What would you do...
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Based on my previous comment on guessing where you messed up. Unless you have something in writing that your designs and proposals are to be held as confidential.
You don't have a leg to stand on, and while I agree that you can be upset if the customer implements exactly what you proposed with someone else doing the work; you really have nothing to argue about. You'd also have a hell of a time proving it in court to try and be restored.
So charge the other guys/customer for consultation fees for this new request and be done with it.
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Your original quote should still be valid... Not your fault they chose a different route that isn't working out.
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@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
Based on my previous comment on guessing where you messed up. Unless you have something in writing that your designs and proposals are to be held as confidential.
You don't have a leg to stand on, and while I agree that you can be upset if the customer implements exactly what you proposed with someone else doing the work; you really have nothing to argue about. You'd also have a hell of a time proving it in court to try and be restored.
So charge the other guys/customer for consultation fees for this new request and be done with it.
Your guess is correct. Except that the customer only received the overall solution but without specific details.
Overall I consider that time a part of the selling process so that is not something I worry about. -
@Pete-S said in What would you do...:
Except that the customer only received the overall solution but without specific details.
So perfect, you made a proposal, the client took that proposal with limited details and got idk 30% off of it with some other people.
Your only options at this point are A) Offer consultation rates B ) Don't deal with the customer.
I'd choose option A with a signed contract from the customer for an hourly rate consultation fee for this project.
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@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
@Pete-S said in What would you do...:
Except that the customer only received the overall solution but without specific details.
So perfect, you made a proposal, the client took that proposal with limited details and got idk 30% off of it with some other people.
Your only options at this point are A) Offer consultation rates B ) Don't deal with the customer.
I'd choose option A with a signed contract from the customer for an hourly rate consultation fee for this project.
There is also option C. Tell the customer that they have our quote and that we would be glad help them with a full solution (but not the consultation).
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@Pete-S said in What would you do...:
There is also option C. Tell the customer that they have our quote and that we would be glad help them with a full solution (but not the consultation).
That actually isn't an option, because the client has already engaged another entity to do the work. Of which it would likely be very costly to the customer to change vendors.
This is essentially telling the customer that you don't want to work with them and that you're firing them.
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If you don't mind me asking, how much was the proposal for?
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I haven't been in the MSP/break-fix side of things for 8 years now but if I had to assist a competitor on getting their shit in order to finish the job I would have to say: YOU'RE FIRED!
You had my proposal, you chose another vendor, your problem.
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@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
@Pete-S said in What would you do...:
There is also option C. Tell the customer that they have our quote and that we would be glad help them with a full solution (but not the consultation).
That actually isn't an option, because the client has already engaged another entity to do the work. Of which it would likely be very costly to the customer to change vendors.
This is essentially telling the customer that you don't want to work with them and that you're firing them.
I really feel like this is the only solution. The customer already shit on him once... He's not going to consult the competition lol for a reasonable rate anyway, if you want to offer them some outrageous fee, that's fine.
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@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
If you don't mind me asking, how much was the proposal for?
About 15K of work, no hardware.
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What @WLS-ITGuy is saying and @bnrstnr is now suggesting is that the customer has already fired him. When they haven't. They simply picked another vendor who possibly proposed the same solution.
It may be that the customer wants @Pete-S to consult on the project but not have the entire project because his proposal was way more expensive.
A lost bid is not a termination.
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@Pete-S said in What would you do...:
@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
If you don't mind me asking, how much was the proposal for?
About 15K of work, no hardware.
And do you do consultation for anyone else?
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@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
What @WLS-ITGuy is saying and @bnrstnr is now suggesting is that the customer has already fired him. When they haven't. They simply picked another vendor who possibly proposed the same solution.
It may be that the customer wants @Pete-S to consult on the project but not have the entire project because his proposal was way more expensive.
A lost bid is not a termination.
It more sounds like, to me anyway, that the potential customer took his proposal to some other guys and they said, "yeah, we can do that for less"
Now that it's go time, the other guys don't even know where to start...
Definitely need some clarification on the scenario.
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@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
@Pete-S said in What would you do...:
@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
If you don't mind me asking, how much was the proposal for?
About 15K of work, no hardware.
And do you do consultation for anyone else?
Yes, a mix of work per hour and solutions for a fixed price. Sometimes with hardware involved.
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Also worth noting that an hourly consultation rate is often higher for an individual contract than having a person on retainer.
So your normal hourly rate may be $85 but for this project it might be $150 or more. (obviously made up rates).
So while, yes you won't be earning $15K, you'd still be getting paid for your time to tell the competition what they need to do, and possible how to do it.
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@bnrstnr said in What would you do...:
@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
What @WLS-ITGuy is saying and @bnrstnr is now suggesting is that the customer has already fired him. When they haven't. They simply picked another vendor who possibly proposed the same solution.
It may be that the customer wants @Pete-S to consult on the project but not have the entire project because his proposal was way more expensive.
A lost bid is not a termination.
It more sounds like, to me anyway, that the potential customer took his proposal to some other guys and they said, "yeah, we can do that for less"
Now that it's go time, the other guys don't even know where to start...
Definitely need some clarification on the scenario.
It's possible that this is the case.
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@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
What @WLS-ITGuy is saying and @bnrstnr is now suggesting is that the customer has already fired him. When they haven't. They simply picked another vendor who possibly proposed the same solution.
It may be that the customer wants @Pete-S to consult on the project but not have the entire project because his proposal was way more expensive.
A lost bid is not a termination.
No, I am saying I would have fired the customer. I gave my bid/proposal, you went with vendor B, I'm not fixing the shit they can't do, even if I am getting paid. That's the price they pay for going with cut rate vendors.
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@Pete-S said in What would you do...:
@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
@Pete-S said in What would you do...:
@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
If you don't mind me asking, how much was the proposal for?
About 15K of work, no hardware.
And do you do consultation for anyone else?
Yes, a mix of work per hour and solutions for a fixed price. Sometimes with hardware involved.
So why is this any different? You're paid to consult, so get a signed consultation contract and make some money.
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@WLS-ITGuy said in What would you do...:
@DustinB3403 said in What would you do...:
What @WLS-ITGuy is saying and @bnrstnr is now suggesting is that the customer has already fired him. When they haven't. They simply picked another vendor who possibly proposed the same solution.
It may be that the customer wants @Pete-S to consult on the project but not have the entire project because his proposal was way more expensive.
A lost bid is not a termination.
No, I am saying I would have fired the customer. I gave my bid/proposal, you went with vendor B, I'm not fixing the shit they can't do, even if I am getting paid. That's the price they pay for going with cut rate vendors.
That's fine, that is an option I listed above. If you wish to fire the end customer, make no bones about it. That is perfectly fine.
But if you want/need the money you have only 1 other option.
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Paging @JaredBusch and @scottalanmiller
What would you two do, would you consult the competition or fire the customer?
