I Need...I Need...But Don't Charge Me Much

I suspect your definition of "very well written" is different from mine, but that probably doesn't matter much. Not as long as they're good enough for the use to which you put them.

In that case, a lot of people would think it silly not to buy them. She probably doesn't know that she could get much more for those over time by using them herself, which is a whole other issue on which many people would not agree with you. But, as long as she's willingly doing the work and you're paying the agreed upon price, it's really none of our business.

As far as the idea (suggested by someone else) that the people who charge higher prices have a vested interest in equating price with quality, there seems to be a few factors being missed.

Yes, you can often find people who can do acceptable work for a lot less than the market. There are a great many intelligent, competent people out there whose circumstances are such that it's a smart move for them to do so.

As has been noted, that often involves unpredictable side issues. Dependability, liability for copied material, accuracy and some smaller things. Only rarely do you get all the good points of a professional without any of the down sides. If you find that rare person, keep them busy.

Personally, I wouldn't spend the time trying to find them, unless it was through a trusted referral from someone who had, and who didn't have the work for them. Too much hassle, in the majority of cases.

Steven emphasized the word "great." A lot of this thread is rendered pointless if one stops to consider that "great" is a long way from simply acceptable, or even "very good."

The problem I see is not that some folks will do the work cheaply. That's their business, and if you can get them to do it well and on time, good for you. Treat them well, pay them on time, and keep their schedule full. Otherwise, they'll encounter others who are willing to pay more, and there goes your goldmine.

I believe the problem is that there are so many people who hold unrealistic expectations regarding what they can get and how much it should cost them. The majority of the people making the kinds of requests to which Steven is referring don't have any real skills, lack the experience to even recognize various levels of quality objectively, and want results without work or expense.

Those people appeal to others like them, which leads to bashing their heads against each others' walls trying to compete with the folks who do understand. And they constantly complain when they get no results.

Watch them, over time. They either learn that they're going to have to put in more resources than they expected, and adapt, or they become disillusioned and bitter and accuse the world of keeping them down.

Don't take my word for it. Watch them. See it for yourself. It happens here all the time.


Paul