Attention Mr. Rick Pre-Press Company—Luck Has Nothing to Do with My Freelancing Success
Hey, Mr. Rick Pre-Press Company, remember me? Yeah, I was the writer you tried to stiff then consented to pay an agreed-upon amount to get me to shut up. Well, seeing as how that was almost 60 days ago and I’m still waiting for 50% of the money, I’m no longer agreeable to the shutting up part.
And while I’m writing you, remember that comment about me being lucky that in this business I have more work than I can handle? Well, just this past week, I was contacted about not just one, not just two, not even three or four, but count ’em FIVE math education projects. Two I’ve already turned down, one because it sounded too much like yours—lots of work for little pay (or should I say no pay?)—but that company has assured me they will contact me about future, more lucrative assignments. Two others are still pending details and one I’ve already started.
Yes indeedy, my business is booming. How about yours? Business is so good, in fact, that I’m having my Web site, The Flawless Word, redesigned. I see yours is still non-existent, with only an “Under Construction” notice to show for it. What a shame. I’m sure there are tons of freelancers lining up for its official opening—NOT!
“Screw you, Mr. Rick Pre-Press Company!” This Thanksgiving I’ll be giving thanks not only for my good fortune in being able to pick and choose the projects I take on, but also for my first amendment constitutional right to free speech.
posted by Irreverent Freelancer @ 12:48 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I guess none of us should be surprised that they reneged on their end of the bargain...AGAIN. I think I will perpetuate your "Screw you!" on my blog as well. The more people know that this company has a history of not paying their writers, the better.
Mr. Rick Pre-Press Company sounds very much like one I had a run in with a few months ago.
And when I finally got my check? Wrong name on it. Yep.
Good stuff.
Yeah, this guy's a certified idiot. I mean why even bother wasting his time to come to an agreement with me if he's not going to follow through? Of course, the answer is, he was just buying time, hoping I'd eventually slink away. Sorry to burst his bubble, but today is D-Day. I'm moving forward with my plan to spread the word about this God-awful company if his check is not in my mailbox as I write this. The only up side is that I haven't gotten a bounced check returned to me on the first payment, so I think it actually cleared! I was willing to bet that it wouldn't.
Ha I just googled this. I worked at Pre Press Co. for about 1 year as a Project Manager. They treated their employees almost as badly as their freelancers. We received zero sick or vacation days. They paid Editorial Assistants with MASTERS degrees about $26k per year. That included zero sick time, zero vacation time, and a lot of verbal abuse. It was not unusual to see girls crying on a daily basis. There were no human resource department at all. So you had no one to turn to. Rick's MOTHER did some payroll stuff. But I do not think anyone felt comfortable going to tattle on Rick's un-businesslike behavior.
They encouraged us to flat out lie to our clients. I.e.- telling them we had 5 years experience, when, in fact, we had 6 months. Now that I work at a real publishing company, I can assure you it does not bother anyone in the least if someone does not have a million years of experience. I mean, who cares? You have to learn just like every one else. Outrageous lies are not necessary in business.
I was forced to work with many incompentent freelances (not you guys, I am sure) due to our low low pay rates. The best was the time a publisher wanted to dock our pay because a freelancer screwed up an index so badly and the book wound up being published like that. Rick did not enjoy getting a taste of his own medicine.
I've heard the company is doing better these days as they were bought-out or something similar.
Wow. Interesting to read that they treat their writers and editors as badly as their production/design help.
I gave 3 years of my career to them as the only full time "designer" and I left to return to trade publishing because I was longing for more creativity. I also left exhausted but I thought it was on good terms.
The final project I worked on for them I was told I would be getting copyright page credit for. A big deal for a designer since it means great portfolio piece. When I became a freelancer a few months later and purchased said book I found that they had stripped my name off the copyright page at proofs! At the time I was talking to them about potentially taking on work. But this was so petty and a HUGE stab in the back and when I asked for an explanation they wouldn't call me back (shocker). So I turned down the work -- now I am so glad I did. This blog is a couple years old now, hope you got paid.
They've historically had a tough time keeping staff. Production staff's value was based on how many hours of overtime you put in. I wasn't too valuable and when I did put in the extra effort all I got was a few extra bucks and a lovely case of stress-induced IBS! So the extra bucks went to dr. visits and therapy sessions!
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