• Home
  • Site Map
Call us at office: 650-655-2190
Or cellphone: 650-759-9154
linkedin
twitter
youtube
google_plus
  • Services
  • Opti-Solutions™
  • Bios
  • Articles & Seminars
    • Read Our Articles
    • Seminars
    • List of Articles
  • Management Tools
  • Success Stories
  • Contact

Part 62: Don’t Be Used By Prospects – How Small & Mid Sized Companies Grow

January 20, 2015
by Michael Neidle
Optimal Management, optimal management san mateo, Personnel Management, Staffing, Staffing Consultant, Staffing Management, Staffing Management Coaches, staffing management consultant, Staffing Services
0 Comment
Have you ever had a potential client and giving them a proposal, only to be used by them to negotiate a better rate with your competitors? It is unfortunately a rather common practice but not something you want to be involved in. The question is how you can know if you are legitimately in the running for a job order or a contract or not? The answer is there is no fool proof way of being used, but there are indicators that you might want to look for.

To start with, this situation is less likely to happen when dealing with a good client who would not typically want to alienate you, but there are always exceptions. This is more typical with prospects, especially mid sized ones. Smaller clients do this usually less often as it is difficult to waste lots of vendors time on small potatoes and large clients have an approved vendors list and go with those with a combination of low price and the ability to meet the specific requirements of their RFP (request for proposal). On the other hand you might even go into providing a bid to anyone if you believe that getting your foot in the door might pay off sooner or later.

But how do you smoke out those who are truly wasting your time? The first thing you want to look out for is the degree of interest in your services and questions about your company. Have you ever given them a quote in the past with no meaningful feedback? Are they asking you to just give them a price and want to know nothing else about your company or ability to deliver? Are they willing to meet with you to discuss you bid and terms of service? Is there anyone to speak with regarding the quote, assuming this is not a structured RFP?

If providing the prospect with a quote that takes no time at all this might still be OK. But if you are going to have to jump through hoops, waste a lot of time, resources and money you might just walk away from these wild duck chases before you find out you have been played. Going after new business is always a crap shoot, but the more experience you have the more likely you will be able to spot and walk away from phony business and spend your time on those quoting jobs that may actually pay off. .

To see all articles in this series please go to http://optimal-mgt.com/blog.

      

Archive

  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012

Learn More

  • Services
  • Management Tools
  • Management Bios
  • Articles & Seminars
  • Opti-Solutions™
  • Home

About Us

Optimal Management has served the staffing industry since 1994 and has been a member of NACCB, CSP, ASA and NTSA. Our President, Michael Neidle has been in the staffing industry since 1989, including a senior executive for 2 large national staffing companies, starts-ups and Fortune 500 Corporations in the IT, biotech, service, and manufacturing sectors and is a noted speaker and author. Optimal Management was selected for the 2012 Best of San Mateo Award in the Business Management Consultants category. [More]

Recent Articles

  • The Presidential Election and Staffing
  • Modern Management Applied to the Staffing
  • How You Can Capitalize on Change
  • Why Aren't You Doing IT Contracting?

Contact Us

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Your Message

    Call: 650-655-2190 | Email: info@optimal-mgt.com
    © Copyright 2013-2025 Optimal Management | Site by Mad Dog Productions