Help me settle a friendly argument. When everyone agrees with me, I'll tell you which side I'm on.

When a client tells you they need an order by a certain date, do you take that to mean that you can enter it on that day, or that you need to get it done the day before, so that it's there for the beginning of business when they arrive.

Example: Order needed by January 12, 2008 (No time given)

Do you get it done on the 11th, or get it in to them on the 12th?

Told you it was stoopid.

ETA: I'm not referring to getting the order entered for your own comfort level, but getting it to them on the day when they expect it. Do you think they expect it to be there when they turn on their computers the next day, or do they expect it to get there sometime that day?

See... stoopid.

I'm the kinda guy that will get it done on the 11th... just in case...

I just revised my original post. Do you do that for you, or for "them"?

I would prefer to get it done on the 11th (early) but I feel it is expected (and actually due) by EOB on the 12th, if there is no time given.

I, as well would have it ready by end of business on the 11th. I would be thinking that the person I was doing it for would expect it first thing on the 12th, although, more times than not, it's usually at the end of the day, on the day it's due.

To answer the other part, I do it for me. Peace of mind.

My CW rep told me that the order was due by 5pm pt on the "date needed."
Jim

Now, you all sound like me and my husband, so I'll spill.

I've been extremely busy and I really wanted to go out to dinner tonight, but I have orders "needed by January 12th" - at no specific time. I always get them done by the evening before, because I can't wrap my brain around when they really need them, and I've never bothered to call.

Well, now my husband wants to leave and I have all of these orders due by tomorrow. He thinks they can be entered tomorrow; I think I need to get them in tonight because they expect them by tomorrow (even though it's Saturday).

I really want to listen to my husband, but I think he just wants fajitas and doesn't care so much right now about my ratings.

If there was an exact time that they were needed by, this argument wouldn't be taking place.

Guess I gave away who I was referring to, huh? Well... finally an answer. My husband won't starve after all.

OMG! Go to freaking dinner! CW won't reassign until about 3 am the day after "Date Needed." GO!

I used to feel that if I submitted it the day needed (right up to midnight) it would be considered on time. Increasingly I'm finding the client actually wants to see it before going home for the day; even though technically the day isn't over yet.

I am now treating it as end of business hours in the client's time zone.

Are you trying to say I'm anal?

Just joking... I am a worrywart. I realize that, because I get it told to me at least once a week.

If someone says 'be here by 6' they mean on or before. That's the way I look at it. If it were me I'd say to hell with fajitas. They ain't worth a hungry new agent takin me monies. Cuz as we all know all you have to do is [censored] off one AM and it's on.