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I can't even begin to recall the number of times people have asked me to build an iOS app for them. The idea is always uninteresting or just a clone of somethin

I can't even begin to recall the number of times people have asked me to build an iOS app for them. The idea is always uninteresting or just a clone of something that already exists. The implementation would always take much longer than they would want it to take. The cost is always much higher than they expect. I always feel bad shooting people down, but it is just incredibly unlikely that the app will "take off" and make a boatload of cash. It's just not going to happen, so I don't waste my time on those types of requests or suggestions.

ZaneClaes 15y ago
Exactly... you may feel like you're a jerk sometimes, but people need a reality check.
a3camero 15y ago
Why shoot them down? Ask for money. There's good money to be made in developing ideas that you might not see the value in but someone else does (possibly rightly!).
- king_magic 15y ago
  That's a fair question - however, I'm employed full time and just can't spend all of my free time working on apps, even for money :) But you do have a good point about someone else possibly seeing value... however, many of the ideas I've been approached with are of the form "like Twitter, but for Poker players!" or something similarly silly. The problem I see with these types of projects is that they are typically championed by people who have no real understanding about how software is developed, a la clientsfromhell.net. Those are situations I just don't want to get involved in.
  - a3camero 15y ago
    Fair enough but maybe a higher bill rate would change your mind. Quote a high enough price that you're happy to do it. It's a win-win because they'll either leave you alone or pay you lots of money!
    - king_magic 15y ago
      Thats a really good point, actually - yeah, that makes sense.
    - ZaneClaes 15y ago
      I think sooner or later most freelancers learn to adjust their prices based upon expectations. Not all clients are created equal, and you have to know how to judge a client for the amount of headache he will eventually cause you. Sad, but true, and it certainly separates the wheat from the chaff.

ZaneClaes 15y ago

Exactly... you may feel like you're a jerk sometimes, but people need a reality check.

a3camero 15y ago

Why shoot them down? Ask for money. There's good money to be made in developing ideas that you might not see the value in but someone else does (possibly rightly!).

king_magic 15y ago
That's a fair question - however, I'm employed full time and just can't spend all of my free time working on apps, even for money :) But you do have a good point about someone else possibly seeing value... however, many of the ideas I've been approached with are of the form "like Twitter, but for Poker players!" or something similarly silly. The problem I see with these types of projects is that they are typically championed by people who have no real understanding about how software is developed, a la clientsfromhell.net. Those are situations I just don't want to get involved in.
- a3camero 15y ago
  Fair enough but maybe a higher bill rate would change your mind. Quote a high enough price that you're happy to do it. It's a win-win because they'll either leave you alone or pay you lots of money!
  - king_magic 15y ago
    Thats a really good point, actually - yeah, that makes sense.
  - ZaneClaes 15y ago
    I think sooner or later most freelancers learn to adjust their prices based upon expectations. Not all clients are created equal, and you have to know how to judge a client for the amount of headache he will eventually cause you. Sad, but true, and it certainly separates the wheat from the chaff.