Ethical?

[Steve Parr]

I'm the Regional Sales Manager, for Canada, for a large guitar company here in the States.

One of my clients, in eastern Canada, has offered to build me a photography website. Quite frankly, I could use the help. The one I currently have www.onstagephotography.com (http://www.onstagephotography.com) is something which, I think, needs some help. I built it off of a template designed for musicians to sell CD's, tickets, t-shirts, and the like.

Anyway, my client has offered to make the site for me gratis, with the only stipulation the his name (or his company's name) is displayed on the site.

In as much as I would love to have a new website (and he builds some nice ones from what I'm told), I question whether or not this is a proper agreement to enter into, given our business relationship.

Thoughts?

[PAFC2004]

It's not uncommon, and I honestly don't see a problem with it as long as contracts are written up, regarding any possible problems.

[elTwitcho]

I would check your company policy and talk to someone in HR. It seems like it's ok, but you would be extremely surprised the amount of tolerance companies don't have when it comes to a potential conflict of interest. For instance, at my work

If i accept a gift from a client worth over 10 dollars, I will be fired

If I pay a client 20 bucks to mow my lawn, I will be fired.

etcetera.

Counterintuitive though it may seem, that's how it is at my workplace. Yours may be similar, so don't assume that common sense rules the day.

[JMAS]

Steve,
I work for a large american corporation and from my experience that would be a no-no, since it is clearly stated in the corporate policy that we cannot accept free services or gifts from suppliers or clients exceeding a cortesy present and that is fixed at US$ 25,-.

Since that client would probably demand that his name or company name would have to be credited even if he was charging for the service, your company can interpret that the service itself was a gift. What you need to check is the amount of that gift, meaning how much would he normally charge for that service. Note that even if your company does not have a written policy, I think you can still be in trouble in case of dispute.

If your company is strickt about this kind of issues, you'd probably be better off away from this offer.

Ethically, I would also preffer not to accept the service, so that I coud feel free to give him discounts or whatever benefits as part of the commercial aspects of the business, and avoid having any other indirect pressure in my deals.


Take my 2 cents if you want, but as I like guittars, be aware that I may be your client in the future ;)

[Steve Parr]

Interesting perspectives, folks.

I'll talk to our HR Director this afternoon...

[Moppie]

I don't see the problem at all, as the website has no impact on your employer then how can it be an issue?
The agreement is between you and the website developer, someone you just happened to have met via your job.
If he's offered to do something for you, outside of your job, i.e. not guitar sales related, then its between you and him.

[Richard_Miami]

There is one extra factor to consider. What if there is a dispute down the road between you and your client over the website, and as a result, he pulls his business from the guitar company? That sounds like a risk which you might not want to let into your professional life. Similar to the risk involved in office romances, some things are best passed up even though it sounded good at the time.

[Steve Parr]

Well, I spoke with the HR Director yesterday afternoon.

She's going to review company policies, but she said that, on the surface, she could see nothing which would constitute a conflict of interest, provided we have something in writing which clearly states that the business relationship between the website designer and myself is apart and separate from the relationship we have as manufacturer/dealer.

I'm going to check back with her on Friday and, if she says it's cool, I'm gonna' go for it...

[JMAS]

Well, I spoke with the HR Director yesterday afternoon.

She's going to review company policies, but she said that, on the surface, she could see nothing which would constitute a conflict of interest, provided we have something in writing which clearly states that the business relationship between the website designer and myself is apart and separate from the relationship we have as manufacturer/dealer.

I'm going to check back with her on Friday and, if she says it's cool, I'm gonna' go for it...

You did what you had to do, so whatever is decided, you are in compliance with what your company expects from you.
Good luck with that answer!

[Digitalwave]

Another thing to consider is unless you are very close friends, he is probably not much of a web designer if he is making your web site for free.

[Steve Parr]

Another thing to consider is unless you are very close friends, he is probably not much of a web designer if he is making your web site for free.

Well, I thought about that, but I've seen his work, and he's pretty good; certainly much better than me, and nobody paid me to do my current one, either!

[Digitalwave]

Well it seems that you have nothing to lose as long as it clears your company then. A good web site can make the presentation of the professionalism of your photography much, much nicer.