Dealing with unprofessional service providers?

14 years ago

If you can explain them calmly then their should be no matter of firing, if after explaining it they are not following your guidance then yes their is no option by firing them.. if you will ask me, I explain them and if they dont understand I say no to them...

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mikemac1

14 years ago

Try contacting them one more time and let them know that you will no longer be using them and give them your reasons, if they care (i.e. realize they will be losing out on your business & money), then they will contact you back and hopefully that will wake them up to doing what you ask.

But to be honest, the best solution is the one you already know, just move on and find new outsourcers. I'll usually give a person a second shot but once it starts to become a pain (like you're feeling now), it's not worth it.

Just learn from situation, i.e. not paying upfront or until work is completed, etc.

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VanessaB 14 years ago

Start looking for new service providers, and always, always, always, be looking for them. You should market to find your freelancers as much as you market to find your clients...

Before you do, remember this: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Offer very low pay, but with very big bonuses for work done right and turned in on time.

-Dani
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Ben Bergmann

14 years ago

To be honest, I don't think there is another solution. I've found that if somebody doesn't provide top notch customer service, they are not going to change in the future. I'd suggest to just move on and find somebody else who is reliable.

You have no reason to stay with them, there are plenty of other honest and reliable businesses out there that would love to work with you.

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Damien Roche

14 years ago

"Offer very low pay, but with very big bonuses for work done right and turned in on time."

GREAT ADVICE!

Pay people peanuts, you will definitely find gems that way!

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charleshopeful

Banned 14 years ago

Sometimes you just need to let go of providers that are a drain on your time and monetary resources. If you are spending more time having to double check work, constantly be in contact with the provider, or simply can't get a hold of them when something goes wrong I would say it is time to look elsewhere.

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VanessaB

14 years ago

I didn't say 'pay them peanuts.'

Let me clarify... offer an average rate, with a small deposit, and then a bonus up to a high end rate, for getting it done right, and on time.

For example: I used to write for an article site that pays $15.00 per article.

I wanted to free up time for other stuff, but couldn't give up the income, so I expanded and hired freelancers to leverage that expansion.

I offered my freelancers $10.00 (their normal rates were $5.00 -$7.00). I pay a $5.00 deposit, with a $5.00 bonus for getting them done and back to me on time!

-Dani

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NicoleBeckett

14 years ago

Originally Posted by DanielleS

I offered my freelancers $10.00 (their normal rates were $5.00 -$7.00). I pay a $5.00 deposit, with a $5.00 bonus for getting them done and back to me on time!

-Dani

If you have to pay them a bonus for finishing their work on time, they're not very good freelancers. After all, if they can't handle their clients' deadlines, they can't handle the job.

As for the OP, there are so many options out there that you do not need to put up with problems like these. The whole point of outsourcing is to make things easier on you - not so that you have a dozen hands to hold. You need to find more professional people to outsource to.

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VanessaB

14 years ago

Originally Posted by NicoleBeckett

If you have to pay them a bonus for finishing their work on time, they're not very good freelancers. After all, if they can't handle their clients' deadlines, they can't handle the job.

As for the OP, there are so many options out there that you do not need to put up with problems like these. The whole point of outsourcing is to make things easier on you - not so that you have a dozen hands to hold. You need to find more professional people to outsource to.

It equates to paying them more than they charge to begin with, in the form of a bonus. Bonuses are used like this as incentives by top level business managers, and have proven to have strong psychological power to motivate employees.

-Dani

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CliveG 14 years ago

Originally Posted by DanielleS

... Bonuses are used like this as incentives by top level business managers, and have proven to have strong psychological power to motivate employees.

-Dani

That is a different situation as the profit of a business can vary from very poor to very high. When you are, for example, buying an article for SEO purposes you either get what you ask for or you don't. If you don't you just don't pay for it at all - forget the 50% deposit - no result, no payment.

Go somewhere else. If all your sub contractors are causing you problems you are possibly doing something wrong yourself (or just happen to be very unlucky at the moment).
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- VanessaB 14 years ago
  
  Clive,
  
  I've yet to find decent freelancers that don't require at least a 50% deposit.
  
  -Dani
  
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hd-sam

14 years ago

Always do your research. It pays to look up reviews. In my industry, you typically you get what you pay for. Always have a backup plan. And I'd recommend paying for services with a credit card (not debit). If the provider is unresponsive or not providing what they promised, you can always issue a chargeback.

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mr2monster

14 years ago

Originally Posted by ProductCreator

Fire them. Why persist with a lousy service? Spend your money elsewhere.

Pretty much it, right there.

If they don't want the work, find someone who does. Plain and Simple.

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John Lenaghan

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Amfire

i know firing them is a way. Any other possible solutions do you suggest?

If they mess up once, I'd give them a chance to make it up. Unexpected things do come up for people, and there might be a legitimate reason for the missed deadline, or whatever they've done wrong.

If it happens more than once, I wouldn't even give them a chance, just fire them. They might improve after a warning, but chances are they're going to slip back into their old ways before long. The last thing you need is to have to hold their hand on every job - you might as well learn to do it yourself and get it done right in that case.

I would look for more than one provider for any given service and if you have more than one job going at a time, try to spread them around a bit. That way if someone doesn't work out, you have another person to fall back on instead of being left with nobody to do the work.

And make sure you're clear about your expectations up front. Let them know that missing deadlines, not responding to emails, etc. will result in them being fired.

John

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myeanne

14 years ago

Just fire them and look for another providers. They don't deserve your money.

Always look for a reputable company and ask the necessary things before outsourcing:
samples
references
competitive price

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Matt Ausin

14 years ago

I'd say fire them. They are just wasting your time - because this can cost you even more money when you fail to deliver your work in time because of their irresponsibility.