Everybody’s worst enemy – Buyer’s Remorse
October 30th, 2008 . by dragilSomething web development companies (and of course all others as well) should be aware of is the buyer’s remorse syndrome. Once fully understood and accepted it can be addressed and won’t cause (that many) unexpected problems during the execution of the project.
In the phase before signing the contract, the client is impressed with the positive aspects of starting a project. The client is finally giving in to the desire that he has had for some time, the client is seeing an array of new possibilities, and of course is looking forward to either using the actual product himself or to showing it to his friends).
Also, before the contract, he has the full array of options, including not purchasing, which is a very comforting position for a lot of people.
After signing the contract, he is more likely to focus on the the negative aspects: all the opportunity costs and the loss of purchasing power.
After, one’s options have been reduced to two: a) continuing with the project, or b) renouncing it. So that before signing, one experiences oneself as acting in a virile way, creating a situation; while afterwards the time of acting has passed: one is deflated and experiences oneself as having been acted on by the former virile self; one feels bound by one’s remaining limited choices.
