Cheapskates - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

The Clk Man · #16 09-22-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

Why do people expect to get paid $50/hr for their time but never seem willing to pay me $50/hr for mine?

I get that everyday, and lately I have been telling those people to "GFT"

aklim · #17 09-22-2010, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

I get that everyday, and lately I have been telling those people to "GFT"

Is that another way to say "Try self procreation"?

The Clk Man · #18 09-22-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Is that another way to say "Try self procreation"?

If the World was full of clkman's there would be no more violence.

kknudson · #19 09-22-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

dont worry, after they hire the $25/hr guy to do it for them they will pay you $85/hr to fix it later

when I was contracting I would handle it two ways, flat rate them or figure out what the rate they wanted to pay and set hours of effort accordingly.

A funny story from years ago.
I did a lot of SQL Server DBA work, usually the very special heavy lifting stuff the local PC guys couldn't handle.

Got a call about a company their Line of Business app was down.
First I knew from chatter, the owner was slooooow pay, many times waiting for the collection agency before he'd cough up the dough.

But I went in quoted 150/hour, 8 hour minimum 16 hour max problem solved or no pay, and 8 hour check on ARRIVAL.

Didn't hear back, ok. 4 days later I get a call from their regular PC support consultant, they brought in another guy (I knew him) for about half what I quoted. He not only didn't solve it, made it worse, potentially lost all their data.

So I call the owner, he was frantic. I told him 350, with 8 hour gaurantee pay up front, no maximum hours, final payment within 7 days.
I told I knew he was slow pay, and don't normally take slow pay customers, I also told him I was booked up NOW, so I was going to have to rearrange several appointments.

He ranted and raved and said OK.

I walked in, was handed a certified check for the 8 hours gaurantted.

Well 8 hours later I had things stabilized, the data was recovered (almost all), they were able to begin using the app and continue on. I put in another 12 or so hours cleaning up the mess and setting things up so it shouldn't happen again.

When I gave him the final documentation on what I did, he asked how many hours walked out and came back 5 minutes later with the check. I hadn't even invoiced him yet.

We enjoyed a good relationship from then on, at my regular rates, including a fair amount of general computer and application support.
He paid very promptly from that point on, including the other techs he had in from time to time.
He also referred a bit of business my way, I actually gave him discounts sometimes as a thankyou.

He learned sometimes cheap is cheap.

He did tell me he figures he lost 5 to 10k per hour the plant was down because the app wasn't running, it managed all the scheduling of production through the plant.

We still go out to dinner from time to time, he's semo retired now.

SwampYankee · #20 09-23-2010, 08:08 AM

There are always going to be people out there willing to whore themselves out by low-bidding everything. We routinely run into bid prices that are 5-10% over cost or have clients who balk at our consultation fees, go to one of our low priced competitors only to come crawling back later looking for help. With low-bidders, you get exactly what you pay for.

buffa98 · #21 09-23-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

There are always going to be people out there willing to whore themselves out by low-bidding everything. We routinely run into bid prices that are 5-10% over cost or have clients who balk at our consultation fees, go to one of our low priced competitors only to come crawling back later looking for help. With low-bidders, you get exactly what you pay for.

I had that issue as well when I had my trucking company. People wanted me to go into NYC out of Harrisburg for $300. On more than one occasion I told the broker to call me when he was serious. Which normally turned into well so and so will go for that why wont you?

Well so and so is based in Maine and that will get him paid to his home that is why.

By the time thay called me back the 3rd time it was always close to $750... It got to the point it was no longer worth it to deal with people like that. I was at the point where it turned into look we both know you are going to pay it so just cut to the chase and stop playing games.

I hate being an employee again but there are advantages.

strelnik · #22 09-23-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Because they don't understand the value of hiring good professionals.

Agreed.

At the same time, there are many people who hang up a shingle and pretend to be competent.

Buyer beware. When I worked as a translator, and people balked at the page rate, I explained that inexperienced people make mistakes or don't know things.

I gave him a free test:
I told him to get the translation for "forest fire" in French from each person he interviewed.

When he came back with all the same responses (wrong) I showed him why it was wrong: The translation they ALL gave was the slang word for the searing pain men feel when they have an STD.

I showed him the reference for that in a slang dictionary and asked if he really wanted all his foreign clients buying high-dollar mapping software to see this mistake, or not.

He still kept trying to drive down the proice, I told him to go away.

He is bankrupt now, and I don't care.

aklim · #23 09-23-2010, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

At the same time, there are many people who hang up a shingle and pretend to be competent.

That is why I check around first to find out if you are really what you say you are. Obviously Dr Jones isn't going to say "Well, you could call this list of patients although most are dead. Mr Smith might work but he is crippled now.". You find unpaid opinions of people in that field not the references he provides. Also, to start with, I will give you a meaningless run so if you screw it up, oh well. SLOWLY, I will graduate you to more important tasks.