Clients call

[iron ant]

I was commissioned by a client to forge a large fire screen for her house in Newport Beach,CA.Although I am a self taught blacksmith,it sounded like a good challenge.I sent her a drawing,got front money, and I forged the piece.After I was done she changed her mind,and she had me cut off all my detail and replace it with a 3 dollar cataloge ordered rossett.It was brutal,but I had to do it.The roses are 11 gauge cold rolled steel about the size of small grapfruit.Oh I do intend on charging her more,when it returns from the powdercoater I will post another pic.

[Julianna]

Ouch. I know "the customer is always right", but changing her mind after it's been completed is harsh. I'm glad you had it in you to make the change. I think I would be devistated and speechless if anyone ever asked me to change something after it was approved and finished.

[JAZ]

Hi Ironant. Your story is a good argument of a "kill fee" clause in the initial contract with the client. Graphic Designers and illustrators use them. If you were to decide not to complete a project like this one where the problem had nothing to do with your performance, you would still be assured a reasonable percentage of the original price. That way you wouldn't have to bite the bullet and do something you didn't feel comfortable about.
JAZ

[fritchie]

Thanks for posting this, IA. Your original piece is beautiful, in my opinion, and your approach was confident and inspiring to others, but clearly JAZ has a good point as well. People with less experience than you will be reluctant to add such a clause, but your reputation should allow it.

[iron ant]

Thanks Guys and galls,and I waited three weeks befor I took a torch too it.I would have made another one,but being behind on two stainless jobs killed that thought.Yes,I will for now on include a clause about changes,kind of what builders do to cover my butt.I originally charged her 3 grand for the screen ,and I am charging her 500 more bucks for the changes and I get my roses back,the problem I have is she is not really getting what she payed for,but thats the clients call.The instalation photo is not her house,I used the situation to take it to this developers 7 million dollar house in Atlanta,now his wife wants me to re do there estate gates,but will they come off the cash.Young ones would be surprised the more they have sometimes the harder it is to get.