Competitive tendering was, nonetheless, introduced, as it was argued that tendering was a fair means to obtain a fair price for the developer. In the event, there is no denying that tendering has provided benefits.
Archaeologists are more aware, for instance, of costs and clients' needs.
With the present system in archaeology, we have achieved the equivalent of a privatised railway in which each train is put out to tender as it leaves the station, rather than a more efficient system as a whole. Whilst commercial pressure drives down price, it has increased costs. Moreover, price wars have led many contractors to abandon training and to curtail investment. Information is often not shared or published, as new techniques and methods are no longer a matter of professional debate but commercial advantage. In addition, as contract archaeologists have to survive by winning tenders for projects with an average value of UKP3,000, often paid for by unwilling customers, rumours have spread of sharp practice and questionable project designs.