[AccessD] How do I answer this?

Send back an eMail that reads:

"I bought a book on anatomy.  It looks simple enough.  Why don't I
remove your appendix?" or "I just bought a book on accounting.  It
looks simple enough.  Why don't I do your books?"

The idea of having your learning curve paid for is great, but
experience tells me that in practice it rearely works out that way. 
A few red flags come to mind here:

1) Your client is not a developer.  He doesn't have the necessary
knowledge to decide if what he proposes is simple or not.  Just
because he *thinks* he understands what he's reading does not mean he
*really* understands it.
2) If he thinks it is simple, he is going to have unrealistic
expectations of you.  After all, if it's so simple that a layman can
understand a book about it, you as a developer should just be able to
whip right through it, right?
3) Why is your client deciding he needs a web-based application? 
Your client should be relying on the analysis of a technical person
to tell him if he needs a web app, a desktop app, or no app at all.

It's funny.  Everyone who reads a book one time think they understand
what it takes to develop software.  I know the barriers to entry in
our field are relatively low, but they aren't THAT low.  I've had
some interesting conversations with clients who thought that reading
MS Access Step-By-Step entitled them to challenge me on technical
matters.

If you want to take the risks associated with working for a client
who *thinks* he understands how to do your job...go ahead.  He might
be a lot more saavy than I think, but...just use your best judgement.

I'd run screaming in the other direction.  Not once have I ever heard
anything good come from working with a client who said "I read a book
on it, and it looks simple..."

This is just MTCW, of course.  I could be wrong.

-Christopher-



---- Original Message ----
From: MPorter at acsalaska.com
To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com, 
Subject: RE: [AccessD] How do I answer this?
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:39:10 -0800 

>If he is willing to pay for your learing curve, I'd say go for it!
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Selina Iddon [mailto:selina at easydatabases.com.au]
>Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2003 2:35 PM
>To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
>Subject: [AccessD] How do I answer this?
>
>
>Hello Everyone
>I've just explained to a customer I don't build web based 
>applications, I
>only develop with Access and SQL.  He has just sent an email saying:
>
>"I bought a book on the web design for access. It looks simple 
>enough. Why
>don't you do it."
>
>I am missing something simple out there?  Has anyone done anything 
>like
>this?
>
>Look forward to your replies.
>Thanks
>Selina
>
>
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