I think we have two separate issues here.
Food off your table? If there's no need for a GC, it's not only NOT your table, you're not even invited to dinner.
Otherwise, I've heard this "I take good care of my subs" line before. Apart from being something I've never seen ... such a practice is absolutely not in my interest.
Some claim it's a textbook ploy out of Detroit; whatever the origin is, here's how it works: a large firm swamps a smaller one with work, effectively monopolizing the smaller firms' capacity. The smaller firm becomes dependent upon the larger firm. Once hooked, the larger firm then pressures the smaller firm to lower prices, adjust production schedules, etc., all with the threat of removing their business - thereby bankrupting the smaller business.
It's not in my interest to let such a situation develop. Rather, a healthy business spreads it's risk by having a broad customer base. That way, the failure of one customer to supply business - for whatever reason - has a lesser effect on the business. It's the old "don't put your eggs in one basket" business model.
Every GC, it seems, is convinced that they are somehow different from the others. There may be some truth to that idea; I do know that some GC's get better pricing from me than others.
What's the secret to getting good pricing from me? Simple: you do your job and I'll do mine. That means you need to concern yourself with only a handful of things. These include:
1) Pay me - on time;
2) Schedule the trades on a job;
3) Take out the trash; and,
4) Make sure there's a working toilet on site.
In short ... you stick to your business, and I'll stick to mine. You do a good job this time, and the next time I'll cut your price.
