FAO Minuteman

[SparkCreative]

So, I was recently asked to quote on a job for the NHS. Basically, taking a document they've done and making it all look good, reformatting text, tables etc, and outputting it as a pdf.

The document is 38 pages long. I figured even if I'm going really fast that's at least a day's work.

Anyway, the Financial Director for the department I'm pitching to says they've got to ask Minuteman for a quote too. And they came in at - get this - £75! Apparently it's only a 3 1/2 hour job. Really? Wonderful. So I didn't even bother to quote.

Minuteman - care to comment? Or was it a different Minuteman?

[Katedesign]

Can't help but butt in here! But where are you based? Minuteman is a franchise so each centre is individually owned and the level and quality of service will vary hugely. Our Minuteman has his head screwed on. *fingers crossed*

And they're only charging £20 per hour!

[SparkCreative]

Ah right, it was the Coventry one I think.

It wasn't their hourly rate I was quibbling with (although it's a bit cheap), it was the total price for the job. It's WAY under. I can only assume they're doing it as a loss leader.

[Katedesign]

Quite likely if they are getting into the NHS. They may not have much experience of doing that sort of thing either. I agree it sounds as though they are underestimating way too little time!

[SparkCreative]

Probably paying a grad bugger all to do it too.

[Katedesign]

It's why wages are so low in our industry - everyone is giving stuff away - design and print! Keep losing quotes to people who can do it for almost nothing! Damn annoying.

[Boss Hog]

It ain't Peter off here, he's Bristol

[Minuteman Press]

Not us! But at those rates I'd be very interested in the tenderer as a supplier to us!!!

[Katedesign]

Ahh! but, Peter, would they do as good a job as you?!!

[SparkCreative]

Glad to hear it's not you Peter.

It's annoyed the crap out of me. Like I said, it was their FD that insisted my contact go to Minuteman. No quality criteria at all, just who can do it cheapest. They may as well post everything on people per hour and get an albanian student to do it for £30. Bloody public services!