Agencies asking your daily rate

[speling bee]

Yeah, annoying isn't it. Just like when they put stupid little price stickers on items in the shop, rather than letting me enjoy a nice surprise debt when I get to the checkout.

I don't mind being asked for to give a quotation for a specific gig. But I don't have a price for all gigs.

[SpontaneousOrder]

I don't mind being asked for to give a quotation for a specific gig. But I don't have a price for all gigs.

Me neither - for my very first one I was keen to be flexible, but still said 'In london, upwards of $xxx, in East Anglia, upwards of $xxx - but it depends on how attractive the role is.'

But it's still a reasonable question to ask, I think. Even if you don't have a fixed answer.
When people call a plumber they'll normally ask - "What's your hourly rate?". If it's high they might shop around.

[AnthonyQuinn]

Hey everyone,

Is it normal for agencies to ask what your daily rate is or do they not need to know? Why do they ask this, I assume its because they want to get a good margin for themselves?

are you serious? why does someone who is looking to do business with you, want to know your price?????

[Taita]

Me neither - for my very first one I was keen to be flexible, but still said 'In london, upwards of $xxx, in East Anglia, upwards of $xxx - but it depends on how attractive the role is.'

But it's still a reasonable question to ask, I think. Even if you don't have a fixed answer.
When people call a plumber they'll normally ask - "What's your hourly rate?". If it's high they might shop around.

Or they might ask how much the job is going to cost them. I don't think the question, when I have been told the specifics of the gig, is unreasonable. As a generalisation, I politely and friendlily tell them that my answer is going to be as meaningless as the question. Some get the picture quickly enough although there are still too many twits out there.

[TheFaQQer]

are you serious? why does someone who is looking to do business with you, want to know your price?????

Then they should ask "what will your daily rate be?" rather than "what is your daily rate?" since they are very different questions.

[speling bee]

Then they should ask "what will your daily rate be?" rather than "what is your daily rate?" since they are very different questions.

Only if you have secured the contract, in which case the answer is the highest number you can think of, expressed in pounds sterling. Otherwise they should ask:

"What would your daily rate be?"

[CloudWalker]

I'm on'a Hourly rate

[MicrosoftBob]

What they mean is what is the lowest rate you will work for, as it's almost an agency guarantee that what you state is the maximum they'll put on the table

So always quote what you think the market rate is for a skillset in a particular locality rather than relate it to what your last rate was

[SpontaneousOrder]

What they mean is what is the lowest rate you will work for, as it's almost an agency guarantee that what you state is the maximum they'll put on the table

So always quote what you think the market rate is for a skillset in a particular locality rather than relate it to what your last rate was

Almost guaranteed.
Last November, for 2 of the gigs I was put forwards for (one I got), the agent asked what rate I'd want. When I told them she said (2 different lady agents from different agencies) 'Ok, that shouldn't be a problem - they're offering quite a lot more than that'. And later, 'So what rate would you like me to put you down for?'.

No guarantees that she did for the one that I didn't get, of course.

[speling bee]

Almost guaranteed.
Last November, for 2 of the gigs I was put forwards for (one I got), the agent asked what rate I'd want. When I told them she said (2 different lady agents from different agencies) 'Ok, that shouldn't be a problem - they're offering quite a lot more than that'. And later, 'So what rate would you like me to put you down for?'.

No guarantees that she did for the one that I didn't get, of course.

My first gig was a Friday to Monday with a client that I had previously been seconded to by an organisation I had been seconded to from an organisation I had been seconded to by my employer. They gave me a list of agencies I could work through.

Agency 1 asked how much I wanted and I said £400 pd and they said they could get me £375 pd.

Agency 2 asked how much I wanted and I said how much will they pay and they said they could get me £500 pd.