Insane clients on Elance

[CurtisN]

Hey everyone,

I was browsing through some projects to bid on at Elance and came across something which was both funny and appalling at the same time for me. I'm used to seeing people who demand the best articles ever and then go on to say, "oh yeah, i'll be paying you a buck per 600 words". I just chuckle and move on.

But one guy said this:
"I reserve the right to have up to (4) four additional revisions per article if I am not happy with your first submittal."

First of all, you meant "submission", not "submittal".

Second of all, what gives you the right to make such demands? That's like saying "I reserve the right to charge you more because you're an idiot".

Gaaaah!

Curtis

[pheonix44]

Buddy, you have not seen the worst of it, try going to getafreelancer and see some of the gigs they got going there. I wrote a thread about this a while ago that got a big response. WTF 1.00 For 500 Words, Are You Serious?

[NightWriter]

The bid sites are bottom of the barrel, IMO. They are bad for writers and bad for the people who are looking for cheap help.

From the little I've seen, you'd be better of getting a beginning freelance copywriter or SEO article writer here at the forums.

[Kay King]

Second of all, what gives you the right to make such demands? That's like saying "I reserve the right to charge you more because you're an idiot".

A buyer has the right to post whatever job he wants - you have the right not to bid on it. Remember that there are many poor service providers, too.

The bid sites are bottom of the barrel, IMO. They are bad for writers and bad for the people who are looking for cheap help.

There are cheap buyers and cheap providers willing to work for low prices. There are also great buyers that pay very well for top quality writing. That's fact, not opinion, as I earn a good amount from elance...and my services aren't cheap.

kay

[Brad Spencer]

Curtis,

We need to partner on something. You dont' need to mess with these fools.

Screw that.

Cheers,

Brad

Originally Posted by CurtisN

Hey everyone,

I was browsing through some projects to bid on at Elance and came across something which was both funny and appalling at the same time for me. I'm used to seeing people who demand the best articles ever and then go on to say, "oh yeah, i'll be paying you a buck per 600 words". I just chuckle and move on.

But one guy said this:
"I reserve the right to have up to (4) four additional revisions per article if I am not happy with your first submittal."

First of all, you meant "submission", not "submittal".

Second of all, what gives you the right to make such demands? That's like saying "I reserve the right to charge you more because you're an idiot".

Gaaaah!

Curtis

[Kay King]

You dont' need to mess with these fools.

Excuse me? I don't consider myself a fool - and neither do my clients.

He was looking for a writing job - are you offering to hire him?

[CurtisN]

Originally Posted by Kay King

Excuse me? I don't consider myself a fool - and neither do my clients.

He was looking for a writing job - are you offering to hire him?

Kay,

Brad wasn't talking about you; he was talking about the fools on Elance.

And yes, we have been in contact in the past regarding my services

Curtis

[CurtisN]

Originally Posted by pheonix44

Buddy, you have not seen the worst of it, try going to getafreelancer and see some of the gigs they got going there. I wrote a thread about this a while ago that got a big response. WTF 1.00 For 500 Words, Are You Serious?

See, the people that offer a buck for 500 words just make me laugh (in a not quite bitter way)...so far, Elance has not been too bad aside from the cheapos

Originally Posted by NightWriter

The bid sites are bottom of the barrel, IMO. They are bad for writers and bad for the people who are looking for cheap help.

From the little I've seen, you'd be better of getting a beginning freelance copywriter or SEO article writer here at the forums.

I'll give them a chance...I really like Elance. Like I said, it's been ok to me so far.

Originally Posted by Kay King

A buyer has the right to post whatever job he wants - you have the right not to bid on it. Remember that there are many poor service providers, too.

Sure he does, but not the right to make outrageous demands. The employer has a right to certain things, but not to tell the employee how many rewrites he gets.

There are cheap buyers and cheap providers willing to work for low prices. There are also great buyers that pay very well for top quality writing. That's fact, not opinion, as I earn a good amount from elance...and my services aren't cheap.

kay

Right on...it just takes time and patience to weed the cheapos out

Curtis

[peetred]

Originally Posted by pheonix44

Buddy, you have not seen the worst of it, try going to getafreelancer and see some of the gigs they got going there. I wrote a thread about this a while ago that got a big response. WTF 1.00 For 500 Words, Are You Serious?

Haha, I was just thinking this yesterday. I went there to see about writing some articles for quick cash, and said "forget that!". I can't believe people actually write for that cheap.

[dannykth8]

Worst than this my friend have bid in elance and her article is rejected because too many grammatical error and refuse to pay. But the client still using her article in the end.
It seems her client want to get article for free. That's truly scam.

Originally Posted by CurtisN

Hey everyone,

I was browsing through some projects to bid on at Elance and came across something which was both funny and appalling at the same time for me. I'm used to seeing people who demand the best articles ever and then go on to say, "oh yeah, i'll be paying you a buck per 600 words". I just chuckle and move on.

But one guy said this:
"I reserve the right to have up to (4) four additional revisions per article if I am not happy with your first submittal."

First of all, you meant "submission", not "submittal".

Second of all, what gives you the right to make such demands? That's like saying "I reserve the right to charge you more because you're an idiot".

Gaaaah!

Curtis

[Kay King]

Sure he does, but not the right to make outrageous demands. The employer has a right to certain things, but not to tell the employee how many rewrites he gets.

He is dealing with independent contractors, NOT with employees. That means free will on the part of writers to bid on his job or not. The guy may have been treated badly in the past - or just be clueless about how things work.

I saw that ad, too, laughed and moved on.

kay

[Audrey Harvey]

Originally Posted by Kay King

There are cheap buyers and cheap providers willing to work for low prices. There are also great buyers that pay very well for top quality writing. That's fact, not opinion, as I earn a good amount from elance...and my services aren't cheap.

kay

Couldn't agree more. I find some gigs on Elance and even Odesk when I'm not tied up with my regular clients, and I don't work for peanuts either.