Local freelancer vs offshore: what nobody tells you about real cost (opens in new tab)

The director hangs up, a little dazed. His offshore dev, based in Manila, hasn't replied for three days. The "Pay" button of his e-commerce site has been returning a 500 error since Monday morning, right in the middle of a newsletter campaign. Revenue is dropping at €4,200/day in lost sales. He's calling me because we crossed paths at the Besançon Chamber of Commerce six months ago. I take over the project that afternoon. The offshore dev — serious, competent — had just been hospitalized. Nob...