Client in Austin wanted a 30 page contract, sent me a 2 page scan of a napkin

Last month I landed this small project with a coffee shop owner in Austin. We agreed on terms, I sent over my standard contract, and they replied saying it was too long. They wanted something simpler. I offered to trim it down to the basics. Then they sent back a PHOTO of a napkin with like six lines scratched on it and asked if I could make that the whole agreement. I laughed so hard I almost choked on my coffee. The napkin said "pay $500 for logo, 2 revisions, then extra for more." That's it. I didn't sign it, obviously. But I did consider framing it. Has anyone else had a client try to replace a contract with something that ridiculous? How do you even respond to that without sounding like a jerk?

3 comments

3 Comments

adam41422h ago

Reminds me of the time a buddy of mine got a verbal agreement with a handshake for a remodel job, then the guy tried to pay him with a vintage arcade machine instead of cash. He took the machine, mostly because the client was super insistent it was worth the same amount, and honestly the story was worth more than the money. Sometimes people just don't see the line between a fun vibe and actual business terms, so your napkin thing is basically the same energy, just with worse handwriting.

hannahj491d ago

Honestly Ive had clients try to cut my hourly rate by saying theyd pay me in exposure and honestly I think a napkin wouldve been a step up lol. At least their napkin had real numbers on it. I probably wouldve framed it too just to remind myself that some people think contracts are just vibes.

henry_anderson5422h ago

That napkin probably held more legal weight than some contracts I've seen floating around. $500 for a logo and two revisions sounds like a damn fine deal compared to the ten page novels lawyers send for a simple website.