Dealing with customers competitors

[Zemog]

Hi, I have a small web consulting/development firm and in the past two years this is the first time I find myself in this situation:

How do you work with two customers that are competitors between them? :(

The real problem is regarding to consulting, IMHO a web developer is a consultant that should give ideas on how a customer website should look, and what to offer, and how to offer it, you act like a web marketing consultant.

But what if one of your customer´s competitors approaches you? and what if the deal could be really juicy? :cool: Business ethics dictate (I guess) that you should turn down the new offer in favor (or respect to) your current customer.

But It is really hard to do it, specially because you know that once you turn them down, YOUR competitor WILL get the job. :(

In case you wonder, I´ve already made my choice on this matter: I will turn down the new client.

But, I still have a couple of days to think it over... :D so any advice?

What would you do?

[khalidali63]

Seems to me you just want to "butter" your contious...
:D

I. think there is nothing wrong with it,as long as you cn keep both clients privacy intact,for you they should not be competitors they are just clients who need your advice,however if you are can not keep your self impartial, yes there is a moral or ethical problem...Happy juicing buddy.

[DaveSW]

If I read your post right, two separate companies want to include your name on a tender for one job? Well, they should never see each other's tenders... You could be 'narrowminded' and say 'all I do is provide a service to whoever wants it. It's not any of my business if both are competing for the same job!'
Yes, a tough decision, but when did you last see loyalty in customer relations? How many big companies do you know who haven't changed suppliers from those they've used for 50yrs to go for the cheaper options (regardless of quality)? (loyalty seems to be out of fashion at the moment)

Are the current customers longstanding ones? Profitable ones? Ones it would be good to keep? Over the competitors?

Guess it depends whether you really need the money. If your loyalty outweighs your need of money, fine. If not, you've doubled your chances of getting the money. And you can claim ignorance of the fact that they're going for the same job...

Know this doesn't help

Dave

[Vladdy]

Let's see... on a very general level... by providing servces to customer #1 it can be said that you are giving them competitive advantage (and getting paid for it). If they were smart, they would have it somewhere in contract that you would not provide similar services to their competitors during a certain period of time (and in this case you would charge them more).
Now, given that there is no such clause and, while providing similar services, no proprietary information given to you gets disclosed, I do not see much of an "ethics" issue (as long as you do not give them the same design with different company logos ;) ).
What I would probably consider in this situation is going to your original customer and telling them something along the lines:
" I was approached by company A. Knowing that they are your competitors I would deny them my services, if you are willing to reimburse me for the lost contract"
If they consider that your work does set them apart, they will negotiate, if not - you go ahead and do the job for their competitor with clear consiousness...