Hi Robert

>I have done the custom/consulting thing for many years, and it can be quite profitable if you understand your clients and how to manage them. I tended to work with small companies (10-20 users) and spent a lot of time on site, although most of the coding was done off site. I don't know if this translates at all to your corner of the world.

No it doesn't translate. Like he mentioned there are people who will do the same things for 1/3rd of the cost, irrespective of quality and the client is blinded by the saved greenbacks, so he can spend them on his mobile talk time, the bank payment for his latest car or costliest of mobile instrument (2/3rd of the functionality he cannot use anyway)

We have progammers which are a dime a dozen rather than sit idle they will do things for free if it comes to that, quality does not figure in the clients dictionary.

I know a manufacturer, who 2 years back spent 12000/- INR on a product against his consultants advise (the consultant had suggested my product of the same cost as he has used mine and is satisfied). 2 years gone and the competitors product does not give the results and a lot of features which I have for years has still to be put in into it. Now he wants my product but for 3000/- INR, he simply calculated 12000 for a non working product + 12000 for a working product that is 24000, if I get Bhavbhuti to sell it to me in 3000 it will be 12000+3000 = 15000 INR. He has already incurred a loss of interest of about 1680/- INR over and above the 12000/- for a non working product, he would rather write them off rather then pay an extra 12000 to get things computerized.

Cheers.