Reply to: How to get a contract by compeeting on price

[Emperor Dalek]

go in low. and get more work.

i work for £200 a day. always in work, no responsibility, even get to be grumpy and make rude remarks to managers and girls in the office, while still getting extensions.

make enough to keep me satisfied.

Still finding time to jack off over the curtains, el duder?

[el duder]

do what i do..

go in low. and get more work.

i work for £200 a day. always in work, no responsibility, even get to be grumpy and make rude remarks to managers and girls in the office, while still getting extensions.

make enough to keep me satisfied.

[hyperD]

I also like to add the another scenario: being bought in as a true consultancy, asked to bid on a project, bid good on the specs, get the project, and then find that during the project lifecycle, the scope has expanded beyond your original fiscal padding and documented functional specs thanks to an end client doing a bit of bullying and my immediate client proclaims "not enough budget".

I said "more cash please for their extra requirements". They said "Oh, we haven't budgeted for that". I say "Well, OK, I have delivered what's been legally written for renumeration and I'll wait for your decision on the additionals". They get a bit fecked off, expecting it's Mr hyperD Charity Ltd.

I continue working on Client A which gives me more wonga per hour... while waiting for client B's response... and when the wife's asleep and no sex, I've coded the expected work in anticipation...

This is a pattern that happens time and time again... to the point where I bid a huge buffer for projects and still don't anticipate for the inevitable scope creep... I now begin to understand the big companies don't quote big just to cover their offices and insurance, they do it to cover sh1te like this but with 10 staff+

[vetran]

why

Why didn't you get the 450 a day?

was it price or performance? Fix what needs fixing not assume its price, that way leads to a busy fool.

[eternalnomad]

.. but I would gladly work for €200/day.....

You should be beheaded....€200/day indeed !

[Fungus]

The development team I've set up at my current client has been nicknamed "Team Stella"...

Would that be Stella McCartney? Maybe you should ditch the flowery shirts and get your hair cut ...

[OwlHoot]

Do not go into contracting by competing on price. It will end in tears. Trust me I've tried it.

Low Rate = tulip Contract + Hard Work = Misery

Yup, I'd go along with that although it may be worth slumming it for a limited time if you know you'll be moving sideways (or preferably upwards) by getting some outstanding new experience.

I made an exception for what I thought was a good opportunity to get some search engine marketing experience, which I duly did, but in the process found out that due to the (literally) pennies involved, margins are slim and consequently the contracting rates are rubbish (although I was working with PHP, whose rates are usually pretty derisory anyway).

[Dalek Supreme]

I don think its a good idea either, if you read my post:-)

Oscar

EUR 200 / hour is better than EUR 0 / hour

[Oscar]

Don't be coy. Tell the agent you'll work for €200/day and if you're any good they'll bite your hand off.

I don think its a good idea either, if you read my post:-)

Oscar

[ladymuck]

The best bet is to pitch yourself at the rate you think you are worth and are happy to accept. As Lucifer says, if you're any good you'll be flooded with offers.

[Xenophon]

The development team I've set up at my current client has been nicknamed "Team Stella"...

Nickname based on daily rates or their enjoyment of the golden stuff?

[Bitbucket]

Cut price contractor

You are either desperately strapped for cash , an agent or lack confidence.

Although US contractors are annoying they are always and without exception very confident people. Brits however need to prove that confidence before it comes out , not saying one is better than the other but first impressions etc.

Maybe a bit of acting the part would be a good strategy , tell yourself 10 times I can do that contract , get on the phone and blow them away!

[DimPrawn]

Do not go into contracting by competing on price. It will end in tears. Trust me I've tried it.

Low Rate = tulip Contract + Hard Work = Misery

[Churchill]

I do much the same: reassuringly expensive.

The development team I've set up at my current client has been nicknamed "Team Stella"...

[threaded]

I compete on price by being more expensive than anybody else.

HTH

I do much the same: reassuringly expensive.