Re: Agency Response - margins

["Wilcox, John (Contractor)" <wilcoxj -at- WDNI -dot- COM>]

 ----------
From: Buck & Tilly Buchanan
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Date: Sunday, May 18, 1997 3:41PM

KTINY -at- AOL -dot- COM wrote:
.
.
.
>The comment regarding agency margins is bogus and badly dated.  Margins
> in the NY metro and Boston metro area do not support 50% as a standard
> mark-up.  It rarely happens at KTI.  In those situations where we do request
> and gain a higher than normal mark-up, we are generally promising something
> more than just a final deliverable.

I have never worked for an agency that was up front about their margin.

Anyone else?

Can you, fellow Tech Writer, ask your agency how much they are receiving
and get a straightforward answer?
 ----------------------

I happen to know the markup that the agency I work for is getting.  They
didn't tell me, but then I didn't ask them.  I was given a good rate, so
what do I care how much they make?  I don't suppose they would take
kindly to my disclosing that rate to you without asking, so I won't.
But I will give my opinion.  I think 50% would be kind of high for the
typical case and probably a good absolute ceiling in any case, but I
don't think it's too terribly far from being reasonable.


Regards,

John Wilcox, Documentation Specialist
Timberlands Information Services
Weyerhaeuser, WWC 2E2
Tacoma, WA  98477-0001
253-924-7972   wilcoxj -at- wdni -dot- com

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