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What would you do?

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:41 am
by Benjamin
I know this girl in New Zealand. She's just a friend right. Anyway she doesn't have much money and she wanted a web site so I bought her a domain name and helped her set up a site for free. I am also hosting it for free.

So last week she tells me that she is going to start a business and host with her phone company for $40NZD a month. This is like $70 USD per month or something.

I tell her not to because I can give her more features and that I would charge her less than half that price.

Last night she starts asking me to help her set up the web site on her host, the phone company. I say no, no way, do it yourself or call them.

I'm about to remove her account from my server with her personal web site on it. I spent a lot of time helping her with it. Time that is usually billable as well.

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:57 am
by GM
Depends on how good a friend she is really.

Personally, I'm not a great believer in second chances. She should live with her decision. Of course, it does depend a lot on whether the website is viewed as 'hers' or as 'yours'.

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:30 am
by jamiel
Wait until she's moved it across, then remove it and tell her you are doing so. Story over and you've both learnt something :)

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:43 am
by seodevhead
Well there really isn't much you can do since you offered to host and help with design for free to start with. If she was any bit greatful, then of course she should be paying you to host her site or at least give you some cash for helping her out (eventhough you offered for free). But that is precisely what some people do.. and not much you can do about their ungreatfulness.

I learned a long time ago to just forget about people who screw me over and let the lord deal with them. You will find if you simply forgive and forget and be the better person, a new oppurtunity will open up for you shortly down the road that is twice as good as if you were to host this girl. Anyone with enough business savvy would understand that no one does anything for 'free'... and that there is always a reciprocal exchange of services of some sort or fashion. Don't let her get you mad and simply make the hosting move as pleasant as possible. Then you can politely tell her goodbye and good riddens.

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:48 am
by Benjamin
Just to clarify, there are two web sites. She isn't moving the one on my server to a paid host, she is putting a second web site online with the other host.

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:01 am
by fastfingertips
Sorry isn't she your girlfriend?

Otherwise if she is just a person met over internet you made a nice thing to help her and if everything was ok you should expect, if her business will run well to continue to work with you in the next period. You should explain her that, once she will have success with her business you will start to charge her for your services.

At the beginning is good to help trust persons, sometimes i've done it for free but they are now close customers, they trust me and their business success relay on my skills. I'm glad to see that for 80% of the cases i've earn more friends and customers. Yes, i know, there are also 20% and they were glad to use my skills without paying and then runaway, but believe me my experience shown me that even if they would become your clints you will have a lot of problems with them.

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:07 am
by Benjamin
No she isn't a girlfriend. She is a girl I met online 7 years ago.

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:07 am
by shiznatix
don't bother with it. you know if it's on your server and she has problems then she is going to ask you a trillian questions. this will maybe work out for you although it would be good to have a few extra bucks in your wallet every month if she pays her bills.

id say screw it though, less headache for you in the end.

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:47 am
by MrPotatoes
never work for free for friends or as favours. it always bites you in the ass. if anything do it under contract

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:52 am
by Bill H
The value in helping someone is not in how they receive it, it is in doing it.
In helping another person you enrich yourself. Period.

You have, I believe, a really cute orange tabby cat that shreds toilet paper,
and you like to help other poeple out from time to time.
That is a really great life.
Let her do whatever, and find another person to offer your help to.
:)

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:10 am
by Benjamin
Some great advice from you all. Thanks