Do you get a lot of lowballers?

by TolyZ
11 replies
Hey guys,
I'm currently offering a web design, web programming and some link building services on some of the freelance web sites.
My prices are already pretty cheap, yet looks like people still trying to beat me up on prices, especially on web site design / development. I know it's normal for everyone to try and lower the price, but what really gets me is when they try to pay me $5 for a $200 web site, and when I tell them it's simply too much work for that price they proceed to tell me how it's just "simple" modifications etc.

Anyone else encounter the same problem?
#lot #lowballers
  • Profile picture of the author dadamson
    Yes I get that all the time and it is just a part of doing business unfortunately.

    People who aren't willing to pay you honest money for your work obviously aren't serious about their business.

    You shop around for a new TV, not for human labor.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4968133].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    If you haven't seen this video yet, then you will definitely relate. It should also give you some extra confidence when negotiating.


    All the best,
    Michael
    Signature

    "Ich bin en fuego!"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4968147].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author sal64
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      If you haven't seen this video yet, then you will definitely relate. It should also give you some extra confidence when negotiating.

      The Vendor Client relationship - in real world situations - YouTube

      All the best,
      Michael
      And so will this one if you're dealing on Elance or DP...

      russell peters: be a man - YouTube
      Signature
      Internet Marketing: 20% Internet - 80% Marketing!
      You Won't See The Light Until You Open Your Eyes.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4968183].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Joe Benjamin
      Originally Posted by TolyZ View Post

      Hey guys,
      I'm currently offering a web design, web programming and some link building services on some of the freelance web sites.
      My prices are already pretty cheap, yet looks like people still trying to beat me up on prices, especially on web site design / development. I know it's normal for everyone to try and lower the price, but what really gets me is when they try to pay me $5 for a $200 web site, and when I tell them it's simply too much work for that price they proceed to tell me how it's just "simple" modifications etc.

      Anyone else encounter the same problem?
      Toly, I've been there. So...

      Here's what I changed: ME.

      ...when I decided I wasn't going to accept less than
      what I knew my skills were worth...life changed in a
      split second...and I do mean fast.

      Here's another secret: If clients can sense they can
      "push you around" to get what they want - they "will".

      ...that doesn't make them bad people. It just makes
      them human. Think about it...

      if you can get what you want CHEAPER knowing you
      can get the prices down - would you NOT make the
      effort to try?

      Here's the key: CONTROL the conversation. CONTROL
      the outcome.

      In other words, if you ACT like a subordinate at the
      mercy of your "client"...well, sometimes it's tempting
      NOT to take advantage of that.

      ...and you give them an open door.

      If you BELIEVE what they have is worth more to YOU
      then what you can give in return (service)...

      already you've lost the game.

      ...because you've given up your leverage and power
      and your clients, oddly enough, can sense this in the
      way you respond, sound on the phone, and especially
      in person.

      THEY have nothing to lose...but YOU do.

      In my world, what "I" have to offer is worth more than
      the money I get in return...because I can use these
      skills to make me a lot of money with or without them.

      They come to YOU for YOUR service...so how does
      go from them seeking you...to you seeking them?

      It's your reality. It exist to the extent you create it.
      Luckily, you're still alive in which you can change it...



      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      If you haven't seen this video yet, then you will definitely relate. It should also give you some extra confidence when negotiating.

      The Vendor Client relationship - in real world situations - YouTube

      All the best,
      Michael
      Funny video. I've seen this happen a few times...

      you know...haggling on price isn't a "bad" thing
      IF it's worth the time and effort to do so...

      In fact, the most successful people are master
      negotiators...but when you try to "manipulate"
      people and force them to give you a deal - like
      in the case of the waiter whose tips are based
      on how much your bill is...and you try and stiff
      the bill (therefore stiffing the waiter) when the
      service was good...

      it's the lowest common denominator.

      I'll negotiate on real estate, cars, big projects,
      but I won't haggle with a ice cream parlor in my
      local town.
      Signature
      **How I FLIPPED $80 into $690 Pure Profit With ONE EASY Method...2 to 3x Per Week...Only 30 Minutes Per Day (and how YOU can COPY my RESULTS, too!) **CLICK HERE FOR VERIFIED VIDEO PROOF**
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4975183].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Seth Bias
    Yeah I used to have low ballers now if its anything less than $500 I will not touch it... I found out people who are in the $200-$300 range are more trouble than they are good. I had a client from h*** never getting in contact with me about her site even though I'd call and email, and then after weeks went by I finished her site for her to say she didn't like it at all and she wanted a new one.... needless to say I got rid of her. But only take people who are serious about there business !
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4968148].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ebusinesstutor
    Get this book, "Attracting Perfect Customer" by Stacey Hall & Jan Broguiez. Work with it on an ongoing basis and those annoying lowballers will disappear.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4974223].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ClarkKent
    Let me tell you a story...

    I used to work in technical support before marketing. After school, certification, etc.
    I worked freelance at $30 an hour, had a decent client list.
    I found though that nearly half my time ended up being unbillable though.
    "Do me a favor" here.
    "Just a couple minutes of your time" there.

    Why?
    Because I had pigeon-holed myself as a good guy, a discount broker that was trying to compete with the "big-guys" on price.

    I later was hired by a larger outsourcing firm.
    They charged between $100-300/hour depending on the scope of the work.
    Consumer clients were charged $100/hour to start, far more than most other freelancers or companies doing similar work around the neighborhood.
    It seemed though that most of these clients respected our time more.

    Why?
    Because it costed them.

    Customers will screw you around, try to get more from you, and literally run you out of business if you let them.
    It's just the way it is though.

    Customers that try to get you to do design for $5.
    They're the ones that are trying to run you out of business. They know that model isn't sustainable.
    Don't hire those clients. They're just gonna cost you more in the long run.

    I always set boundaries in contract form.
    Never go below $400 on a design contract - and if I do get that low it's only because they're bartering something in return.
    - I want their name and logo on a press release.
    - They're referring clients to me for later work.
    - They're bundling my services that I'm offering and will pay a monthly contract.

    I also set boundaries for work.
    I'll shoot the **** for days talking and giving guidance for where their marketing campaigns should go next.
    The minute I open Photoshop, change a word in Wordpress, etc. they're going to get billed for an hour of work time.

    Be smart.
    They're in this for business, you should be too.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4974404].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    If you find that people are trying to low-ball you then the
    problem is with you and not them. Keep this in mind.

    You must ask what are you doing to attract them. If
    you market yourself correctly then all those low-ballers
    would be filtered out before they even think of hiring
    you.

    -Ray Edwards
    Signature
    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4974466].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    A fun read
    Clients From Hell
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4974806].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Speedyapoc
    If a client tries to lowball me, I will just stop communicating with them as even if I do get the job, it's just going to be a headache. If they want to outsource to $5/hour developers, by all means, go for it - your code will reflect it.

    @sbuccariel, LOVE that site ^.^
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4974824].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by TolyZ View Post

    My prices are already pretty cheap, yet looks like people still trying to beat me up on prices
    Don't let them and they'll go away.

    When people come up and go "waaaa, I don't have $200, can I pay you $5 just this once?!" and you go "oh, all right, you're lucky I'm Church of England" they go to all their cheap friends and say "THIS GUY DID $200 WORTH OF WORK FOR $5" and now you've got a whole bunch of "waaaaa, I don't have $200."

    Send them to Fiverr to look for someone and tell them you'll be happy to work with them when they have $200, and they'll still go to all their cheap friends. It's just that now they say "that jackhole wouldn't come down on price at all" and all the cheap-arse people leave you alone.
    Signature
    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4975431].message }}

Trending Topics