This is hilarious, I lost a client... due to insourcing!!

[Deja Q]

Hah! My designs were acceptable, but they are choosing to do the work in-house as they can maintain it more quickly (and because it'd likely cost less in the end). An acceptable argument, IMHO, web design/maintenance is not a 5 minute thing...

My own personal belief is that corporations would get the most bang for the buck by doing things in-house when possible and utilize their loyal staff. (Indeed, I have noted that over the last 2 years, they were often slow at getting to me... this move was probably a good one.)

All is not lost. We are parting on amicable terms, I will be compensated for the time used in making my designs, and I will help them move to a new host.

I also have heard from a top source that he would have told me if none of the designs was acceptable. (other people have told me I have some creativity in my work so I'm not crying or anything goofy. :-) There's always a way...)

I did work several hours on several new designs for them, but I will settle for maybe half that. (there's also the small amount of work I did prior to that needs to be compensated for as well.)

But it's funny. As more of corporate America goes outsourcing, I lost a client for the opposite reason. LOL!

Still, it's life, isn't it? :D

Yes, I am laughing right now. There are no hard feelings, to say the least.

[brokensymmetry]

1. Hmm.

Too bad you couldn't get to know your clients better...and let it be known, casually, that you wouldn't mind going to work for them...

[Deja Q]

2. It's a unique situation, I have a habit of getting into those... BTW,

Thanks MUCH for the idea to (casually) work for them internally. They are a small governmental organization though with little work that needs to be done, I genuinely don't think they need a full 40/7 guy for this... And I'm not in a good place to take such a risk to move anyway... but I can see why they'd try it in-house. They can communicate with everybody else and get a quicker respone...

[brokensymmetry]

3. I hear you.

But the thing is that even they may not need you, they may KNOW someone who needs you. I believe that something like 5% (five percent) of the jobs available are advertised. The rest involve knowing someone.

This is a project that takes awhile to develop - but just getting to know people, maybe bringing in a box of donuts :) , that sort of thing - is the key to finding a job. Or improving one.

And, worst case, it doesn't hurt anything.

[DS1]

4. If I were you, I'd offer to have them put something rough together

in *typically* Frontpage, and pay you x amount of dollars to clean up the rough edges and optimize the code.

They're happy with ownership, you're happy with dollars.