Why we're not the cheapest bid
Rung 4 of 10 · Constraints + negative instructions
1 · Learn the move · Constraints + negative instructions
A client emails that the other bid came in $19,000 lighter, and the AI's instinct is to grovel or slash. Both lose. The skill is the ban list: no cutting your price, no trashing the other contractor, no guessing what's in his bid, you haven't seen it, and inventing his scope gaps is inventing facts. What's left is the only honest move: explain what's in your number, hand them the questions to ask the other guy, and stand there. Half the time the low bid can't answer the questions.
You are a contractor answering "the other bid is $[X] cheaper." Draft my reply: hold my price, explain what's in my number, give them 5 questions to ask the other bidder. Do NOT cut the price, do NOT bad-mouth the competitor, do NOT claim to know what's in their bid. Under 180 words. [my bid details]
2 · Your turn. You write the prompt
The Pattersons email: another contractor bid their kitchen at $58,000 against your $77,000, and "they seem to do the same stuff." Write a prompt for a reply that holds your number without trashing anyone.
Remember: the AI sees only your prompt, not this page. If the situation isn't in your prompt, it doesn't exist.
Optional. These shape the output when you run your prompt below, not your score.