I have no idea why, but some folks believe our field is open to bargaining, especially now. Not simple negotiations, but the "here's what we're willing to pay." Have a look at this little satire to see how eye-popping it looks when applied to other fields. (Edited to add: I'd like to mention I didn't find this on my own. Another couple of contractors pointed this out in one of the contractor forums I frequent and it's going viral fast.)
For my field, here's another one to avoid at all costs:
"We're doing the bathroom/entertainment center/desk for now, but we'll be working on the kitchen/whole house/addition/huge undisclosed project next. You give us a good deal and we'll see what we can do."
Twitch. Please don't try this; it just leaves a bad taste in our mouths. Professionals will work with you regardless of future projects because they're, er, professionals. If I had a quarter for every time I heard this, I would've retired at 30.
Here's the number who went ahead with the first project: less than 5%
Here's the number of people who followed through with the second: 0
What you'll receive from me is: "Let's work on the project at hand." Unfortunately, I won't spend much time with it, since experience has proven you're not a future client. The clients who usually plan 2-4 projects never say this. They just...walk through the door.
The surprising fact you may not know about "these tough economic times" -- boy, am I tired of that term -- is that almost all the professionals I know are steadily working. Not the insane rush that it was a couple of years ago, but a nice, steady pace. I have a 40-hour work week for the first time in 10 years - I can focus on researching more items, and devote more time to both new and existing clients.
I've also turned down larger projects where the client wants the dining room remodel thrown in for free because "we must be hungry" -- the "I want the trim on the bangs and the hair color, but I'm only going to pay for the trim" in the video.
No. I know what we're worth and what we need to make a living. Let's work together.

