I do not enter into correspondence on issues related to testing only because I understand this question - for this there is an IT forum ;
I don’t make free “pilots” just because “it’s so accepted in the corporate world”: you buy my time - I work;
I do not make free “pre-sales”, even if it is “to sketch a concept on a couple of pages in the Word”. For you, the time is paid by the company. I, as a private consultant, take this time away from other projects or from my family (even if it is “only 1-2 hours”).
I do not get involved in the internal policy of the client company and I can’t help you “choose” exactly the tool that the vendor is selling you or the contractor who “almost won the tender” - I say what I think and argue my point of view : my name is much more precious to me.