Client stole my pitch
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- 55 Responses
- airey0
shit happens. buy the t-shirt.
- inteliboy0
- Please provide the link to that story. That is just too good.luckyorphan
- http://www.odt.co.nz…zarkonite
- noneck0
Yeah, the methodology in question isn't mind blowing. It's just what I've put together over the years as a good process for conducting a rebrand. The proposal isn't a how-to manual either; it just outlines the steps and the work involved in each step. Enough for the client to understand why they should pay me thousands of dollars to do some research, and why it's a good thing.
I just realized that this is really only an issue if I'm bidding against a bunch of clowns, cause any respectable agency would have their own super-fantastic methodology. It's starting to sound like the winning vendor had very little process for approaching a rebrand. Kind of like, "Sure, we'll design you some logos and business cards."
- your last paragraph speaks da troof. most agencies have no idea how to rebrand.lambsy
- luckyorphan0
Consult an attorney.
- Gucci0
Maybe you have to be more coy about your process next time if that's what you're selling. That sucks though, because I'm sure that's what helps you get your job, but you can't have someone stealing food off your plate either. I'd be pissed if I were you, but I'd find it difficult to let them know it without freaking out and being totally confrontational.
- The process is what sells, how can he be coy about it?raf
- zarkonite0
It doesn't sound like they caused you any real harm? The other guys were probably just cheaper, the client sounds like that kind of decision taker.
and btw it's not an NDA he'd need here, it's a proprietary information agreement (IPA). Sounds a lot less threatening and it covers the methodology.
- No real harm, just poor practice on the client's part. I'll have to look into an IPA.noneck
- holy shit, you're in edmonton! I'm in calgary =) who stole your shit!?! let's kick their asses!zarkonite
- No one anyone's heard of. I'm really curious to know who the other vendor is though. Must be a bunch of jokers.noneck
- Once the rebrand is launched I can probably find out who did the work.noneck
- yeah it's so small here, won't be hard.zarkonite
- noneck0
Basically the client wanted the best of both worlds. They wanted my approach and know-how, and they wanted the other vendor's larger team. So they combined the two by handing the other vendor my proposal, and I loose out on the job I probably should have won.
There's nothing I'm willing to do against this client. It would be fruitless and just make me look like an asshole, and you'd be surprised how quickly lots of people can find out you're an asshole.
- lvl_130
your situation is total bullshit, and i wish you the best.
if any proper company said that, they should at least use you/pay you for your time as an AD until YOUR concept is fully executed. that should be pretty black and white. if that is not the case, you should make it the case ASAP.
- there have been several posts made while i was posting my comment :\lvl_13
- monkeyshine0
You can either toss in the "win some, lose some" bin or try to turn it into an opportunity. You know that if the other vendor doesn't have a process for this rebranding, they are going to produce poo. Try to make this client understand this and suggest that they get best of both worlds by leveraging the muscle of this "team" while putting you at the helm to guide the process and ensure success. The client trusts you enough to tell you that they want to impose your methodology...it could work. What do you have to lose?
- neferiu0
Extreme emphasis on the genius of monkeyshine's post.
- lambsy0
if you are a good talker, you might still be able to turn this around.
i've been in a similar situation. we had a client once that decided to go for the larger agency, they felt more comfortable with them because they had the big office with lots of bodies sitting in it. but they liked our process and methodology better, etc...
we compared our experience with the large agency's experience and explained 20 different ways that they couldn't afford to do this twice. the fact that the agency you lost out to doesn't even have the proper rebrand methods in place speaks volumes.
- luckyorphan0
Once again, consult an attorney.
If they are using your idea, you should be compensated for it. But I'm not sure how much protection you have, so get on the phone with a property rights attorney.
No one here knows really how to deal with this.
- cannonball19780
Pursue compensation.
- isakosmo0
find a lawyer who specialises in intellectual property, there's laws in place for this type of situation.
if they have admitted in writing to using your intellectual property your case should be easier than most. Also let them know you have consulted a lawyer regarding their use of your property.
- kingsteven0
if they made a copy of your pitch to send to the other party, you may be able to sting them on copyright infringement; that's a criminal charge... possible in the states if you can find a lawyer to do it on contingency.
- SlashPeckham0
this client probably wont communicate your method as well as you -
solution - turn this into a good customer experience and grow your contact list at the same time here
- Speak to the client and tell them you are a bit disheartened by this and his guys might not get the total benefit from your own method. If you have an afternoon ask if you could visit this agency with them and present this yourself... the client will think you've gone above and beyond and the agency might use you for other stuff... if they say no then see above..
- bored2death0
That fucking sucks that stole your 'work'. I guess this illustrates why people like AIGA are so against spec work.
- With AIGA, you pay to pitch: http://www.aigadc.or…raf
- HAAHAHAHHA PAYING TO BE PAID?
fucking idiotsBIGGESTDOGINTHEWORLD
- raf0
"There's nothing I'm willing to do against this client. It would be fruitless and just make me look like an asshole, and you'd be surprised how quickly lots of people can find out you're an asshole."
This is just another way of saying...
"There's nothing I'm willing to do against this client. They're just making me look like a pushover and I'll be surprised how quickly lots of people can find out you're a pushover."
I am teasing you, of course, I am not really saying you should turn this into a war. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting paid for your work.
I would wait until they finish and only then invoice them. Having contacted an intellectual property lawyer first, of course.
You can offer them to lead the team, with your knowledge and considering they're using the methodology outlined in your proposal, as people suggested. This, if fails, only provides more evidence for your lawyer.