first line of the email that just came in:
"This client is very specific about the formatting of their surveys, please see below, and the attached requirements."
yeah, no.
Read their requirements, determine if they are compatible with recording where you are, and if so PRICE what it takes to meet them.
"Specific requirements? OK, that'll be $10K for each separate modification I make to my current formatting standards."
Hmmmm. How I felt about that would depend on the requirements themselves.?ÿ I don't have a problem with the clients having expectations when they are clearly expressed up front, and reasonable. I do have a problem when they wait until after I've delivered to express them.?ÿ
Is the specific formatting related to sheet design or CAD Standards? It can't be related to actual surveying. That is already covered by the Standards of Practice in the state the work is taking place.
@bushaxe?ÿ
this is all window dressing stuff- fonts and callouts and specific phrasing and whatnot.?ÿ but i didn't have to even get that far to get to my reaction.?ÿ just like if somebody came up to me and said "if you can't handle me at my worst you don't deserve me at my best," or "only god can judge me..."?ÿ iow, you know you're about to deal with a pain in the ass.?ÿ again- no thanks, you needn't utter another word after that.
Actually did a survey like that ONE TIME.?ÿ There were 19 pages of gobbledeegook spelling out very precisely how every speck of information was to be shown on the plat.
There were hundreds of convenience stores changing ownership, spread over multiple States with multiple survey firms working in most States.?ÿ I could understand the desire to not have hundreds of unique maps of basically the same thing.?ÿ I threw a ridiculous quote their direction and they accepted it.?ÿ Apparently, I forgot to multiply by three.?ÿ Sort of wish I had.?ÿ I jest as I really did make some great money on that job.
Glad you have so much work you can turn down potential business because you are unwilling to meet a client??s specifications and requirements. ????
first line of the email that just came in:
"This client is very specific about the formatting of their surveys, please see below, and the attached requirements."
yeah, no.
You made me spit food out of my mouth....
???? ??? ??? ?????ÿ
I would have quit reading and moved on quickly also. When you're busy already why bother, concentrate on the good clients.
"This client is very specific about the formatting of their surveys, please see below, and the attached requirements."
I would at least peruse what they are talking about and if you decided to accept the job include the following in your propoasal. ?????ÿ
"This Company is very specific about when fees are due for services are rendered. Please see below, and the attached requirements."
It's like one of those women that you read their profile on the dating site and you don't send a hello message to unless you've had a few too many drinks before going online. Lol.?ÿ
This is what leads some large companies to use a single firm for all of their work.?ÿ Let's say someone such as Walgreen's with over 9000 stores spread over all 50 States.?ÿ You know that firm is more of a general contractor, subbing out jobs every day with the exact same set of specs to a preferred group of surveying firms.?ÿ Thus, standardization of the company files is perfected.
Dollar General stores have popped up like mushrooms in the Spring over the last 15 years in this area.?ÿ Have yet to meet a local surveyor who has worked on one.
@robertusa yes, i do feel fortunate that we're busier than we've ever been and it's not even close.?ÿ however, if you knew me you'd know my response would likely be the same regardless.?ÿ maybe that'll cost me one day, idk, but given the circumstances... which leads me to:
@holy-cow: sounds like a good client of mine.?ÿ which is to say- i have no problem with clients' standards if i know i'm going to be getting repeated work out of them.?ÿ this particular client (large c store company) has very specific and byzantine cad standards. even before i started in on their first job years ago the PM on that first site warned me about how bad the stuff was.?ÿ but all i did was spend half a day setting up templates for their standards and now, several years later, i've done a few hundred thousand dollars worth of work for them and it's assembly line style at this point.
but this was a commercial services broker, soliciting bids on an alta.?ÿ so... no.?ÿ?ÿ
Obviously you have never worked for a DOT, railroad or other various government agencies.?ÿ Most have a set of CAD standards and or field practices that must be followed and understand that it will add to the cost of the project.?ÿ Hell the UP even has field codes that they would like to be used.?ÿ As Mr. OK points out, it is no big deal if they tell me up front.?ÿ I'm working on a DOT project that the fee was doubled to meet their standards.?ÿ A okay by me.
