4 ms·

This is not an acceptable practice and it's surprising a deal desk or CFO would sign off on this. Credit Card fee negotiation results in a benefit or cost to a

by davidu 10y ago

This is not an acceptable practice and it's surprising a deal desk or CFO would sign off on this. Credit Card fee negotiation results in a benefit or cost to a company. Steak dinner is a benefit to an individual. "Relationship building" activities are important, but should be treated separately and unrelated to contract negotiations and deal terms.

mindcrime 10y ago
Credit Card fee negotiation results in a benefit or cost to a company. Steak dinner is a benefit to an individual. But it wasn't a specific named individual in the contract... it was "Two Hootsuite representatives" (presumably to be chosen by someone with decision making authority at Hootsuite). I would say that changes the dynamic, as it's not like the person negotiating the contract negotiated a steak dinner for themselves.
- davidu 10y ago
  It doesn't matter meaningfully. While you're right that it changes the dynamic in the consecration of the terms, it doesn't change the deal drivers and the benefit shift in the execution of the contract.
JumpCrisscross 10y ago
> Steak dinner is a benefit to an individual I wouldn't be so harsh, so quickly. "Company will eat certain fees if davidu gets free steak," would be a problem. But "Company will eat said fees if employees of Company, nominated by Company, get steak dinners" passes muster. It's not uncommon for travel expenses to be covered in contracts. With periodic sign-off from an officer not party to the dinners, I could see it flying at even the most conservative of companies. > should be treated separately and unrelated to contract negotiations and deal terms A contract is a memorialisation of a relationship between two parties. Creative drafting often involves bringing in factors one hadn't considered to mediate a disagreement.
zackbloom 10y ago
Note though that the contract stipulates that two employees will go, not which two. It therefore is a benefit for the company, provided the company chooses the best people to go to nurture the relationship.

by davidu 10y ago

mindcrime 10y ago

Credit Card fee negotiation results in a benefit or cost to a company. Steak dinner is a benefit to an individual. But it wasn't a specific named individual in the contract... it was "Two Hootsuite representatives" (presumably to be chosen by someone with decision making authority at Hootsuite). I would say that changes the dynamic, as it's not like the person negotiating the contract negotiated a steak dinner for themselves.

davidu 10y ago
It doesn't matter meaningfully. While you're right that it changes the dynamic in the consecration of the terms, it doesn't change the deal drivers and the benefit shift in the execution of the contract.

JumpCrisscross 10y ago

> Steak dinner is a benefit to an individual I wouldn't be so harsh, so quickly. "Company will eat certain fees if davidu gets free steak," would be a problem. But "Company will eat said fees if employees of Company, nominated by Company, get steak dinners" passes muster. It's not uncommon for travel expenses to be covered in contracts. With periodic sign-off from an officer not party to the dinners, I could see it flying at even the most conservative of companies. > should be treated separately and unrelated to contract negotiations and deal terms A contract is a memorialisation of a relationship between two parties. Creative drafting often involves bringing in factors one hadn't considered to mediate a disagreement.

zackbloom 10y ago

Note though that the contract stipulates that two employees will go, not which two. It therefore is a benefit for the company, provided the company chooses the best people to go to nurture the relationship.