Love it…are you sure you’re not into any type of politics….they always have a cost without knowing the real issue. I want a job like that where I give a price then find out the problem.(or just a job..life gets boring w/out one) always go higher than needed..
no no I was thinking more along the lines of an auto mechanic….always a quote but never fixing the actual problem….or electrician or plumber–you know the ones I deal with now..I don’t know the problem but I always get a quote..
Client=money
Their fault for calling you. Why does this sound like an allegory for marriage? Whole conversations going on in my head, but nothing gets said. Marriage=cost+money+confusion=compromise, the bittersweet theme of relationships.
nursemyra: We already have the job. It works like this:
1. Client asks my boss for cost estimate.
2. Client hints at what an acceptable figure would be.
3. Boss tells me produce cost estimate based on fairy dust and rainbows.
4. I submit estimate to boss for approval.
5. Boss instructs me to revise cost estimate.
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 until figure resembles hinted-at budget from step 2.
7. Boss submits estimate. Client happy.
Then, about 18 months later, the client will provide us with the actual scope of work. I revise my cost estimate accordingly. Inevitably, the revised cost is an order of magnitude higher than the original figure and the boss craps on me for producing a bad cost estimate.
Dude, for the first time in my career I’m working on a project where we actually know enough of the scope to properly estimate it. But that’s only because of the “downturn” and the fact that the money has been shut off, but they don’t want to fire us. Yet.
Prior to this, I would have said in response, “Is there any other way?”
BTW: I read over the above comments and came away amused at the takes the apparently uninitiated have on your strips.
Obviously this requires a combination of creative writing with creative accounting and a modicum of clairvoyance combined with a healthy slug of the vodka you keep in your drawer…oh no wait that’s my solution … not yours.
I forgot to tell you about the “blog commenting charge”. You’re in debt up to your ears, Mister. Unless your unknown charge is more than mine. Urp! You tell me yours first.
the other side of the mountain 
Love it…are you sure you’re not into any type of politics….they always have a cost without knowing the real issue. I want a job like that where I give a price then find out the problem.(or just a job..life gets boring w/out one) always go higher than needed..
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hisqueen: You could always start a nursery school. This is essentially pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey for grownups.
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no no I was thinking more along the lines of an auto mechanic….always a quote but never fixing the actual problem….or electrician or plumber–you know the ones I deal with now..I don’t know the problem but I always get a quote..
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I tried Shakespearian quotes, but that just earned me a blank stare.
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Client=money
Their fault for calling you. Why does this sound like an allegory for marriage? Whole conversations going on in my head, but nothing gets said. Marriage=cost+money+confusion=compromise, the bittersweet theme of relationships.
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Scott–two words Ironclad Prenup…..cuts down on the confusion..not the cost -just the confusion
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scott: They call me because I’m so good at making stuff up.
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Aim high. With a bit of luck you won’t get the job.
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nursemyra: We already have the job. It works like this:
1. Client asks my boss for cost estimate.
2. Client hints at what an acceptable figure would be.
3. Boss tells me produce cost estimate based on fairy dust and rainbows.
4. I submit estimate to boss for approval.
5. Boss instructs me to revise cost estimate.
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 until figure resembles hinted-at budget from step 2.
7. Boss submits estimate. Client happy.
Then, about 18 months later, the client will provide us with the actual scope of work. I revise my cost estimate accordingly. Inevitably, the revised cost is an order of magnitude higher than the original figure and the boss craps on me for producing a bad cost estimate.
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Egad! So, do you then have to go and argue with the pipe sellers to lower their prices?
I’d much rather argue over whether a semi-colon is better than a dash at that particular juncture of the fluid mechanics.
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Hey, I’d prefer to argue the finer points of punctuation too. Sadly, it’s not an option.
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Dude, for the first time in my career I’m working on a project where we actually know enough of the scope to properly estimate it. But that’s only because of the “downturn” and the fact that the money has been shut off, but they don’t want to fire us. Yet.
Prior to this, I would have said in response, “Is there any other way?”
BTW: I read over the above comments and came away amused at the takes the apparently uninitiated have on your strips.
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rob: Woah! A proper scope of work? Seriously? Can I touch you?
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first lick a brightly colored south american toad. i hear uncle keith is collecting them…
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Dr Fae: We’re in negotiations. He wants to be paid in dollars, but he’s insisting on American dollars.
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Obviously this requires a combination of creative writing with creative accounting and a modicum of clairvoyance combined with a healthy slug of the vodka you keep in your drawer…oh no wait that’s my solution … not yours.
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charmskool: Close enough. I also find the Magic 8-Ball is an invaluable aid in decision-making.
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I forgot to tell you about the “blog commenting charge”. You’re in debt up to your ears, Mister. Unless your unknown charge is more than mine. Urp! You tell me yours first.
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robin: My basic charge is 24 fernfs per comment. 32 if I try to be witty.
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From the same minds that created the false deadline.
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TUB: Crediting this lot with actual minds is a bit of a stretch.
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Just follow up with creative accounting.
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dolce: I hope that’s a euphemism for “a two-by-four to the back of the head”
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I just love pulling figures out of my magic hat.
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spear: Looks like your hat and my thumb are cut from the same cloth.
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we have a standard box on our process charts that would work here:
“Miracle Occurs Here”
i think i have a few laying about if you want one.
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gnukid: Thanks, but we still use the standard Underpants Gnome chart, so we should be ok for a while.
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