Agents!! Why do they try this on every time?

[Fred Bloggs]

Always quote a rate 10% above current rate. If required, accept 5% above current rate. Everyone is happy. Works most times. I've never lost a gig by refusing point blank to swallow the sob story about "client is now offering £5 an hour less etc....".

[Jeebo72]

I came back with "actually, now I fully understand the role, I'm upping to my rate to £475 due to extra complexity of tasks".

.

I do the same. I just say my rate is £450 for the next 2 hours. After that it's £500. Get back to me ...

Works every time.

I like the note to client idea though. I'll use that too in future!

[BolshieBastard]

They send you for an interview at an agreed rate of £x.
The client likes you and you get offered the role.
Agent comes back to you "Client says can you do it for £25/50 a day less?"
What a load of cockrot! Client has said no such thing and agent is trying to increase his margin.

I have told him NO! Now waiting for him to come back with some sob story about "times being hard, etc etc"

This is not the first time this has happened!

Because they are ***** and this is how when the market is shyte, all \ most agencies report 'upturn in profits \ magnificent trading position' blah, blah, blah.

They are making too much money off our backs.

[Wanderer]

So, I walked away from the role purely cos the agent dicked about too much.

Well, that answers the original question doesn't it? Agents have to be a thick skinned bunch because they have to deal with us contractors.

Of course the agents are going to "try it on". Throw it back at them if you are hard enough (like Flubster who reminds me of the good ole days in the late '90s) or suck it up if you are desperate. It's called negotiating, I don't like doing it much but it's part of doing business.

Personally, I ask them how much their margin is and start negotiating from there. Sometimes they will tell you, others they won't. Be completely blunt with them and say that you want to know that you and the client aren't being ripped off and that you will double check this with the client.

When you get an offer, the agents I've dealt with are normally as keen as mustard to close the deal. Tell them what you want, if they stick to their guns and won't give it to you then I find that the best strategy is to let them stew in their own juces for a little while, it brings out the flavour.

[scooterscot]

Never happened to me once in all my years of contracting.

I trust you don't operate in the niche market?

What gets on my nargles is the way I've noticed folks placed into a job which they have no possibility of conducting. But if you're chasing pound signs, are you going to care?

[escapeUK]

I like the note to client idea though. I'll use that too in future!

I think it would be good practise for all of us to let the client know what the agents are doing behind their back. It can only be good for us to kill them off and deal direct in the long run.

[Fred Bloggs]

Admittedly, this hasn't happened to me for a number of years. I suspect that the more specialised the skillset that you have and therefore the smaller the number of potential available candidates, the less likely it is that the pimps will try to screw a few quid off the rate.

[NotAllThere]

from my perspective - it does happen alot. Hiring Manager quite simply wants to look good - Squeeze a few quid out of the deal to line up budgets...

I never did. I wanted the best people. In development, you can pay double the market rate for a really good programmer, and still get considerably better value for money.

[The Agents View]

I never did. I wanted the best people. In development, you can pay double the market rate for a really good programmer, and still get considerably better value for money.

I completely agree. For a specific task for example, it's a balancing act - can the contractor at double the rate, complete the task in half the time?

Those who want the best, are prepared to pay for it - those who are on a strict budget have a tendancy to squeeze. I'd say it's good practice for any client to try and squeeze me a touch - even if it's just a tenner a day, over a year that's £2000 in savings - sure it sounds menial in terms of budgets, but to be honest - it's better than a poke in the eye - negotiate 50-100 quid off, and you have a budget for a PA

[SuperZ]

......I'd say it's good practice for any client to try and squeeze me a touch - even if it's just a tenner a day

So in your experience, how often when a client has tried to squeeze and you or the contractor have said "no" have you or the contractor actually lost business due to it? I bet it's rather low.

Hats of to Jeebo and Flupster for doing the right thing.