Am I from another planet or this one is even worse place than I’m imagining it.

I was raised by somewhat good people with all their flaws; they were and are people who are making their money out of their work. I know there are people who are making their living out of fraud.

Because I am aware of the imperfection of the world I have contracts in my company, client have to sign it for his/her own protection and for my protection as well. People are afraid of contracts, and I don’t understand it. Read it! Everything is clear, if not ask me, or go to the lawyer’s, there is one hour free consultation. I want people to trust me and I will trust them, but let us seal the deal with the contract in case the trust disappears out of the picture.

I’m writing this text not the point the finger, but I am in shock. I had a situation donating one website, because people were staring a business and they needed it quick. I was sympathetic because I was in that situation several times and I know the feeling, so I tried to be a good Samaritan, but I wanted to protect myself from being fool and making website for free and  not having anything out it. After all, I am profitable organization.

First of all, guy who asked me about this favor for his girlfriend told me that he will need another website for his company and he is looking for another designer to do it???? WTF????? I was speechless. Are you making a fool out of me? But, I ate that frog. I said ok, and that was my bad, because I should have had straightened it out at the spot, after that, he told me he couldn’t afford that other guy, designer because he must go to a vacation. Another wtf! I’m financing his holyday?

Because of all that I put a sequence in my contract by which client cannot hire another design company without my permission or without paying for the website in full in proximate year. I think it is decent thing to do, because we are producing high quality website designs and the deal is to make them visual id as well for free, including business card design and a logo design (he can print it wherever he wants). He was shocked with this, he even tried to explain that he has bad experience with signing contracts, allegedly some guy asked him to sign contract for 20 000e or something if breaking the rules.

I told him whatever you want; I’m not that eager of giving websites for free, but if you don’t even want to sign that’s it. I don’t want to work, work and work for free and after the job is done, client gives administration to some less expensive company in his country or to a freelancer. It is ok when you pay for it, it is client’s call, but if you are getting it for free.....

I guess I grew up in some crazy imaginary world where people know rules and boundaries.