Some things never change...
Today we hear more than ever about rampant undercutting to win pursuits and gain market share. But it's a time honoured tradition, as this letter from 1897 shows General Electric complaining bitterly about being undercut by Westinghouse for the contract to supply AC generators for the new Niagara Power station in Niagara Falls. What is unusual here is that General Electric thought it appropriate to send a formal letter of complaint, going as far as accusing the client of being unfair… While it's wrenching to lose a bid for a project we were really hoping to win, specially when we think the loss was unfair, we'd never advice complaining to the client. A killer workout, a stiff scotch, or even a good punch to the wall are less damaging... Tell us: how have you dealt with a particularly bitter project loss?