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Update: I thought giving a client a break on price would build loyalty, but the opposite happened.

I had a repeat client for my pet portrait work who asked for a 30% discount on a new piece because 'times were tough', so I agreed. After I delivered the final file, she posted it online and bragged to her friends about how she 'got me down' on my rate, which felt awful. Has anyone else had a discount thrown back in their face like that?
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3 Comments
joseph_bailey
Yeah, that "haggled like a pro" thing turns a kind act into just a business win for them. It really kills the good feeling of helping someone out.
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nancyramirez
Ugh, that "got me down" line is so familiar. I did a big family portrait for a friend of a friend at a huge discount as a favor. Then I saw her telling people she "haggled like a pro" to get my normal price cut in half. It made the whole thing feel cheap and ruined the nice gesture.
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caseywalker
Makes you wonder if they ever saw it as a favor or just a chance to win.
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