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Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed

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markspace <-@.> wrote in news:jb1145$hv8$1@dont-email.me:

> On 11/28/2011 1:28 PM, Rhino wrote:
>> Is it reasonable to tell him that I won't commit to the project or
>> offer any estimates until I feel I understand the spec?
> 
> If you feel the spec is lacking, then certainly.  It might be best to
> wait until you see what the customer is offering first.
> 
>> That would seem fair to me but I don't know if a customer would see
>> it that way. I'm assuming I'd have to sign a non-disclosure agreement
>> before he'd let me see the spec.
> 
> NDAs are normal, yes.
> 
>> At that point, I could imagine spending several days or maybe even a
>> couple of weeks poring over the spec and making sure I'm clear on
>> what he wants, then passing on the project altogether, passing on
>> parts that I didn't think I could do, or accepting the whole
>> project.
> 
> Don't forget to calculate what you'd make in those days or weeks at
> your normal rate.  Decide if you wish to donate that much money to the
> customer. 
> 
 
>>
>> I could easily imagine this taking a few hours of the customer's time
>> as I confirm assumptions that I make as I read the spec. I'm not
>> sure how he would feel about a drain on his time like that. Would
>> that be something he'd expect? Or would he expect me to be so
>> self-sufficient that anything beyond a few cursory questions would be
>> a problem for him?
>>
> 
> That's their look-out.  You're donating time to start the project,
> they should too.  If they complain, then work something out, or ask
> them to look elsewhere.
> 
> 
>> Also, would you agree that he should be charged for the time I put
>> into understanding the spec (aside from a token free initial hour or
>> whatever), even if I end up passing on the project altogether?
> 
> 
> That's up to you, although I'd certainly consider adding any upfront 
> costs to a bid that I made.
> 
So that's not an unreasonable thing to ask, although I shouldn't take it 
for granted that he will go for it, right? He might want me to commit 
within a day of getting the spec; if that happens and I'm not comfortable 
yet, I think I'd be crazy (or foolhardy) to go ahead with the job.
> 
>> I'm getting the impression so far that they are basically a PHP shop
>> and don't have much/any Java expertise so I'm not sure how they'd
>> estimate things like coding time.
> 
> 
> This is a large red flag for me.  If they have no idea what they're 
> doing, then there's no recourse for you if things go sideways.  Be
> very careful.  Programming can be relatively easy.  Configuring a
> production environment is a different story.  And specing out server
> hardware is harder still.  Try to exclude installation of the software
> if you can. 
> 
All good points. Their website describes them as a PHP shop but that may 
omit tons of expertise in other technologies that aren't universal within 
the shop. I think I need to find that out pretty clearly before reacting 
as if it is a certainty that they have no Java expertise. 

I don't even know for sure if they are expecting me to do the whole 
project or they just want me as one person on a team. It feels like the 
former but they haven't actually said one way or the other.


-- 
Novice

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Thread

General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 15:41 +0000
  Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Jeff Higgins <jeff@invalid.invalid> - 2011-11-28 11:37 -0500
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 17:04 +0000
      Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed markspace <-@.> - 2011-11-28 11:09 -0800
        Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 19:48 +0000
          Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed markspace <-@.> - 2011-11-28 12:14 -0800
            Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Rhino <no.offline.contact.please@example.com> - 2011-11-28 21:28 +0000
              Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed markspace <-@.> - 2011-11-28 14:14 -0800
                Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-29 05:24 +0000
                Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2011-11-29 20:44 +0000
  Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 17:53 +0000
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 19:52 +0000
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-11-29 07:20 -0400
      Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-29 16:06 +0000
        Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-29 12:04 -0800
          Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-30 00:12 +0000
            Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-29 22:02 -0800
              Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-30 20:28 +0000
  Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2011-11-28 10:03 -0800
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-11-28 10:44 -0800
      Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 20:13 +0000
        Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-11-28 12:59 -0800
      Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2011-11-29 14:04 -0800
        Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-11-29 15:07 -0800
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 19:56 +0000

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