In last week’s blog post regarding suggestions for A List Apart survey, I suggested that there should be more money-orientated questions, with the end goal being that of 'helping people set the rates for their web business'.

Shortly after I was listening to the Big Web Show (#54) and the topic of rates came up and Mr. Zeldman pointed out that if he and several other large web firms got together and discussed their rates, that this would be considered price fixing, which is the act of businesses keeping prices fixed for the benefit of the business, basically reducing competition in the marketplace, again, for the benefit of businesses.

I am now wondering whether or not compiling this information, in an anonymous survey form, would constitute price fixing, landing an organisation, like A List Apart, in a spot of bother.

I need to do some more research on the topic. I’d like to think this could be done because the data is anonymous and averaged, but I’m not so sure.