> ... "emergency surveys" ... sent a bill for about $14k for about a half days worth of work ... The client was happy to pay it.
John Wilson
Exactly. While i personally know little of survey business finance/accounting, i think the basic "supply and demand" principle should apply:
As supply goes down (you're very busy with other projects) or demand goes up (your client is on a deadline) the price goes up. If both variables are moving that way, price goes way up.
And unless you're a lawyer on a major litigation case, where you work for free until/unless there's a massive settlement (and you only get a 'mere' 40%), you need it in your contract that you get paid (promptly) for services provided.
I think you guys are right on. Why would you do their survey before another one that was ordered first? Your in a rush, and you want me to put all my other work on hold, well you need to pay for the premium job.
You want to super-size that?
I think a lot of potential clients like to squeel 'hurry' just to see if somebody jumps.
Reminds me of a post not long ago....;-) 
I can't speak about this from a survyeing point of view but I sure can from a programming point of view.
Several times I've done work for a friend. Basically a 2 or 3 week project needs done by the end of the week. I pulled a few all-nighters and got it done, zipped up with directions and sent off. A couple weeks go by with no feedback so I ask about it. "No we haven't looked at that yet."
Talk about taking the wind out of my sails on the next rushed project - which I had no problem taking my time on next time.
I've always had a "Bonus Incentive Plan".
I have to admit I've "gamed the system" to bump up work that needed doing, though not exactly with phony deadlines.
Some of you know what I'm talking about, you've been in the same boat.
I'm talking about utility markouts.
Most of the time when dealing with utility markout, they take their sweet old time with requests when you aren't necessarily digging immediately. That however impedes your ability to locate what they marked in the field, impedes your ability to design any improvements that are going in, impedes your ability to present the plans and get permits and approvals, and holds everything up all around. So yes, I would typically concoct up some reason why I need to dig NOW to justify getting their butts out there to locate the utilities in a matter of days, rather than weeks or months. The loophole technicality I use is that apparently even driving stakes or other minimal types of work technically counts as digging these days.
"I never lost a penny on a job I didn't get."
:good:
CV
Gunter
> The loophole technicality I use is that apparently even driving stakes or other minimal types of work technically counts as digging these days.
At the Miss Utility seminar I went to they said that, technically, setting a penny nail for a control point counted as digging.....so you were probably justified in your actions.
I tell them we will be setting monuments, some going to refusal, and need to make certain we don't drive a steel rod through a comm line or sewer line. Sometimes we actually do that, but I've found they will show up sooner if they are told intrusive material is going in whether they are on schedule or not.
Keep in mind that goes hand in hand with a realistic expectation of advance notice. I try to give a week's notice before I schedule manpower to that area.
You can't say that!
Strike one
> Yeah but you look like a crazy guy with a white beard. Of course they immediately write the check just to get the crazy guy out of their office LOL.