[tferris]

Getting tired of simple-minded self-help advice in blog form. And this bitter post even doesn't give you any advice.

When doing business you will face negotiation tactics every single day (like the OP described in his post). If you are long enough in business you know how to handle to this and how to counter attack—without having to write a whiny blog post. And if you are a talented developer you have enough options anyway.

[ezl]

Also tired of simpleminded gripes in the comments section about blog posts that other people have found interesting.

Your feedback amounts to "hey it happens. that's how business goes, it may suck, but learn to play the game. and if you're any good, just walk away".

Discourse is the first place to start a meaningful conversation about how to change bad/unpleasant practices. There are good clients and bad clients (I'm a client, and I'm a good one).

Patio11's comment is great because it outlines a way to engage the client in a discussion that has a better probability of leading to a mutually agreeable strategy than "just walk away".

Generally a developer walks away from an existing engagement like the one the OP talked about and partially hopes that the client will find someone worse and realize they've been punished for their behavior, but in practice, $BIG_COMPANY thinks they care about costs, are stupid about how they try to cut costs, don't know how to evaluate quality, and never realize they've been punished, so the developer just has to find new work and $BIG_COMPANY isn't worse off in any impactful way.

"you have options enough anyway" might be true, but encouraging the "f it, walk away" tactic out the gates doesn't help anyone in the long run.

[epo]

And if you're not long enough in business, this is a useful perspective.

[dphnx]

Thank you. For some one like me – yes, it is.

[tferris]

Where is his perspective useful?

A disappointed guy telling the world in his Wordpress blog that 'there is nothing to negotiate about' instead of just confronting his client? Very useful and brave btw.

Working as a contractor for clients IS the problem and not his client (which he hasn't realized, yet)—contracting isn't just the best business model to follow. Everybody who's done client work is aware of that and for those who aren't the advice should be: pursue better business models if you can

[dphnx]

I found this blog post useful because it reminded me to keep challenging self-appointed authority. The author was upset that the client changed their prices, and decided that, no, it was up to him not them.

I found that quite inspiring as I ate my breakfast, ymmv of course.

[epo]

The perspective is useful because the customer isn't always right and abusive customers should be confronted or fired. You, on the other hand, come across as an arrogant know-it-all who is offering no useful advice whatsoever.

[dasil003]

Unnecessary maybe, but it didn't come off as whiny or bitter to me. I think maybe you have a larger axe to grind.

[evanderkoogh]

A very valid point. My advice was not clear enough. I have updated the original post with your comment and added:

"I was certainly not trying to be whiny. This is just business after all. I was just trying to point out how a single minded focus on costs without relation to benefits helps neither the company or you as a contractor. But just to be clear, my advice is to open up the conversation from just costs to a negotiation which includes other things, including the benefits."

[kahawe]

You fail to realize that they might very well be in a position where nothing but costs and liquidity matter, no matter how much great work you are doing there and how beneficial it might be for them in the long run. And no, this doesn't necessarily tell you anything about how they might be on a "decline". It is not uncommon to have companies declare chapter 11 despite filled order books.

Your suggestion of opening up the conversation is good but maybe you can collect some better suggestions or ideas than just basically praising your own work or product to them. Avoiding a reduction of your price but offering them some sort of cut instead is one idea.

[enr]

Somebody is a Grumpasaurus!

[freshnote]

I'm getting tired of self-righteous comments that make sweeping generalizations. I've been in the web design, Internet marketing business as a small biz owner for 7 years. My experience has been some clients are not open to negotiation. They've already crunched the numbers and came to a decision. They tell you there is a reduction in rate / of hours etc. Take it or leave it (I've done both).

Counter-attacks? Leave that for World of Warcraft.