I shakes me head

[den]

A Rather Large Mining company in a Certain Town in the middle of the state has been ordered by the EPA to install a truchwash, so they've come to us for a quote. Which I gave them. It was less than $100k for a wash that will clean 4m wide Volvo A35D. Their comment on the quote?

"That's a bit much. What if you use a smaller motor? And less concrete. And cut out the two side booms. And what if you cut out the automated system to make it manually operated?"

This company produces 100 metric tons of zinc ore concentrate per week, 30 tonnes of silver ore concentrate per week, and 2 x 5kg gold ingots every 3 days. A pissy <$100k truck wash is "too expensive."

Comments

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

Well, for me, $83,084 in USD is a bit much. But for a company that can do that? I'd say they're being cheap-ass bastages.

Have the best

-=TK

[quen-elf.livejournal.com]

We've just been quoted like 3 times that (and will pay it) for a fairly minor change to a piece of software that we're outsourcing... and universities are not exactly gold mines. :)

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

That would never fly at my alma mater. But then, George Whitworth failed to set up an endowment to keep his college alive the way most Ivy League founders did.

Have the best

-=TK

[jamesb]

How about a work experience kid with a bucket and a stirrup pump?

Would you believe

[frith]

Would you believe a hobo with a spritzer? How about a convict with a glass of water? No? Maybe a zombie with a wet rag?

Re: Would you believe

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

I find those pretty hard to believe, Agent Smart.

Have the best

-=TK

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

oy... talk about cheap bastards...

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

Eeeeg.....how about a very good garden hose and a mop.....They should be complaining at the EPA, not you.Sheesh 8/........

[hafoc.livejournal.com]

Ah, the things you can't say, but wish you could. Such as...

"No, the truck wash can't be done for less than $100K. But I won't charge you a penny to tell you to go sit on a carrot and twist."

[frith]

You were probably talking to a mid-management telephone sanitizer trying to justify his/her worth by cutting costs where it's not warranted. You see the same kind of myopia in companies that try to save a few hundred bucks on one time image use rights (photographer's fee) when the real expenses are colour separation, paper, printing, distribution... So they try and bypass photo stock agencies, buy rights direct from photographers who are clueless at photo selection (or worse: use pictures taken by their customers/employees) and print calendars full of craptastic pictures.

[thoughtsdriftby.livejournal.com]

Lets see:
1. always inflate the quote, judging by how much is always the hard part.
2. always extend the delivery time a bit, shit happens.
3. always try to bring it in on time and under budget. Rarely happens without 1 & 2 and it's very important to get the reputation for good delivery. It's worth the extra cost and time to many companies to have a known built into their planning.
3a. use supply companies that hit their cost and delivery numbers.
3b. use supply companies that will help you with designs to improve cost and delivery.
4. don't ever let on that there's hidden padding, sorry reactions vary too widely.
5. Invest any savings into repeat customers but fund their padding only and not the product. Usually with repeats the variables are less and you can cut a tighter quote.
6. If they want the re-quote to cut costs change the appearance some or at least make it appear to have changed.
7. Some people just need to change shit randomly to feel important. Usually I build in a few options that have little to do with performance so they can have "the meeting" and decide things. Sort of adding a busy box for VIPs.

----
The suit is trying to justify his existence by slashing costs and pushing delivery dates, the same type also tends to lie about their costs and schedules by understating the actual estimates to their bosses (then later push the blame on others). The type is more an ass-hat than an asset to any company.

If it's already a tight quote don't re-quote without a major change.
If the major change makes for a poor design don't re-quote. You don't want shoddy designs out there with your companies name on it (and especially your name associated with it). Let other companies bring in the cheap shoddy crap.
----
Yep, I have strong opinions about how to do business in engineering design.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I agree! I tell them up front that if they want a cheaper quote, they will be getting LESS machine.

If they want a smaller motor, fine! But it wont pump as much water so it won't wash properly.

Less concrete? Okay, but there is less washing area so the vehicles won't get washed properly

Lose two booms? If you want, but none of the vehicle sides will get washed.

No automation? No problem, but I'm wondering why you came to us. Give the drivers a bucket and brooms.

[swarm32.livejournal.com]

I hear ya. Where I work I have seen people walk in with over $30k in cash on them and then argue over a $200 dollar repair bill.

[(Anonymous)]

the companies prospective
Its a machine we do not want we do not need cost money to maintain and run
and we get no return on our investment. we as a company do not have a problem with pollution because when the local area gets f**ked up we close down and move elsewhere taking our jobs with us. The important consideration is our bottom line. so we can insulate our ivory towers from the effects of pollution.
When the whole world gets F**ked up we can make lots of money out of you dumb s**ts cleaning it all up again. any way we only asked for a price so some petty government pen pusher told us too.Any way if you reduce the price and performance of the machine we will never have to pay because the machine does not work or you upgrade it at your expense either way we win and you go down the pan but that does not matter because you are a long way away and we can not see you and your family starving

Steve