How long can the pimp play this game with my rate?

[kevpuk]

So you ended up going through a different agent?

Yep, in my case, Client really wanted me.....(Agent was trying to squeeze from either/both sides to see who budged first to increase their margin)......Client (very large co.) flexed muscles and said we are taking Supplier (me, and gave me a choice of their 'trusted' (sic) Agents to be parachuted in to), and we are suspending you (Agent) from PSL for 3 months, after which will review...

Easiest supply ever for my current Agent - no sourcing, and just a skim of Client's paid rate - and all is well

[jbond007]

Yep, in my case, Client really wanted me.....(Agent was trying to squeeze from either/both sides to see who budged first to increase their margin)......Client (very large co.) flexed muscles and said we are taking Supplier (me, and gave me a choice of their 'trusted' (sic) Agents to be parachuted in to), and we are suspending you (Agent) from PSL for 3 months, after which will review...

Easiest supply ever for my current Agent - no sourcing, and just a skim of Client's paid rate - and all is well

Did the original agency get back on the PSL after 3 months review ?

[LondonManc]

Did the original agency get back on the PSL after 3 months review ?

WGAS?

[kevpuk]

Did the original agency get back on the PSL after 3 months review ?

I believe so - there was much humbleness and apologising and 'oh, she (Agent) is new and got mixed up'....which no-one believed.....

WGAS?

?

[ShandyDrinker]

I believe so - there was much humbleness and apologising and 'oh, she (Agent) is new and got mixed up'....which no-one believed.....

WGAS?

?

WGAS - Who gives a sh**!?

[kevpuk]

WGAS - Who gives a sh**!?

Hehe, thanks - have to brush up on my urban dictionary

[psychocandy]

Certainly was the case in my example - Agent was suspended from PSL for 3 months.....and, I am still with Client, happily invoicing 2yrs later

Fair play to you in your case winning this one but I wonder how many times the agency wins? I reckon 99% of the time.

Remember the agent is the one in contact with the client. They can spin any old bollax to the client knowing damn well they're unlikely to get found out.

I've seen it happen. Agent knows they can play one off against the other. Agent tells contractor its £50 less, pockets it. Only way contractor ever finds out is if it comes up in conversation with client which is unlikely. Agent also knows that big company, its all going to lost somewhere.

I worked at client where client mgr had been told agency were on a fixed margin. Of course, they lied. Were taking a huge cut. When it all came out agency just blagged it and lied again.

[d000hg]

This.

"I've told you my rate, you haven't made an offer at that rate, and I'm looking at other roles. If you make a counter-offer, I might be willing to consider it, but there are other contracts out there, so it would have to be the right role for me to go lower."

Why undercut yourself? Why would you ever do that? If you are willing to enter into negotiations on rate, let them make an offer and negotiate against them. Don't negotiate against yourself.

Everything is negotiable. Undercutting and being prepared to move from the original rate you quoted are very different. You might sensibly take this into account when giving your rate initially...

[WordIsBond]

Everything is negotiable.

You're quoting me, I've said that a million times.

But cutting your rate without any indication of what the client is looking for or willing to pay, just because you've been asked to, is not negotiation, it is surrender. And giving away what your floor is while the other guy is holding all his cards to his chest and showing nothing is about the stupidest way to negotiate.

Negotiation involves offer, counter-offer, and either making the case why one offer is right and the other wrong, or finding a middle ground. That is not what is being described here. OP is being asked to put himself in the weakest possible position before the negotiation even starts.

[d000hg]

You're all telling him not to budge on rate from what he initially quoted. If the agent is playing hard here then it's entirely reasonable to make a small concession say £25/day and THEN stick to your guns. You still get a great rate (based on the OP's statements).

Although if the agent says "how low can you go" why aren't you just asking "what will the client pay?"