The experience of working with unreliable developers
So good for the new year that I had the misfortune of working with a developer who landed me in quite an uncomfortable situation. I don’t know if I can label him as irresponsible. I’ll let you decide.
I was working on a web development project and I needed help in the backend. I sent out an RFQ to my list of freelance developers and one got back to me with a very reasonable rate. I shall not name this person but I will tell you that he is Chinese and if you search for “singapore freelance web developer” on Google, he’s in the top 3. His website was pretty good compared to others, his portfolio was quite impressive and he’s seemingly good with web standards. His expertise was fitting for the job I have on hand. I chose him.
Few days later, he got back to me with a quotation and after some revision, we settled on a price. He was left of the hook for a while, while I settled on the front end design with my client. When it was time to start development, I contacted him again to meet up so I can pass him the relevant materials. The first wave of disappointment started. He told me “I have bad news for you”. What happened was he had to leave Singapore for about a month for which reasons he has not told me. Since he had taken the job, I asked him to help me look for a backup developer before he leaves Singapore. As the client, my expectation is that after he had taken the project, it is his responsibility to follow through and not let personal commitments disrupt the work. Delay was inevitable so I waited for a few days for his reply.
He got back to me a few days later and told me he has found a developer to replace him. According to him, this developer was his “sidekick” and so called “partner”. We arranged for a meeting and all went well. The backup needed some extra details and I got them from the client the next day. Now for the 2nd wave of disappointment and shock. Maybe I was in an illusion that this “sidekick” and “partner” of his was part of his company and the original quotation will still be in effect. No. Mr Sidekick asked for S$2K more, because for him, it’s 1 more week of work than what’s stated in the previous quotation. I never knew the client has to pay when the developer needs more time. According to Mr Sidekick the original quotation was from another developer who has undercharged. My problem?
“I could have just ignored you”
I had already collected down payment from my client and was already going to pay the developer to commence work on the backend. What was I to do? I can’t possibly tell my client that now he has to pay another S$2K because I charged too little in the original quotation. My reputation is at stake and the last thing I want is my name going bad because of a developer sabotaging me. I asked the original developer to persuade his “sidekick” but Mr Sidekick wasn’t willing to compromise. The 3rd wave of disappointment came crashing down like a Tsunami. He told me “I haven’t collected deposit from you. The work has not officially started so I could have just ignored you”. He’s telling me he can just run away. What an irresponsible thing to say to a client.
Not trusting his half-hearted effort in looking for the next backup, I began my own search and have since found some suitable candidates willing to do it for close to the original price. At the same time I have found myself a new pool of talent which I can use for future projects. Is this a blessing in disguise?
Posting comment, please wait…
Omelette on Jan 09, 07 – 10:25 am
I clicked on that Google Search link and the only freelance developer that came up within the top 3 results is
Dean Loh (www.deanloh.com)
Is it him?
DK on Jan 09, 07 – 11:07 am
I think there is nothing wrong with telling everyone the name of the irresponsible developer. At least we can be more careful when dealing with him in the future.
Don’t bother about the money lost. Try to savage your reputation first by producing the goods to your customer. In business, reputation is worth a lot more than money. Just take it as a failed venture, get the job done, savage your reputation and move on.
Good luck to you.
Aen on Jan 09, 07 – 12:38 pm
He has at least made some effort to get a backup so I won’t go as far as telling everyone his name, except for the clue I gave in the post.
As I said, I’ll leave it to the readers’ decision whether to call him irresponsible. On one hand he’s putting in some effort to salvage the situation, on the other hand he passing hints that he can just run off, like I should be damn grateful to his “extra” efforts, when it is his responsibility to commit to our original agreement.
Dean Loh on Jan 09, 07 – 4:58 pm
This is Dean Loh. I am the developer who is responsible for this.
Aen, this is my apology to you, for the misjudgment of my time (thus caused your time loss), and the wrong choice of words (as I think through it again, I feel I was highly unprofessional to have said that and I’m guilty as charged).
Greed has gotten the better of me in this, as I thought I could take up and finish the job before my trip, I overlooked the fact that clients do need time before they would come back with the go-ahead. I guess I have learned something in this.
Also, I find myself caught in the same situation as yours, when the person I was hoping to back me up put me in the spot when he turned me down. I see him as being dependable until this incident.
Anyway, I sincerely hope your project will be completed smoothly and swiftly. I am in no position to ask for opportunities to work with you again in future, but I sincerely hope you will accept my apology.
The Chase on Jan 09, 07 – 6:44 pm
That clue was pretty incriminating, and a no-brainer.
Did you sign a B&W agreement with him? I read that a deposit wasn’t given to him. Clients want a commitment from the vendor and vice-versa. If nothing was signed nor a deposit placed, it’s not much of a powerful agreement/commitment and doesn’t ‘book’ the vendor’s time.
I’ve had prospects who said ‘Yes’ to hiring me, went through the whole proposal stage then cooled off for a week or two to prep their material. In the end, they decided not to proceed. Waste of my time. So nowadays, no signature, no deposit, no go. I’m sure you would want a concrete commitment from your prospects as well.
In any case, his comments to you and attitude were definitely unprofessional and out of line.
Hope all turned out well.
Aen on Jan 09, 07 – 8:30 pm
Hi The Chase. Thank you for your comments and opinions. I am fully in agreement with what you have said. Actually we have already reached the point where I’m ready to make the upfront payment and asked for his invoice when I got the 3rd wave of let down. So IMO there is as much of an agreement as if I have I already placed a deposit.
Dean, thank you for responding to this. Fortunately for me I managed to engage another developer in time for a reasonable rate and avoided jeopardizing the project. Thank you for your apology. The project will go on smoothly I guess. We can work together again, I haven’t look at you as totally irresponsible. Maybe in future, we just make sure that we are able to commit and have the resources to do so before going into any form of agreement.
The Chase on Jan 09, 07 – 9:27 pm
Hi Aen
Sometimes we assume too much, and that is where things fall between the cracks. ( I most certainly had my fair share of ASS U & ME moments)
You said IMO…the other party also has his opinion, and they don’t always match up. You could be thinking apples and he could be thinking oranges. Best to have everything laid out on the table and have evidence to back it up. When subcontracting work, always let the vendor know what you expect and get him to agree on it (with evidence, like an email).
All these negotiations and managing resources can be a pain in the butt, but we most certainly can save uneccessary pain by making sure everyone is on the same page. If only we can just do our design without all the other stuff :)
The Chase
Aen on Jan 09, 07 – 11:27 pm
Hey The Chase. You’re a designer as well?
It would be ideal if there can be someone else doing all the paper work. I guess it’s part of the pain of being a freelancer.
Paddy Tan on Jan 10, 07 – 12:07 am
Perhaps this is one unfortunate incident. Some freelancers are very dependable when outsourced jobs to them while some are just good at first but when the going gets tough, they just leave you the client in a lurch.
Recently, my company hired a few freelancer for some overseas project. When there was a problem, one guy just go all the way out to push the blame to everyone .. to me solve the problem first, no point putting whose fault is it as it will just delay the schedule. In the end, he went quiet and no one can contact him leaving the rest of the developers in a lurch cos it is part of the modules to compete. Well in the end, the thing got completed and he got himself out by leaving everyone with his half-past six job. The other developers gonna clean up his mess.
So now with another Symbian project coming, we for sure not going to get him back and instead just posted it up looking to hire a more responsible programmer.
Guess there are always Pro and Cons in hiring freelancer but this incident is not going to make me not looking into getting freelancers for other projects :)
Paddy
BAK2u.com
Aen on Jan 10, 07 – 12:31 am
Hi Paddy, Thank you for sharing your story with us. I have heard of similar experiences from my clients where some freelance designers and developers just disappear when a project becomes too much to handle or when they lose interest, leaving those after them to clean up the mess. I had on many occasions been the one doing the cleanup.
Likewise I will still continue to outsource work to freelancers. I’m sure there are responsible and talented ones out there. Shit happens but not always!
The Chase on Jan 10, 07 – 1:37 pm
Aen - Yes I am a designer. One person show.
Unfortunately most of the responsible and talented ones are either happily in those fun design boutiques or, running their own show *cough cough*
:P
Let’s not talk about the freelancers nor the fulltime nor the unemployed. It’s all about the individual. Is the person going to uphold integrity, be responsible for their own shit and take the higher path or just run away like the rest.
I’ll stick to being an independent contractor. The pros outweigh the cons and I get to call the shots. And all the $$ goes to me. Not indian bosses that breathe down my neck.
Aen on Jan 10, 07 – 7:09 pm
To me, being an employed designer is like being over-exploited with twice the work and half the pay. Worst, I can’t choose what time to wake up.
kiat on Jan 11, 07 – 2:19 am
hey aen, saw your new year bad news. hope everything is going great for you now. true enough, integrity is always very important when freelancing, if the freelancer have accepted the job at that price, he should still meet the delivery no matter what went wrong (unless he cant use the mouse/keyboard anymore).
especially when outsourcing is concern, its really scary to encounter such issues. but anyway, i always see you as a very talented individual in the creative industry, im sure u’ll do pretty well out there. :) hope we do have some chance in working together.
Aen on Jan 11, 07 – 3:16 am
Hi Kiat. I’m grateful for your compliments. I’m always open to opportunities and collaborations. Yeah let’s work together if there’s a chance.
Keep in contact.
kiat on Jan 11, 07 – 10:57 pm
you’re welcome…btw, i drop u a mail to ask for your msn. :) keep in contact there. cheers.
Aen on Jan 11, 07 – 11:56 pm
Hey Kiat, I replied your mail with my MSN. Cheers too!
DT on Jan 13, 07 – 6:17 pm
Hi Aen,
You mentioned that you have a pool of freelancing talents. I’m looking for some one who can develop applications as well as the backbone for embedded linux for a product I am creating.
Please let me know?
Thanks
DT
Aen on Jan 13, 07 – 6:48 pm
Hey DT, Tell me more about it. I’ll chat you up on Skype. See if I can help.
Top Secret Product?
DT on Jan 16, 07 – 8:17 am
yes uber secret mode. when r u on? I’m on at the moment.
Regine on May 08, 07 – 11:22 am
HI, Aen, you mention you have a pool of freelacing talents. I am looking for freelance web designer. if you still keep track to this, pls drop me an email. thanks
Regine
Aen on May 08, 07 – 11:54 am
Dropped you an email Regine. :)