It's one thing when the customer is simply trying to say "I don't need very much, and don't want to pay for more than is necessary to make the job happen" .... and another when the jackalope is trying to figure out what lies to tell, what angles to work.
The examples given above of the town hall are good examples of the customer - in this case the accounting folks - not knowing what they want, but also being budget conscious. We all have numerous stories about jobs like that; my favorite is the office remodel where they want all the lights on one switch, because they think you charge only 'per opening.' (Later they fret that the entire place must be lit up when one guy is working late, or when the entire office goes dark when maintenance replaces a single ballast).
A more sinister example is the 'hair salon' I bid on last year. The moment the customer figured out that 'hair salons' had special electrical and ventilation needs, he suddenly changed his plans. The city was only asked to permit a simple division of a retail space .... after inspection, amazingly enough, the place was rented by a hair salon. In this instance, the owner deliberately leased an inadequate space simply to avoid the code requirements - placing the burden on the tenant. All my bid accomplished was to teach him what lies to tell.
That, of course, is why I brought up the topic of 'what is REALLY going on in the garage." When someone asks "what's the least I can do," the stage is set for disappointment. It would be irresponsible to answer, without first learning just what the guy is trying to accomplish.
