I've been finding out that some retail developement in my county is a situation where GCs or developers took bids from anyone interested and then used the prices to hammer their preferred contractors. "Here's what this company bid, can you match that?" The preferred guy may be finishing a job and wanting to keep some money flowing will take it, even if it knocks his margin down a point or two. In fact, a lot of companies are doing good if they can make 10 percent. Some slim pickins but a job beats no job.
