At 06:23 PM 9/14/2003, you wrote:

>If you are involved in commercial enterprise, how do you deal with
>customers (in the real world) who invariably do not supply all relevant
>information from the beginning ?

We have all had this problem. The way I usually deal with it is to say:

"Sir, I do not have a clear enough picture of your needs, therefore I cannot
make a fixed bid. If you would like, I will generate a SPECIFICATION
DOCUMENT capable of being bid against, for $X per hour. Would you like me
to do that?"

People who KNOW what the problem is will pay you for your time. The rest
won't, and you don't need those folks anyway, they will eat you alive.

--Bob


--------------
Bob Axtell
PIC Hardware & Firmware Dev
Tucson, AZ
1-520-219-2363
"I lose some on each sale but make it up in volume."

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