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I must be crazy

splinter.com.au

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Re: I must be crazy

#71

Post by jayzee »

patio11 wrote: post #60
cageface wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like every other software market, outsourcing firms are eating up the bottom end of the iOS development market at rates far below that. But I imagine if you can cultivate the right kind of local clients you can do well. Since you mention it, if anybody needs some freelance help with an app I'm available. As a self-outsourced American currently living in Vietnam I can significantly undercut $150/hr. ;)

Can you explain exactly what about the service delivered is different with you living in Vietnam versus you living in, I don't know, Central Japan? Or, for that matter, living in whatever "One town too far to come into the office in San Francisco" is? I mean, sure, you have a cost of living which will let you attempt to compete on price for the worst projects from the worst customers, but why not just deliver desirab…

This comment is willfully ignorant.

Are you just upset that he is competing on price? Given his cost structure it makes perfect sense for him to want to deliver desirable projects for great customers at a great price.

Clearly you know that there is no fixed price that the market has decided professional iOS development is worth. And now that there is one additional professional iOS developer working from Vietnam the price turns out to be lower than what you think it should be.

Re: I must be crazy

#72

Post by clarky07 »

njx wrote: post #39

I think you are making a very bad mistake. Just listening to a podcast... come on.. don't do this to your family. The podcast is selling their services and building audience for future products they will offer. Think twice Don't quit now, generate ideas while at job, start research and then plan accordingly. There are so many incubators that could later help with your idea/prototype. Just my 3c Nilesh I built infocap…

I didn't downvote, but I suspect the reason other people did is because he has considered these things. He already has a dozen apps on the store that make between 100-150 a day. He didn't just completely jump off a cliff.

Re: I must be crazy

#73

Post by edwinnathaniel »

njx wrote: post #50
njx wrote: post #39

I think you are making a very bad mistake. Just listening to a podcast... come on.. don't do this to your family. The podcast is selling their services and building audience for future products they will offer. Think twice Don't quit now, generate ideas while at job, start research and then plan accordingly. There are so many incubators that could later help with your idea/prototype. Just my 3c Nilesh I built infocap…

Why downvoting?? I am speaking from experience, name it and I have done that.

Here's the thing: the OP did not mention that he has some apps that generate $100-$150/day already making the blog post looks like he's a risk taker. (hint: it's how you drive pageviews, no offense OP, but let's be honest until you fix the blog :)).

So you're right based on the blog alone, but not necessary 100% right had the OP exposed his side income.

Re: I must be crazy

#74

Post by alecco »

patio11 wrote: post #49

Free advice: should there ever be a gap between the present revenues of your apps and your family's immediate financial needs, a week or six of freelancing iOS development will plug it very quickly indeed. It isn't my market, but I-heard-it-on-the-grapevine hourly rates are in the US$150~$200+ region.

The iOS development rates at Odesk for North Americans never crosses 50/hr, most relevant seem to hover at 30/hr.

Re: I must be crazy

#75

Post by patio11 »

cageface wrote: post #67
patio11 wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you explain exactly what about the service delivered is different with you living in Vietnam versus you living in, I don't know, Central Japan? Or, for that matter, living in whatever "One town too far to come into the office in San Francisco" is? I mean, sure, you have a cost of living which will let you attempt to compete on price for the worst projects from the worst customers, but why not just deliver desirab…

I figure the awkward time zone difference for most U.S. clients has to count for some kind of haircut. But your point is well taken. If I do decide to shift my focus from my own products to consulting I'm not going to do it at too high a discount.

Try not giving the discount on your next 3 quotes. See if it meaningfully increases client resistance. It probably won't.

Can I tell you a story of something stupid I once did which nonetheless does not constrain me to always acting stupidly in the future? A particular prospect asked for a quote of my rate. I quoted my then-going rate and then, because I could not stop my fingers, said "But since we're Internet buddies I'll give you a discount." He said "OK, what's the final rate?" And I chopped 50% off. He accepted.

Note that in no point prior to that had he evinced any problems with paying the actual rate and, indeed, the difference between X and 2X is meaningless to him because a) he's a millionaire and b) neither X nor 2X comes out of his pocket, it comes out of a budget of a corporate entity he happens to own a lot of shares in, and both of us assumed (accurately) that the engagement was going to make those shares worth substantially more than X, 2X, or 10X more.

I set fire to five figures with two emails, and he probably doesn't even remember that conversation. Facepalm. But I don't have to facepalm next time, and neither do you.

Re: I must be crazy

#77

Post by bignoggins »

cageface wrote: post #14

I’m going to make, market, and hustle my iPhone apps like my life depends on it. I've been doing exactly this for the last year and I'm very close to switching my focus back to web development. From what I can tell the easy money in the app store is long gone and conditions do not favor the lone developer now. I have two iPad apps that frequently appear in the "What's Hot" list for music and if the revenue they gener…

The What's Hot list is useless since it's not on the device. It's likely algorithmic as well. The only list that matters is the curated featured list on the device.

Re: I must be crazy

#78

Post by bignoggins »

Best of luck. I quit my job a year and a half ago to work on my app business full time. I'm now making 6 times my salary from app profits. In my situation, my app profits were already surpassing my income by the time I quit. I'm not sure what your situation is, but I would recommend getting the boat a bit closer to the dock before jumping.

Re: I must be crazy

#79

Post by bmelton »

jayzee wrote: post #71
patio11 wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you explain exactly what about the service delivered is different with you living in Vietnam versus you living in, I don't know, Central Japan? Or, for that matter, living in whatever "One town too far to come into the office in San Francisco" is? I mean, sure, you have a cost of living which will let you attempt to compete on price for the worst projects from the worst customers, but why not just deliver desirab…

This comment is willfully ignorant. Are you just upset that he is competing on price? Given his cost structure it makes perfect sense for him to want to deliver desirable projects for great customers at a great price. Clearly you know that there is no fixed price that the market has decided professional iOS development is worth. And now that there is one additional professional iOS developer working from Vietnam the…

I think you've misread the situation, which might be clarified somewhat with the knowledge that (at least to my knowledge) Patrick isn't an iOS developer, and isn't in competition for the market.

I read that as a perfectly valid suggestion that he could raise his rates, make more money, and enjoy the clientele even more in the same stroke.

Re: I must be crazy

#80

Post by larrys »

patio11 wrote: post #60
cageface wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like every other software market, outsourcing firms are eating up the bottom end of the iOS development market at rates far below that. But I imagine if you can cultivate the right kind of local clients you can do well. Since you mention it, if anybody needs some freelance help with an app I'm available. As a self-outsourced American currently living in Vietnam I can significantly undercut $150/hr. ;)

Can you explain exactly what about the service delivered is different with you living in Vietnam versus you living in, I don't know, Central Japan? Or, for that matter, living in whatever "One town too far to come into the office in San Francisco" is? I mean, sure, you have a cost of living which will let you attempt to compete on price for the worst projects from the worst customers, but why not just deliver desirab…

"As a self-outsourced American currently living in Vietnam I can significantly undercut $150/hr. ;)"

Although I don't think this is what he is doing, marketing wise sometimes people want an explanation for why the price of a product or service is less than the going rate for a certain quality.

Many people judge quality by price and by giving a reason (even one that doesn't hold water upon inspection by someone in the know) you can explain away doubts in a buyers mind and instil confidence.

Some other examples (and there are many) are companies who claim their price is less because "we don't advertise" or "we cut out the middleman" etc. so we can charge less.

Added: Above examples I am giving don't always explain away the difference in price being charged. So they could be a redherring disguising the real reason for the price differential.

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