Interesting Question from Client

regarding cost of other projects I've done

[mcjohnson]

I have an interesting question that has not yet come up. I sent a proposal to a potential client which contained the requisite 3 references at the end with the URLs of same.

the prospect then apparently looked at the sites and is now asking me to tell him how much those sites cost, so taht he can compare what he'd be getting for the price I quoted him and how it would compare to the quality and size of other sites I've done.

I am not so much concerned with the apples-to-oranges response that I can give him, I am just not sure I am comfortable releasing the details of other jobs I've negotiated and contracted.

What do you all do when someone (or if someone) looks at your portfolio, picks a site and says "how much did you charge THEM?"

Just curious. Thanks!

[digitalghost]

I tell them that the information is covered by an NDA. I'd probably tell them to step off as well. The need to know simply isn't there.

[Wlauzon]

Tell them that they would have to get a written release from that company before you can disclose it.

[tbear]

As above. They can ask the other clients, if they want a really blunt reply, LOL. They might not be happy if you gave their contract info/details to others!
I treat each client as a new project, even down to pricing. No two clients are the same, so no two quotes are identical.

[percentages]

>I'd probably tell them to step off as well. The need to know simply isn't there.

I agree!

6 years ago I produced a site for a client which is still one of the best in their business area today, and charged them a grand total of $800 for it! (My foot in the door was expensive to me).

Today I wouldn't even consider doing that job for less than $30K, so what does it matter what a great deal someone else got in the past?

Most likely if the same client paid 30K today they would be paying $300K 6 years from now, so the comparative thing simply is not relevant.

One issue that is tricky to deal with is how you explain to an old client that what they see as a simple mod is now going to cost more than they paid for a complex site to begin with!

At the end of the day, they either trust you or not. If you do a good job you will have earned their respect and they won't want to jump ship. They may suffer from sticker shock, but, they will be loyal!

[mcjohnson]

Thank you, all. I suspected as much, but always appreciate the council and advice found here.

One issue that is tricky to deal with is how you explain to an old client that what they see as a simple mod is now going to cost more than they paid for a complex site to begin with!

SO true. My first client has paid more for routine updates than for their entire original build. They probably think I sandbagged them hard!

Thanks again, all,

Pat

[sonjay]

I wouldn't reveal that info either. But I think that the purpose of the question is usually for the potential client to get a handle on what things cost -- many people simply have no clue whether a given site would be an $800 site or an $8000 site.

So when someone asks that, I'm perfectly happy to respond with something like, "A site like that would cost in the neighborhood of $$$$ to $$$$." The price range reflects what I would charge them now, today, for that site, not what I charged the previous client. I've done this a few times, and I've never had someone come back at me with "No, but what did you actually charge that person?"

[adeelshahid]

Confidentiality does matter and i think you should just have to answer him with that phrase confidentiality and he can understand. Give him the range of the amount that you charged others in this way you can step off the low budget demand thing and the thing about revealing the actual cost that you charged from the earlier clients.

Hope that it helps. :)

Keep us posted 4 the result...