Never Use Terms of Endearment

A new client approached me to do a slicing job last week. We exchanged several emails as usual with a new client - telling them how the process will work. I setup the project in basecamp and got everything ready to go then fired off an email to him explaining that we would set an ETA for the project completion. As a closing remark I told him, “We appreciate the business bud”. About 30 minutes later he fired back an email, “bud, WTF is that!?!? why did you call me that? I HATE that. My name isn’t sufficient? geez”. Can we say “red flag”? I replied with, “Good god almighty, it wasn’t meant to offend anyone. It’s like “man, pal, friend” etc. But I’ll be sure to call you Bob… sheesh”. He replied, “whatever. sheesh is right”.

After the shock of it all I told him he could keep his project because I wanted no part of it. He said he wondered how he was going to get out of it. In hindsight, I’d say the “WTF” was a tad more unprofessional than “bud”. A lesson was learned. I will no longer use any slang or terms of endearment with anyone I do work for. Needless to say, I was happy to let this psycho off the hook.

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7 Comments

Tony Chester said...

Dude, that’s just nuts bro! I’m speechless man.

Seriously, good call on cutting it loose. Some folks are just way too uptight.

Tony

Jayme said...

That is very nuts. I was floored. The funny thing is he’s from Johnson City, TN - I figured most people in Eastern TN would certainly understand “bud”. Oh well…

John Belflower said...

That’s pretty ridiculous. I wouldn’t have even known what to say back to that.

P.S. Impressive portfolio. I like your style of work.

Farik Osman said...

WOW! The nerve of some people. He obviously got up on the wrong side of the bed that morning huh?!

But you know, if you apologized and be the bigger man that you are, and he shot back like “whatever..” Then he’s just being unprofessional about it.

I think for my case i would see how he/she (my clients) are from the beginning of the project. If he/she has that “F&*K OFF” written on the forehead since the first meet up. I would watch what I say and no BS around with them.

Jayme said...

By the way, if the picture of the little kid is confusing to the story, I’ll explain. He’s from The Cosby Show. He’d always get angry whenever Rudy called him “bud”.

Lindsey Breeden said...

That’s actually one of my favorite things about working with you. Since most of the projects are done using email and other forms of non-personal communication, it’s refreshing to find someone who takes the time to develop a energetic working environment. I think you can maintain professionalism while saying, “Hope you had a good weekend, bud!”.

Bobby McDonald said...

Hahaha. I was wondering about that. We used to have an employee who signed her emails with a smiley face. She did that in a few emails big clients and got the ax for it. I almost always end my emails with, “Thanks!” …It’s a boring but simple ending.