorry...

...but I do not work for free!

Just wondering how many other designers/developers/agencies get these types of emails through? Infuriates me that these people think that we will work for free on the basis that if a site makes x, we will get paid x. No sorry, if you say your company is making a fortune, then you should be able to afford to pay us!

Comments

  • These are great, we had a couple of them last year and they were genuinely taken aback when I told them to stick it - and what a dumb arse approach it was...

    In what other industry would this type of approach occur? - It stagers me that people out there still dont value the importance of design and technical know-how, and are ignorant of its value to the success of their project.

    Aren't they just! I get at least 2 a year, and as with you, it still amazes me these people think they will get a positive reply!

    Maybe I should reply along the lines of 'Could I have an all expenses paid holiday for 4 to Dubai, and I'll only pay for it if I enjoy it!'... I guessing, but would have thought the answer would be no lol!

    I did have a website where you can direct these people too (tweeted about it), but I can't seem to find it!

    How's tricks anyway?

    Reply by: Craig

    Thursday, January 20, 2011:17:03

    Posted by Ray

    20
    Jan

  • Im browsing the web, searching for a web designer to design a website for a new business. I stumble across this one and think some of the work you have done is great. Sadly, I then come to this section you are speaking badly a potential customer. Whether you take them up on their offer or not, a lot of people are going to read this and it doesnt put you in the best of lights.

    I run my own company and regularly get asked to do things for free. A polite reply goes a long way...

    Hi Jon, thanks for your comment.

    Unfortunately in this instance I'd had enough; This particular enquiry wasn't a 'personal' one as it was address to multiple undisclosed recipients... it was never going to come to anything; these types never do.

    I've worked for many many clients over the years, some good & some bad, but you will NEVER find me bad mouthing any of them; any issues are between my clients / myself and would be completely inappropriate and unprofessional for me to air any opinions on an open forum.

    I do still get these types of emails / enquiries and only a couple of months ago I had another. I spent some time discussing with a lovely lady about her project / timescales / budget etc and agreed to meet. I drove 400miles down to see her and after the niceties had been gone through, her husband came into the office and proceeded to tell me that the way they wanted to fund the project had changed... they wanted me to build the website, emails, SEO, logo, branding... basically everything for a share in the business (if it did well!!!). I had an 800 mile round trip, x amount of fuel costs and a wasted day.

    I understand that a polite reply goes a long way, and in many instances I had done just that, and I have not once had a polite reply back saying thanks for replying!

    Regards,
    Craig

    Reply by: Craig

    Monday, April 16, 2012:00:05

    Posted by Jon Whittaker

    16
    Apr

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