(Above: A Redbox DVD that is nickel-and-diming me)

5 days ago, I checked out a Redbox DVD from the local McDonald’s with the intention of returning it the next day.  For those of you who don’t know, Redbox is a DVD distributor that charges $1/day for rentals and has distribution outlets in all sorts of places.  Pretty convenient, eh? The problem is, I forgot to return the DVD and am now left paying $5 of what should have been a $1 bill.

This experience makes me much less likely to rent from Redbox next time around, because I feel like they are nickel-and-diming me (i.e. ripping me off).  I would rather spend the $4 to get a rental at Blockbuster and not worry about returning it on a certain date.

So, I got to thinking about my website design business.  I don’t nickel-and-dime.  That is, I am very up front about costs, and so long as my clients ask nicely, I will even make little tweaks to their websites for free that are completely outside of any agreement we may have.  I figure that sort of customer service leads to happier customers which leads to a better reputation for my business.  So I ask this of you: Are you nickel-and-diming your customers?