"Hit me up" as a sales response

[Hell Puppy]

Pet peeve time....

So I have a service or product I'm looking to buy, I find someone who has a website with some samples that looks like exactly what I might need. But there's no pricing. What happens when I ask about pricing....

"Hit me up!"

That just chaps my ass to no end. First off, it means you're likely to haggle....I hate haggling. Second, it means I've gotta spend time with idle chit chat just to figure out if you're sane and can deliver what you claim. I dont have time for that crap.

All I wanna know is what you have, what it costs, and how long will it take me to get it.

I know there are some things that vary by the job, but at least give me a portfolio and some ballpark idea.

[gonzo]

I find it to be poor customer service and even worse marketing.

Reminds me of the west coast weenie line of "lets do lunch" or "Ill have your people call mine".

Tells me they dont know the value of the product but they want to see how much they can squeeze your for or want you to think you got a "deal".

As you know offline I let Jack handle my dealings with those fuckers.

[docholly]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Reminds me of the west coast weenie line of "lets do lunch" or "Ill have your people call mine".

My favorite "I'm in a seminar but I'll let you know when I'm done"

7 years (on and off) of Vegas and I'm STILL not used to this left-coast BS.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by docholly

My favorite "I'm in a seminar but I'll let you know when I'm done"

7 years (on and off) of Vegas and I'm STILL not used to this left-coast BS.

I can translate that one. I dont think your big enough of a fish to bother with you now but Ill put you off just incase.

[spazlabz]

Originally Posted by Hell Puppy

Pet peeve time....

So I have a service or product I'm looking to buy, I find someone who has a website with some samples that looks like exactly what I might need. But there's no pricing. What happens when I ask about pricing....

"Hit me up!"

That just chaps my ass to no end. First off, it means you're likely to haggle....I hate haggling. Second, it means I've gotta spend time with idle chit chat just to figure out if you're sane and can deliver what you claim. I dont have time for that crap.

All I wanna know is what you have, what it costs, and how long will it take me to get it.

I know there are some things that vary by the job, but at least give me a portfolio and some ballpark idea.

I agree... or you post a thread wanting to be spammed for some service and the responses are 'contact me... my ICQ# is ___-___-___' my response is "Fuck you! I have the money, you have the service, I told you how to contact me either in the post or in my profile, get off your fucking lazy ass and CONTACT ME'

it's like people dont mind making money, but they wont go out of their way or anything. If someone told me they wanted my service done for them... I'd be contacting them...
which reminds me... hey gonzo

LOL

spaz

[Hammer]

Although the words 'hit me up' don't sound very professional, I don't agree that every designer's site should have to list pricing. Just because two different clients want a 4 page reality style tour doesn't mean that they will both pay the same amount. Maybe one wants a custom logo that he can use for purposes other than just the tour. Maybe one provides purchased content that requires no photo editing because it's already high quality and the other provides only videos and the designer needs to make screen grabs that require extensive editing to make them look good.

I've been in the mainstream design business since 1987 and mainstream design companies never list prices. There are a lot of things that adult designers do that are different, like listing prices. The other thing is working for peanuts. All I can say is that I'm sure glad I don't have to rely on adult design work to make a living, especially with all the outsourcing.

Just out of curiousity. If you like a designers work, what's so hard about contacting them to discuss your project and giving them a chance to work up a quote without being expected to tell you in advance what it's going to cost? I guarantee you that if you ever need a brochure or some kind of print marketing material that you will have to do that.

p.s. We all have pet peeves that some people don't agree with and I do understand your point somewhat, I'm just giving a perspective from the other side.

[MaskTVMaura]

I see both sides of the arguement here and support both to a degree. If you just want a typical, off-the-shelf a la carte product from a company, you should be able to get a book price for it. If you want a custom job, or if you are willing to spend a few bucks, there are often a few add-ons that can be given as a thank you based on your particular needs.

I DO agree that it is poor business manners to respond to an inquiry asking to be contacted with your own, "contact me" response. If you want the job, take the effort and follow through, because there are other people out there who ALSO want that customer's dough.

[Elli]

It frustrates me when no prices are listed at all. Even if I need something custom, it helps to have a base price list to get an idea of what I'm going to be paying.

[Hell Puppy]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Although the words 'hit me up' don't sound very professional, I don't agree that every designer's site should have to list pricing. Just because two different clients want a 4 page reality style tour doesn't mean that they will both pay the same amount. Maybe one wants a custom logo that he can use for purposes other than just the tour. Maybe one provides purchased content that requires no photo editing because it's already high quality and the other provides only videos and the designer needs to make screen grabs that require extensive editing to make them look good.

I've been in the mainstream design business since 1987 and mainstream design companies never list prices. There are a lot of things that adult designers do that are different, like listing prices. The other thing is working for peanuts. All I can say is that I'm sure glad I don't have to rely on adult design work to make a living, especially with all the outsourcing.

Just out of curiousity. If you like a designers work, what's so hard about contacting them to discuss your project and giving them a chance to work up a quote without being expected to tell you in advance what it's going to cost? I guarantee you that if you ever need a brochure or some kind of print marketing material that you will have to do that.

p.s. We all have pet peeves that some people don't agree with and I do understand your point somewhat, I'm just giving a perspective from the other side.

All I'm asking for is a portfolio and "prices starting at....". That's enough for me to decide if I want to take the time to play. If your portfolio looks like hell and your prices are the same as proven guys like MikeW, Dickman, et al, I know not to waste my time.

And part of the deal for me is I'm often doing stuff that is....out of the ordinary for the industry. And I dont like to share what I'm doing with anyone who I dont have to. So I'm not gonna put my cards on the table for some guy just to give me a quote...

[Hammer]

Understood Hellpuppy and I agree. If a designer doesn't have a portfolio online I wouldn't give them the time of day to start with and it's not asking too much to at least expect a price range or a basic idea of pricing.

I also understand your point about keeping your projects close to the vest, but any good designer that hopes to keep a good reputation in this business would be committing professional suicide if they stole an idea from a potential client.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Understood Hellpuppy and I agree. If a designer doesn't have a portfolio online I wouldn't give them the time of day to start with and it's not asking too much to at least expect a price range or a basic idea of pricing.

I also understand your point about keeping your projects close to the vest, but any good designer that hopes to keep a good reputation in this business would be committing professional suicide if they stole an idea from a potential client.

But youd be surprised at some of the firms that do exactly this.

[Hell Puppy]

Originally Posted by gonzo

But youd be surprised at some of the firms that do exactly this.

Usually not directly, and in some cases it may not even be intentional. But I dont even want my ideas coming up between buddies as "hey, i saw something cool today that a client of mine is doing...". Might have innocent intentions, but still can let the cat out of the bag.

I learned around 1997 not to brag....had a lot of my stuff ripped off.

Now you gotta find my stuff by accident. Makes me grin when someone accidently finds one of my skunkworks projects and discovers who it belongs to and goes "damn I had no idea you guys own THAT!".

When it comes to business, everything is need to know with me.

[Hammer]

I feel the same way Hellpuppy and rarely show anyone any of my sites anymore.

I used to show my sites to those that signed up under me to promote ClickCash to give them ideas and got tired of all the 'similar' sites that kept popping up. The final straw was when one day this guy ICQ'd me all proud of his new site and told me he'd worked very hard on it and sent me the link. It was a direct copy of my entire site except for a few small graphics he'd changed and a word here and there. He actually did not think he was 'copying' but only 'borrowing'.

[spazlabz]

Originally Posted by Hammer

He actually did not think he was 'copying' but only 'borrowing'.

THATS fucked up.... it is along the lines of 'borrowing' your wife.


spaz