Am i in the wrong?

You cant just back out of something, giving a deposit has an implied understanding that there is no going back, you are decided. Giving a deposit is there for security, so he cant just walk away on you, whats the point if you refund it to anything?

AMF, you clearly have no understanding of how a payment structure works. Youve never designed/programmed for someone with a deposit, have you? All of your solutions require the programmer to get burned and the client to get everything, even though hes the one who went back on the agreement.

Originally Posted by Village Idiot You cant just back out of something, giving a deposit has an implied understanding that there is no going back, you are decided. Giving a deposit is there for security, so he cant just walk away on you, whats the point if you refund it to anything? AMF, you clearly have no understanding of how a payment structure works. Youve never designed/programmed for someone with a deposit, have you? All of your solutions require the programmer to get burned and the client to get everything, even though hes the one who went back on the agreement.

Sigh. I've been doing freelance work AS A BUSINESS for 17 years. Lots of time in there to make my mistakes. I have lots of happy customers. Never had to give a refund either.

Interestingly, I've worked with a number of graphic artists as well and NOT ONE has ever asked me for a deposit for their work. Beside the point, and likely not a valid data point to draw any real conclusions.

The point of refunding -- at least for me -- is that I truly believe the customer is ALWAYS supposed to be happy. Customer is currently out $40. No one is currently happy. Why do something if it makes no one happy? Is keeping the $40 really going to make Craddock happier?

For an amount so small, I'd just give him back the money and to heck with it and then try to get it back on the next person I sold it to. My time is worth more than the hassle he's currently going through.

Originally Posted by Charlie Why should conrad hand over a 'valued at $80' website, when he's only received $40?..

Re-read Craddock's later post. The customer and he agreed that the site was worth $40 and the work was worth $40. My #2 item says give him the ORIGINAL site (without the extra work) for the $40 and call it even. I didn't recommend that, though.

Originally Posted by Village Idiot You cant just back out of something, giving a deposit has an implied understanding that there is no going back, you are decided. Giving a deposit is there for security, so he cant just walk away on you, whats the point if you refund it to anything? AMF, you clearly have no understanding of how a payment structure works. Youve never designed/programmed for someone with a deposit, have you? All of your solutions require the programmer to get burned and the client to get everything, even though hes the one who went back on the agreement.

From what I have read from your posts and AMF's, i think AMF has more experience.

You should give the money back. You might have done some work, but I'd rather have a happy customer then losing one.

You should refund him, and tell him if he gets interested later on, the price is gone up now since there have been more features added.

And try convincing him. theres no point of keep $40 when you can be making bigger bucks. You never know who he is in contact with, or if he might need something later on. If he feels like he trusts you, he will come back.

I wouldn't listen to half the people on here. Most of them are still highschool student. Granted I am a college student too, and only have 4 years of experience, I think refunding would be the right solution. Afterall your customer is not getting ANYTHING at the end is he?

Originally Posted by masfenix I wouldn't listen to half the people on here. Most of them are still high school student.

Ouch.

I think the difference in opinion is more in keeping with the poll in this thread. It's the difference between freelancing as a living and freelancing as a hobby. If it's a hobby, I think it's easier to stick to your guns and keep $40. If it's a living, you would (1) never deal with something so small in the first place; (2) look for a bigger catch instead of trying to stick with an argument where no one really wins anything worth winning.

Originally Posted by masfenix I wouldn't listen to half the people on here. Most of them are still highschool student. Granted I am a college student too, and only have 4 years of experience, I think refunding would be the right solution. Afterall your customer is not getting ANYTHING at the end is he?

You won't get far on this forum with an attitude like that, because yes, you are right, this forum does contain alot of young people, but why are you judging us? Before you type things like that, why don't you check your grammar. Some of your sentences don't make sense.

Originally Posted by Seb You won't get far on this forum with an attitude like that, because yes, you are right, this forum does contain alot of young people, but why are you judging us? Before you type things like that, why don't you check your grammar. Some of your sentences don't make sense.

I wasn't judging anyone. It was a "reply" to villiage idiot to his remark to AMF.

Second, I could care less if there are grammer errors. Know why? Because English isn't my language.

Originally Posted by masfenix From what I have read from your posts and AMF's, i think AMF has more experience.

Doesnt make him right

Originally Posted by masfenix You should give the money back. You might have done some work, but I'd rather have a happy customer then losing one.

Hes loosing him one way or another, id rather walk out with my deposit for the work I did.

Originally Posted by masfenix You should refund him, and tell him if he gets interested later on, the price is gone up now since there have been more features added.

He wont be interested tomorrow....

Originally Posted by masfenix I wouldn't listen to half the people on here. Most of them are still highschool student. Granted I am a college student too, and only have 4 years of experience,

Another misconception, age doesn't affect quality of the services. I have learned that some of the younger people here act better then the adults. I am 27 btw.

Originally Posted by masfenix I think refunding would be the right solution. Afterall your customer is not getting ANYTHING at the end is he?

You refund him you walk out with nothing. If the client followed what he said they would you both would be getting something out of it. There is no reason the programmer should refund someone for work he already did because the client didn't feel like keeping his word.