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That's really true, but it can backfire spectacularly.

I once had a customer that was really in the 'nothing but headaches' category. They came with a new job and I really should have said 'no', but instead I figured I'd just quote a very high price and they'd go away.

They accepted :(




The problem isn't that they accepted, it's that you didn't quote a price high enough to offset the headaches they caused. If you had, you would have been happy!


I misjudged the depth of their pockets.


That's what I'm saying, if you had gone with a price that would make it worth your time instead of a price you thought they'd decline, it would be worthwhile. I see how you can fall into that trap, though.


Trust me, it was enough that I should have been happy and it still wasn't enough.


Then it wasn't enough :p We'll never stop arguing, but consider this: Wouldn't you be happy doing it for a billion dollars? Somewhere between that and what you got is your "happiness threshold", it's just that it's more than what you got now.

Unless you wouldn't have been happy with any amount of money, in which case I assume your client was the third Reich!


> Unless you wouldn't have been happy with any amount of money, in which case I assume your client was the third Reich!

Not quite, but close :)


Ah, I see now :P


The trick is to quote a price high enough that even if they accepted, you would consider the compensation worth the aggravation. You win either way!




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