Curtis S.
1-Star: Bait-and-Switch Pricing and Bad Business Practices (Michael Sullivan / West Coast Animations)
I am leaving a one-star review for Michael Sullivan and West Coast Animations. If negative ratings were possible, this would be -2 stars, because this is the second or third time I have dealt with the same conduct from them. I have hired Michael and his crew 3–4 times since October. The recurring issue is not editing quality. The recurring issue is what I consider bait-and-switch business behavior: accepting a scope and budget, then attempting to raise the price after the terms are already known—often once project details and files are in play. We cut Michael off previously for the same reason. We escalated the complaint to company leadership. Michael asked for another chance. I gave him one more opportunity on our most recent Halloween Horror Nights video. I was clear and direct: my budget was $300, and I had other editors available if that did not work for him. He accepted the budget, completed the edit, and the video turned out well. Then we moved to the next project, and he tried to do it again—consistent with what has happened on prior projects, including our San Diego video and another Halloween project. This time, the attempted increase was even more unreasonable because the new project was shorter, less time-consuming, and had a longer schedule. There was no urgency premium or additional workload to justify an increase. Despite that, Michael attempted to charge me $200 more than the previously established cap that he already knew. Here is the exact message he sent: “The cost of this video would be $499, with 50% payment due upfront and the remaining 50% due upon video finalization. Sounds good ?” That message is the problem in one paragraph: a sudden jump to $499 and a 50% upfront payment requirement, despite an already-established budget history and despite the project being smaller and easier. In my view, that is not a good-faith “quote.” That is an attempt to see if the client will accept a higher number after the fact. After I declined, he began backpedaling and attempting to keep the job. I have screenshots of the pricing messages and the follow-up backtracking. If proof is needed, I can provide it. I also want to address something else that adds to the concern: I recall a prior attitude communicated along the lines of “we can say what we want because we’re small,” paired with claims that they have plenty of business and we did not matter because we weren’t monetized at the time. Whether or not those were the exact words, the tone was clear: dismissive of accountability. We are now monetized, and the attempted renegotiation behavior did not improve—if anything, it escalated. To be fair, the editing itself can be good. But editing skill does not excuse unstable pricing, post-agreement renegotiation, and pressure tactics. This is not how professionals build long-term clients. It’s how vendors burn trust. I have reassigned this project to another editor who respects budgets and agreements. I sent the information on December 8. Michael had until December 21. The video is still scheduled to release on December 29 as planned, without his involvement. Final position: I will not work with Michael Sullivan or West Coast Animations again. Based on my experience, potential clients should be cautious: get the total price, scope, and payment terms in writing before sending any files, and be prepared for the number to change once they believe you are committed.