Tag Archives: Articles

A Last Look Back at 2016

Posted on January 11, 2017 by tomdwyer

All our Feature articles from a very long year. What kind of newsletter covers police violence, summer camps, labor motivation, single payer healthcare, community radio, screaming hot blues, and the best gasoline for your car? If you live in Portland … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 January, Feature Articles, Newsletter Columns, Newsletters | Tagged Articles, feature articles, features, review, wrapup | Comments Off

How Much Is THAT Gonna Cost? Understanding estimates

Posted on July 21, 2010 by tomdwyer

Understanding estimates is key to wise spending
By Tom Dwyer

Giving estimates for the cost of a job is one of the hardest things to do in any business. A client, understandably, wants to have at least SOME idea what they can expect to pay, but the service provider is being asked to predict an uncertain future and then stand by that prediction. One Portland automotive icon, Harold Dick, would banish clients who asked for an estimate. His feeling was that you were asking him to care for your car, so you should trust him to charge appropriately and be prepared to pay whatever it took to do it. Most businesses are a little more accommodating, though, and will give some estimate of what their work will cost. Estimates can be deceptive, either through intent or by accident. I hate to lose work to an incomplete or deceptive estimate provided by another business. Continue reading →