Originally posted by northernladuk
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OK.. So you said.
For a start why do you think it's rude for the agent to make it from his margins. Where is your business sense. His margins is his profit. He's put the effort in finding you, paying for jobserve and it will make him a profit over the duration of the contract. He puts a bit of effort in at extension and that's it. The rest is free money for them, they've already done the work so why shouldn't he reduce his margin. It's just business 101.
You really think an agent is going to tell you what is profit margin is? Where else can you go and someone you are buying from tells you their profit margin? The only time they may tell you is when it's really low and they've nothing to hide, either a fixed percentage deal or it's like sub 10% already. He's happy to tell you because it will be so low they aren't going to budge. They aren't going to turn round and tell you they are making 20% from you are they? The result will be you will squeeze him or get hacked off and possibly leave.
No it isn't any of your business what his margin is. Finding out and reducing it is though. You should be asking the agent if they are on a fixed margin at the start of the gig and get it in writing. If it is fixed there isn't a hope you'll get an increase from his margin. You can often find out by keeping your eyes open on site. Not so common to find it on the printer anymore but look at charge rates for projects or possible slip ups in mails, paperwork on hiring managers desk etc. You should be able to find out at some point on many gigs.
It's very unlikely you'll get a rate rise from anywhere else. The client is likely to have a rate card and they aren't going to give you any more because your costs have gone up. They are paying for a set piece of work. You aren't delivering anything else so why should they pay more. If you don't like it they'll find someone else.
You've got to understand this stuff if you are going to play agents. They do this day in day out. They will have lost count of the number of contractors that 'ask' for a raise, they say 'no, what are you going to do about it' and the contractor just re-signs. It's what they do. If you don't know how it works you aren't going to be able to play him at his own game.
For a start why do you think it's rude for the agent to make it from his margins. Where is your business sense. His margins is his profit. He's put the effort in finding you, paying for jobserve and it will make him a profit over the duration of the contract. He puts a bit of effort in at extension and that's it. The rest is free money for them, they've already done the work so why shouldn't he reduce his margin. It's just business 101.
You really think an agent is going to tell you what is profit margin is? Where else can you go and someone you are buying from tells you their profit margin? The only time they may tell you is when it's really low and they've nothing to hide, either a fixed percentage deal or it's like sub 10% already. He's happy to tell you because it will be so low they aren't going to budge. They aren't going to turn round and tell you they are making 20% from you are they? The result will be you will squeeze him or get hacked off and possibly leave.
No it isn't any of your business what his margin is. Finding out and reducing it is though. You should be asking the agent if they are on a fixed margin at the start of the gig and get it in writing. If it is fixed there isn't a hope you'll get an increase from his margin. You can often find out by keeping your eyes open on site. Not so common to find it on the printer anymore but look at charge rates for projects or possible slip ups in mails, paperwork on hiring managers desk etc. You should be able to find out at some point on many gigs.
It's very unlikely you'll get a rate rise from anywhere else. The client is likely to have a rate card and they aren't going to give you any more because your costs have gone up. They are paying for a set piece of work. You aren't delivering anything else so why should they pay more. If you don't like it they'll find someone else.
You've got to understand this stuff if you are going to play agents. They do this day in day out. They will have lost count of the number of contractors that 'ask' for a raise, they say 'no, what are you going to do about it' and the contractor just re-signs. It's what they do. If you don't know how it works you aren't going to be able to play him at his own game.
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