OT:What do you guys do when unforunate things

Cooldraft wrote on 10/19/2005, 6:56 PM
I had a hard drive crash with an event that I was doing. Now I am 12 weeks out but about to finish the project after a re-do. I am even out more now and back logged even further, do I give them a discount? What do I do? Do I tell them that two editors left and I am doing everything by myself, my notebook crashed, making me less mobile. Etc. I don't want to give excuses but these are facts. Thanks for listening.

Comments

jrazz wrote on 10/19/2005, 7:15 PM
Was a timeline given for finishing the work? If so, then I would feel obligated to give them a discount even though it cost me a lot more to complete it due to the problems than what was originally quoted. If no time line was given for a completed project, I would explain to them the situation and let them know that extra time has been spent to make up for loss time in making this project complete and it we have not skimped out on the quality in so doing.
If you think that you will lose a returning customer by not offering a discount, I would offer a discount to ensure that I will keep there business. If you have done work for them before then they know that this is not usually how you work and it is an exception to your normal business policy. Hope this helps.
farss wrote on 10/19/2005, 7:16 PM
I'd avoid any sob stories if they're a commercial client rather than a 'friend'.
No don't offer them a discount, you've probably already quoted too low if you're not doing proper backups which would have avoided the problem in the first place. As the old saying goes "Quick, Cheap, Good, choose any two of the above".
Not that I should talk, we don't do any backups unless it's a complex project where we're investing a lot of time, then we have backups, at times even off site.
I guess you've tried every means know to man to get as much back from the dead drive as possible?
Bob.
JackW wrote on 10/19/2005, 9:33 PM
Hey -- "Stuff happens!" Life is real, and sometimes deadlines can't be met.

I'd go to the client and spell it out: "My computer crashed, I've lost all the work I've done and I can't possibly meet the deadline. How do you want to handle this?"

In the best case scenario the client will understand and work it out with you. In the next best scenario, maybe you'll have to outsource some of the work to another editing house, or hire in another editor if that's an option and deliver the project late.

In the worse case, you'll lose the job and the client.

In any case, you can stop worrying once you've spelled it out to the client. Worry is the killer in this.

Good luck. You'll make it work o.k.

Jack

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/19/2005, 11:56 PM
If it's entirely dead (the drive that is) you can get another drive (identical) and then swap the platters (or have a proffessional do it for you). Then the Platters that have all the info are now useable again.

Not the cheap way - but probably faster if you were far into the project.

Dave
TheHappyFriar wrote on 10/20/2005, 5:37 AM
I one time had a HD crash near the end of the project. It tooks me a couple extra days to complete, but I hauled ass & I already know how I wanted it, so I didn't bother thinking, I just tried as fast as possible to get back where I was.

You don't have a veg back eigther?