Back in 2010, I had to choose between a handshake deal and a full contract for a new supplier.

It was for a $15,000 order of custom parts. My gut said to trust the guy, but my lawyer friend in Boston told me to get it on paper. I went with the contract, and it saved me when they tried to double the price halfway through. Anyone else have a story where a simple contract saved the day?

3 comments

3 Comments

jasonf172d ago

Totally get that. I had a client try to skip the final payment on a website job. The contract spelled out the exact milestones, so I just pointed to it and they paid up fast. Never doing work without one now.

parker_price2d ago

My old landlord in Austin tried to keep my full deposit over a scuff mark. The move-in checklist we both signed saved me eight hundred bucks. It happens with small stuff way more than people talk about.

faith_king2d ago

They tried to double the price after you already agreed? That's wild. Good on you for listening to your friend. A handshake deal would have left you totally stuck. It's crazy how fast some people will change the deal when they think they can get away with it. That contract was worth every penny.