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Adam Savage’s Tested
The Time Jamie's Client Refused to Pay His Total Bill
2 min read3 May 2026
TL;DR
Adam Savage answers maker community questions about leatherworking origins and how to handle clients who demand a 4-week job be done in 2 weeks. He shares practical freelance pricing strategy and a cautionary story about Jamie Hyneman being stiffed on sales tax by a friend-client.
Key points
1
Leatherworking has a low threshold to entry but a high skill ceiling — Adam started by simply punching a hole in a belt as a kid
2
When a client cuts your deadline in half, the bog-standard rush fee is 100% added on top of the original quote — effectively doubling the price
3
Before freaking out, first determine if the compressed timeline is even physically possible — if not, deliver the bad news quickly and clearly
4
If it is possible, itemize every additional cost: extra staff, materials, delivery, logistics, assistant time, then add your profit margin on top
5
Jamie Hyneman was once stiffed on California sales tax by a friend-client after months of work building trophies — always charge applicable taxes as a business owner
Actionable insights
→
When a client changes the timeline, you are under no obligation to do an impossible thing — the moment parameters change, your original agreement is effectively void
→
For rush jobs, start at double the fee, then add itemized costs for every extra resource required, and still build in your profit margin
→
Never let a client make you feel bad about charging what it actually takes to deliver the work — Fortune 500 companies routinely spend $100,000 on short-term sets when they need something done
Notable quotes
“The moment they change the parameters, you are under no responsibility to do an impossible thing for them.”
“Don't let anyone make you feel bad about charging what it takes to get a job done.”
“Leather work rewards patience. It rewards being meticulous. It is a marvelous crafting skill.”
Worth watching?
⏭️
Worth watching the full video?
The key freelance pricing advice and Jamie anecdote are fully captured here — skip the video unless you want to hear Adam deliver it in his own conversational style.
Saved you some time? The creator still deserves a like.
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