The client who paid in exposure got a surprise invoice template from me

After 6 months of 'we're a small startup, can you do this for the portfolio?' emails, I sent them a fake invoice labeled 'Exposure Payment Form' with a field for how many followers they'd give me. They actually filled it out with their 300 Instagram followers and I framed it. Has anyone else turned a red flag into a laugh without totally burning the bridge?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_viola16d ago

showed them the framed invoice at a meeting. they laughed. still paid partial.

logan_schmidt14d ago

So did you frame it with a little plaque that says "LOL" or did you go full courtroom exhibit with it? Because honestly, that's the kind of pettiness I respect, but also the partial payment part would drive me up a wall. It's like they're saying "haha, nice try, here's 60% and a shrug." At least they didn't just give you nothing, but a partial check is just a fancy way of saying "we know we owe you, but we're hoping you'll forget." Maybe next time bring a framed photo of their signature on the contract and see if that gets the other 40%.