The third contract saga continues

It currently looks as if I will not take the infamous third job. I feel as if they are playing around with me. I originally proposed a price and they never got back to negotiate with me, so I didn't know if the price I offered was reasonable. Last week I was asked to rephrase my proposal so that it was only for the next release. I quoted a price based on feedback I received from them of the expected amount of work, and sent it off.

My contact tried to reduce the price. I wouldn't mind so much if I knew what the acceptable price per hour was. I originally told my contact how I came by the price I had quoted and told him to talk to me if my information was incorrect. He told me that they were looking for a quote from a local person to put mine in perspective, but I never heard back.

What I thought that they were trying to do was save money by saying that it is only three months’ work. So I wrote an e-mail to my contact and his boss and explained how I got to my price structure and had asked for feedback, and that the amount of work was the same, never mind if I started in November or January, just more hours work in each day. They were supposed to phone me yesterday, but didn't, and if I don't start soon I will not be able to complete the work anyway. So basically I have given up.

Strange, but I feel relieved.

Update: Well it all goes to show – I received a call yesterday and they are offering me a contract for the project. They asked for a slightly lower rate, which is acceptable to me (at least now I know what they expect for an hourly rate). It is actually a project price but based on my assumption of the amount of work involved. So (1) my fears were unfounded; and (2) if I start next week I can still manage the project, albeit by working flat-out (10 hours a day versus the original 6.5). But now I know that I have guaranteed income until I go on my long vacation. After that I’ll need to start acting as a real freelancer and start lobbying for work (and also get used to the idea that some customers will try to make me feel bad about the price quote as part of their strategy).