On the projects I am active in, they have learned when its prudent to call me. I have a decent relationship with a few of the schedulers there, and they know better than to call me without an incentive. I have also learned that it means nothing if I say my offer is "firm". They will always counter, and I will always say that I said I was "firm" and I wouldn't go lower. I still get the shop 90% of the time. I guess, perhaps, that their corporate policy is to always counter offer no matter what. Either that or they are daft.
All that said, I make some real good money with great bonuses from this company on occasion. They also have some really genuine and sold people working for them. I can put up with the dog and pony show to get there. At least, for me anyway, there is a lot less dog and pony show than there used to be.