What I won’t do though is cut either prices or corners: either can I get paid what I must to earn a decent living doing what I consider a quality job, or it’s not worth doing.

I thought the same way about my prices until things really reached "rigor mortis" status around here in January. Then I decided I needed to do something to break out of my self-imposed box if I didn't want to stare at the walls and watch the checking account get smaller by the day. Discounts are not the way I want to go long term but they have helped me get business since I started offering them and I am actually right on pace with my 2007 volume for both January and February. I am making a little bit less per inspection but the reduction is something I am able to live with as it is a temporary means to an end. When the market begins to right itself, my prices will go back to or above the pre-slowdown rate.