very annoying

[Tommy L]

ok, i may be a little paranoid here, but does anyone else feel like alot of the quotes they put out are to 2nd rate 3d artists who are trying to guage the market? To anyone engaging in this practice, i think its very underhand and it wastes alot of time and distorts the target price range. I have nothing concrete to back up my paranoia, only hunches, maybe im being silly, but if im right, these scoundrels should do some homework off someone elses back.

Anyone else get this problem?

[Sawyer]

I got an e-mail months ago that read something like "we are architects in New York USA and we have 10 really expensive jobs we would like you to render. How much would you charge us in US dollars?"

 

I wrote back that if they gave me their phone number I would be happy to call them and talk over the specifics of their project. Not a word.

[John Dollus]

Not paranoia - it happens quite a bit. Follow Sawyer's lead and always offer to contact them by phone to discuss the opportunity and/or mail them some information.

[Ray]

I got an e-mail months ago that read something like "we are architects in New York USA and we have 10 really expensive jobs we would like you to render. How much would you charge us in US dollars?"

 

I wrote back that if they gave me their phone number I would be happy to call them and talk over the specifics of their project. Not a word.

 

Hmm, why would an architect say the were in New York USA, and why would they specify US dollars? I would presume that Sawyer knows what country New York is located in and what the local currency is. Not a very smart attempt, was it?

[Ernest Burden III]

I would presume that Sawyer knows what country New York is located in and what the local currency is. Not a very smart attempt, was it?

 

I figure that was why he quoted them that way--it shows that the caller wasn't from the US.

 

I don't get those inquiries. But anyone who does call or email is asked to provide some project information to review before they get a cost estimate. That has to come by email, and that means I see the domain it came from. If someone says they're from Bob Smith Architects, I'm looking for a bobsmith(dot)com address. I can then see whom I'm dealing with. Besides--without some design info how do you know what would be involved to render something? I've had designers describe a space as simple and plain only to find out itsfilled with custom furniture and has 1000 lights that need to be shown.

 

Short of all that, if you just want to put out a number without spending the time to evaluate the project (which takes time, and that should not be forgotten) put out a very high one.

 

What does happen, and it sucks, is being asked to write up a proposal for a project when your only role is to provide one of the 'three bids' when the client already has an illustrator in mind, they just need two other numbers to meet their specs. Your time is wasted, but you usually don't know that in advance, or ever. The other annoyance in that is that when I take the time to write up a specific proposal for a project and am not selected, I often don't hear back. The silence being the only indication that I wasn't hired. Just call me, tell me 'thanks, but we've hired someone else'. Don't worry about hurting my feelings, just be professional enough to follow up.

[Brian Smith]

I get it all the time. I get quotes from those in China and India asking how much would i charge to create such and such image, because they have projects they need to sub out. Sorry, but that just doesn't add up.

[Ray]

I figure that was why he quoted them that way--it shows that the caller wasn't from the US.

 

I understand that. But, c'mon, if you're gonna pretend to be from the US, at least don't make stupid mistakes like that. That's what gets spies tripped up!

 

(Speaking of which--new James Bond today!)