We had an interesting client come by for a price quote. The ultimate client is a large refinery that our company has mapped since 1969. Once upon a time we talked right to the end user. As they grew and were bought by successive larger companies the layers of bureaucracy has become silly. We use the same airplane we have had since 1969. Now we have to fill out a lot of paperwork just for the honor of doing business with them. They keep asking for a copy of our automotive insurance and we keep telling them we don't have a car and we never set foot on their property.
Now many of the big national mapping companies chase after their business and send slick salesmen and saleswomen wearing expensive suits and show fancy presentations on their company.
The engineer that works over the project drove over today. He arrived on his BMW motorcycle. One of the guys here is working on replacing the front shock on his BMW motorcycle and it is in the back of the building. We call this place monster garage so it is not unusual to see a project like that. We are all wearing shorts and t-shirts and in a rather laid back mode.
He pulls out last year's prints and we open our files that we did for them last year. He shows us the changes and they are easy for us.
The customers said one thing he loves about us is there is never an argument about what they can have as a product. They ask we say yes and it will be ready is short order. The big companies have massive order procedures and the customer would have to fill out project reports and if there is a slight change the price can spiral up. We just say here ya go.
We got this one in the bag.
