Outsourcing pwned by me! well, a little bit

[robphelan]

i belong to a couple of specific software help listserv/forums... if we have a question, it gets bounced out via email to members.

we had this one total newbie who's working in Canada.. i mean this person couldn't write a simple select statement and was out asking for help.

this really pisses us off b/c this person lied/cheated/stole/did something to get this job and that makes 1 less job for the rest of us who know what we are doing.

he became desperate since this was a VERY simple program and was given to him weeks ago(it should have only taken 4-5 hours).

anywhoo, after it was plainly clear no one was going to write the program for him for free, I offered (jokingly) to write the program for him at an hourly rate. he agreed.

he emailed me the requirements.. i charged him 4 hours at @25.. paid for poker that weekend.

take that Canada!

 

[edro]

ok

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: edro
ok

yeah, probably work better over in the programming forum. :roll:

 

[kranky]

I would milk that for all you can. But you'll need to slowly up the ante. If there's a next time, and the project should take 5 hours, say you'll do it for $200 (don't quote an hourly rate, just a total price). The time after that, $250. Then $300.

How is he going to know it's a 5 hour project? After all, for him it would be a 100 hour project probably.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Send a receipt stating PAID IN FULL with a list of services performed to the corporate office.

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones
Send a receipt stating PAID IN FULL with a list of services performed to the corporate office.

hehe. i thought of that.. but didn't want to kill the goose that laid the aluminum egg.

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones
Send a receipt stating PAID IN FULL with a list of services performed to the corporate office.

what's even FUNNIER is that he uploaded my program directly - even named it the same... now, his company is going to forever have a program called XXXX_robphelan in their Production system..

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: robphelan

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones
Send a receipt stating PAID IN FULL with a list of services performed to the corporate office.

what's even FUNNIER is that he uploaded my program directly - even named it the same... now, his company is going to forever have a program called XXXX_robphelan in their Production system..

Hahahaha that's awesome!

 

[Descartes]

That's not surprising. A great number of these resources, both those in their home country and those that are sent here on H1Bs to do the work, have no actual experience at all. They're put through expedited training programs and "finishing schools" to help them talk the talk, but there's often little substance to be found. It's a real problem for the international IT industry. Rates are kept artificially high (relative to the level of talent), but still low enough relative to the US marketplace that it places a real burden on US service companies.

Almost any competent person can see right through the veil of deceit, but unfortunately most of the people on the frontend of hiring look at the superficial qualities that are easily forged. It really only takes a 5 minute conversation for someone competent to really see if another person knows what they're talking about.

 

[MaxDepth]

I BLAME CANADA!