Working with Independent Contractors - Wisdom in a Rant

I thought it would be good to post an excerpt from an email I wrote to someone about a certain company that failed us. I thought this rant would benefit anyone who may elect to work with a small business or independent contractor as these guys operate in most industries. Just remove "IT" and replace with whatever industry you happen to be working in:

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Even since you wrote your email about ...., we also had our trust breached. Do you remember XXXXX (violating company name here)? Yesterday they denied promising to include a 3D logo (we were both there and heard the promise but it wasn't written in the contract) and then they tried to get full payment from me for the project without even mentioning that Joe was in a dispute over the 3D logo. They called me up and they were like "Joe agreed to everything, let's do the final payment. I'll send someone over right away to collect." I knew that there MIGHT have been an issue with the logo since I hadn't seen it so I decided to stall the payment meeting. So I go and check my email and there is an email dispute about the logo that they didn't even mention to me on the phone.

So, don't use XXXXX. We live, we learn. They're only harming themselves. In fact, I was planning to not worry about the logo and leave it at that but then they pulled this move on me and I got all hot under the collar. Very foolish of them. I bet it wouldn't take them more than 10 minutes to make one, either! Then they accused me of trying to 'squeeze more out of them when they've been so nice to us." They were so nice to complete most of what they agreed to! How nice of them! I would have thought it would have been nicer if they did all they agreed to, though.

Granted this issue doesn't weigh on the same scale as what you are going through, but I what you wrote is true is that it keeps happening and we keep getting stronger and wiser. It is true. Now when I deal with any transactions with small or independent guys, I'm so much more prepared. One of the first things Joe and I test now is the speed and quality of responses and communications. From now on, if I don't sense extreme professionalism from a firm or independent, I'll just walk away. We also learned that when dealing with IT guys, it is very much worth spending more using a firm that has a 'business person' leading the IT guys. These IT guys are nothing but computer geeks [I have a ham radio and I built my own PBX box so I'm one too, so that's not derogatory] trying to make money with their skill. They have limited business sense. They get excited about a project and then when it wears off they are gone - mysteriously! It's uncanny. When doing IT projects you need to be dealing with a sales person/manager who has the power to force these guys to do the work and on time. Otherwise, they'll do it on their time or randomly. What a great lesson to learn! I bet they don't even cover that in MBA courses.

And the value of SUPER clear contracts that include:
a) exactly what will be produced to the very sickest detail and
b) exactly what day/hour those detailed items will be delivered to the client

without those, it's just a mess. Our last contract with XXXXX had those items and lo and behold it was done almost perfectly on time. They skipped a few proofing steps which I was then able to point out to them when they had the nerve to accuse us of trying to 'squeeze more out of the project'. Sigh.

So yeah. PTL for earthly wisdom! Seek wisdom. Hunger after it. It's much more valuable than gold. If these fools in the banking industry had a bit we wouldn't be flying so fast towards the new world order and the mark of the beast! But God's will be done and life is short anyways.