rocknbil - 12:15 pm on Jan 16, 2006 (gmt 0)

"Mrs. X. During our various conversations you have changed directions on what you want out of your site and what you'd like to to achieve. While this is not a problem, I can tell you from experience that if I lay out a detailed description of precise work to be performed, when it will be done, and how much it will cost you, I can almost guarantee that in a week's time you are going to see what we've done and react with more new directions and changes, possibly such that it may undermine the initial work we've started. This type of project evolution is not a problem for me, I'm used to workng with dynamic quick thinkers such as yourself. (This closes the deal.) But Obviously this is going to blow any esimate I give today you out of the water. So let's begin again, come up with phase 1 - getting you a design and the basic display pages in place - and if you want to move on from there, I'll give you an estimate for the continuing development tasks."

And by all means, shoot high, these types of customers will run you rasgged and want major bargains, and they WILL change their mind at least three times a week.