“If It’s Not Important Enough to Pay for, Is It Important at All?”
Ah, the holiday season—the time for giving, joy, and apparently, free web development for friends of friends who “don’t believe in paying for things.” Let’s talk about this… unique scenario I recently found myself in.
So, here’s the setup: A friend (of sorts) reaches out. They’ve got a website. Or rather, they had a website—six years ago. It’s now broken beyond belief, left vulnerable to SQL injections, digital zombies, and maybe even Skynet. Why?
Why? Because whoever was managing it before either ghosted, went rogue, or decided website security was as optional as flossing.
Naturally, I took a peek. Not as a client service (because, you know, that involves money) but as a favor.
Spoiler alert: It’s an absolute disaster. Think “fixer-upper” but for websites—and without the HGTV budget or Chip and Joanna Gaines.
Now, let me paint you a picture of the current state of affairs: The site is so far gone that it’s going to need an entirely new builder, fresh code, and maybe an exorcism.
The amount of work required could fund a small vacation—or at least a fancy dinner. And yet, the response? “Just do it whenever you can.”
Oh, and my personal favorite follow-up text: “I’m not paying for anything, I can just wait…”
Listen, I’m all for good karma and holiday cheer. But let’s be real—if it’s not important enough to pay for, then it’s probably not important. (This isn’t me being cynical; it’s just math.)
So here we are, 45 days later, with the site still in digital purgatory. Christmas is around the corner, and I’m thinking, “Do I tackle this project from the beach?” Because let’s face it—nothing says ‘holiday relaxation’ like rebuilding a website for free while sipping a piña colada.
(Maybe I’ll charge for the Wi-Fi I use? Just kidding. Mostly.)
But here’s the real takeaway: Friends don’t let friends exploit their skills. Friendship is about respect—and sometimes, that respect means acknowledging that good work costs good money. If it’s important, invest in it.
If it’s not, well, you can wait. But if you do wait, just know that asking for “favors” isn’t a replacement for actual effort or compensation.
And for those of you wondering if this story ends with me doing the work anyway? Yeah, probably. But hey, at least I’ll have karma points to cash in when I win the lottery.
The moral of the story…. Don’t be that friend.
Respect the people you value, and respect the work they do. And if you need someone to actually get your website up and running? My paying clients always come first. Happy holidays.
P.S. If you’re reading this and you’ve got a site from 2018 or earlier…let’s chat. Don’t let your online presence turn into a fossil. Let GROVIYO save it before it ends up on Website Fails: Volume 3. (We can do this properly. No favors required.)
