No Deposit

[glorybound]

I have been talking to these guys, who seem reputable, but the no deposit is troublesome. How do you read into the below comment.

All sounds good. Like I said, I’m all systems go for you, but I meet resistance from the higher powers.

We don’t ever do 50% upfront though. A few freelancers have asked. This usually isn’t an issue though. We’ve been in business over 15 years and have a sound reputation with major clients. We have an in-house team so we are very selective with who we outsource work to. Once we do though, then provided all goes well, we work with freelancers for years. This is what I’m hoping for.

Can you quote on the project I’m going to send you and give us an idea of timeframes for each phase; Basic modelling, Detail modelling, View set-ups for sign-off, time of day options for sign-off, texturing and shading, post…

[Neilg]

'nope, sorry. I always work with a deposit and i'll have to turn this job down'

Unless you're willing to take the risk

[Nicinus]

Maybe a compromise, and do 25%? It doesn't say they don't accept deposits, only that they never do 50%. Perhaps you can say that you need to cover renderfarm costs.

[glorybound]

It's a UK firm, so I don't know if I have any recourse if something goes wrong.

[Syclone1]

I'm with Neilg on this one, I wont touch a job esp with a first time client without a deposit to at least cover my time. If they pay well after the first couple jobs then I am willing to reconsider the deposit. I have had a couple clients in the past question the deposit but if they are not willing to pay anything up front it makes me question if they will pay at the end of the project.

[zeronove]

a new client asking for "no deposit" is a big NO!
otherwise 50% seems to me a bit too much

[glorybound]

I checked out their online presence and I don't see anything suspicious. It has been in discussion for a month and there has been a lot of, "I am pulling for you but our art director is concerned". This person doesn't know me from Adam, so he isn't pulling for me, and sounds like sales talk. I always get 50%; nobody ever questions it, so maybe it's okay for him to question it, after your comment. I don't think I'll move forward with out some kind of deposit, but might for less, let's say 25%. it depends on how much work I am willing to do for free.... Which is.... NONE!

[alexyork]

It's a test that you give them, right? We do the same here. If they come back with a no on the deposit then that tells me that they are likely to be a PITA and will probably have serious issues with payment(s). I have an exception for a client I work with who pays less up front than I usually insist upon but I've been working with them for many years so it's not a problem. I have turned down work from several clients in the last year who refused to pay deposits at all, or tiny ones to the point of being useless.

If you need the work and are willing to take the risk then it's up to you. But for me it's not actually just about the money - it's about finding out what kind of client they are - the kind who won't pay a reasonable advance fee is the kind you'd expect to give you major problems down the line, start changing the brief, refuse to pay at all if they're not 100% satisfied with the result, late payments, bounced cheques etc....

[MoonDoggie]

Also I agree that this doesn't sound like a great client. I would respectfully decline, however I would allow for a 33% deposit to show them I can negotiate if I really wanted the client/work.

[glorybound]

I countered with a 25% deposit.

[AndresAhumada]

every time is 50% 50%

[glorybound]

Oh, but the potential for all the work he has!

[squintnic]

most likely a scammer IMO
be careful

[hoppergrass]

but potential is just that, potential, wont pay your bills today, might possible pay next month bills, might possibly not.

[glorybound]

I am proceeding with caution

most likely a scammer IMO
be careful