Problems with your freelancer? or outsourced worked?

by Newbieee

Posted: 14 years ago 22 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Man. i hate to be in this situation.

Everyone hates to be in this.

When something happen to your freelancer which is your worker or the project that you outsourced.

Either being scammed, delayed work, disputes, etc it is always not nice to encounter.

I was going to launch a website to take advantage of the season.
Thus i was planning to launch it last week or at least lastest this week.

I hired this guy for web design. $300.

And now he has lots of "excuses" [whether real or not, it affects me]

he says his family crashed, which i dont know what it means, plane crash? car crash? family stocks crash?
then he said the girl of his dream got stolen by another bigger guy.

The thing is before that he was very forth coming. He replies very fast, answers all my questions, he stayed up with me to 4am which is his 1am. But once i paid the upfront which is my standard practice of 50%.
He suddenly had this problems. Family crashed, gal stolen.

and he ask for my hosting account so he can install a code.

he told me give him 3 more days, even then this is the 2nd extended day and he hasnt been online to reply me. i mean if you are doing my work shouldnt u be online too? or at least reply my email by the end of the day?

i hired this guy on freelancer.com.
i saw he had lots of good reviews. some bad too[so it makes it look real because i know there are fake reviews. but there were 1 or 2 bad reviews and the rest are good, some more from multiple accounts in different countries.

so he should be good.

but now all this happen.

on 1 hand i cant help but think he is cheating me, so many factors dont add up.
on the other hand even if his reasons are real, i cant be losing money just because of hiim delaying my project.
there are other parts of my project like customer service which i already paid.
and for now even if its real, i dont expect him to be able to complete my project in time due to his situation, even if he does, i dont think the quality would be good too..

sigh....

i think i would be finding another guy already..

#freelancer #outsourced #problems #worked

wrongnumber 14 years ago

freelancer is full of rookies and fakes... just get your refund... this guy is definitely faking it...
- Thanks
Signature
Buyers Wanted Urgent!...

~ Made 4 Sales with this site (~$105)
~ No Promotion done at all, just 5 hours of work I did
~ No Time To Work On This Anymore
~ Giving away for cheap! Need Money!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5289719].message }}
TheDuckDev 14 years ago

I do various freelance jobs, and I never let my personal problems effect my clients. The professionalism drops when he tries to make you feel sympathy for him. As the above post mentions, request a refund off him directly. If he refused then make a dispute with freelancer.com
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5289730].message }}
princecapri 14 years ago

I wouldn't touch Freelancer.com with a 10-foot pole! Just don't trust them, or the number of scammers that are there. Sorry to hear that its going terribly for you. Hope you can get it sorted soon, especially since there is a ticking 'time' bomb for your project.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5289794].message }}
- abdulquddus 14 years ago
  
  Freelance is always risky..I am saying this as I was freelancer myself.
  
  But seeing the risks, I formed a team so that if something happens to me, at least my team will be there to support my clients.
  
  Now I spend my time very relaxed. Infact my complete team is relaxed as we always have two to three people sharing works.
  
  We basically provide virtual assistance services and SEO. VA services require us to be available everyday. So its only possible with a team work.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5289899].message }}
Fernando Veloso 14 years ago

Listen, IF you have asked me a quote (it's just a pretend thing, not real) I'd say to you I charge 40$ an hour for Warriors. You would have told me "You're CRAZY! - I can get this done for ...(insert value here)."

Then you waste 3 days searching for a freelancer, opening accounts in freelance sites, getting 200 automate messages, getting crazy to find out only 3 freelancers REALLY answered your advert.

So far you wasted 2-3 days and ... (insert value here).

Then you get one freelancer to start the project. Thing goes on, and on and on, and you finally realize freelancer is joking with you and used the 300$ to buy Christmas gifts.

Now please get back to my first paragraph.

Who - between you and me - is crazy after all?

You see, time is money. My time, your time, his time. That's why people deliver projects to other people they TRUST. And those guys usually charge more then a random freelancer. But they deliver. On time.

Next "time", think about it.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

People make good money selling to the rich. But the rich got rich selling to the masses.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5289969].message }}
- Lucas Becker 14 years ago
  
  This is why you need to test out your outsourcers before you actually pay them. Give them a sample of what you need them to do and have them create it for you so you can see how fast they work and how good they are.
  
  Always be in contact with them on Skype. Email communication is slow and you really want to be able to reach out to them ASAP when something happens.
  
  I would send the sample to at least 5 outsourcers first and employ the one that does the work the fastest and that is overall the best out of all.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5290130].message }}
  
  JohnJonasVA Banned 14 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6290994].message }}
  
  grayghost 14 years ago
  
  it is normally 25% of the total cost to develop a website up front.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6291854].message }}
  
  eBayer 14 years ago
  
  I had a very similar problem, I wanted a mini-app developed and guess what happened? The freelancer outsourced my work, he was supposed to complete by 2weeks, it stretched to 1month and eventually he came up with something which I didn't ask for. It was a total screw-up, I soon filed a case and I lost the case.
  
  We just learn from our mistakes, I guess work should be done via advance payment system. Anyways, I have a friend who is excellent and have great ability with photoshop and is not expensive. By great I mean really great. he is design eBay stores for $150, the same that are designed by others for $700. Designing and installation.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6292006].message }}

Venturetothetop

14 years ago

Tip for future,

Escrow money and ONLY ever release it once you have work in your hands. Nobody can ever demand money to be sent upfront, they can expect an escrow (payment help for security) but never give the money over before you see results.

That is basic business.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

[B]

Get my book - 10 Hacks to Double Your Success as an Entrepreneur

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5290164].message }}

tampaprogrammer

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Venturetothetop

On the flipside of this, I have programmed, on good faith with no money upfront, and the client pushes and pushes on new additions "its only a few minutes tweak" thing and before I know it, I am another half day to several days in on the project that I didn't project in the initial bid.

They keep holding that golden carrot in your face "once you get this done, I will release some funds" and I eat it and eat it.

On 2 occasions, the people just bailed and decided they DIDN'T even want to proceed with the project after I had invested X days on the build. No money down on the deposit and I am screwed.

I know its a tough call on both sides but just remember, the client isn't the only one at risk of getting screwed.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5290211].message }}

Ricky Dawn 14 years ago

But if you have paid through Freelancer you are fairly safe? You should never release the funds until the work is complete!

Freelancer.com is not just full of rookies and cons, far from it.

I have a team of freelancers which I initially met on Freelancer.com and they are brilliant!

Let me know if you want their details!

Ricky
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5290165].message }}
onegoodman 14 years ago

First, I would say it depends.

I had many issues with many freelancers, some gets your work late some doesn't even bother.

I personally stick with my freelancer I hire until he quit (as long as I am happy).

2 months ago I had one from india on really great rate, but he stopped doing his work (1 month to fix an issue with something he developed and refused to fix it asking for more than the cost of development).

Every time make excuses about his family. finally I find out the guy has 15 project in progress plus some where he get fired for keep delaying their work (apparently he work with the one who pay more first).

Again not all are not decent but you got many of those as well.
- Thanks
Signature
5 figure passive income
Hire Quality Virtual Assistants at affordable rate
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5290195].message }}
Newbieee 14 years ago

thanks guys for support and advice.
- Thanks
Signature

Pain is a perception, so is defeat & happiness!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5290264].message }}
Newbieee 14 years ago

yes.. initially i asked him to just do the basic stuff on his own domain and show me. then when i know what he is doing and his capabilities then i pay him the 50% then he can transfer the stuff over to my hosting domain then i release the other 50%.

but he says he doesnt want to risk working and spending time on any project without deposit.

his profile has a face, and a few good comments on his reviews, so i decided to trust him.

then who knows this happens.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

Pain is a perception, so is defeat & happiness!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5290281].message }}
- Richard Crooke 14 years ago
  
  I feel your pain. I use John Jonas system called Replace Myself and hire people from the Philippines. BTW, Replace Myself is a great membership.
  
  However, I have had bad luck with hiring people. Meaning, they do a great job in replying to my ad and answering my questions.
  
  Then recently, I hire them and they basically disappear. Crazy. Luckily, they need to do the work before I pay, so I haven't lost any money. However, what I have lost is my time with interviewing and setting the ground work.
  
  So what I have done is changed my business strategy. Since I do well financially, I am beginning to find individuals that want to partner with me and I'll split the profits with them. This way they now have an vested interest in working with me and reaping the rewards.
  
  I started this a couple of months ago. You'll see post from me time to time within the JV area looking for partners.
  
  Good luck to all,
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  My DNA "Success"
  
  FREE PLR Case Study
  
  FREE Craigslist Case Study - Making 4 Figures
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5290348].message }}
Thierry Samuel 14 years ago

you can test the freelancer with sample task and see they perform. crappy things happen when he put personal problems as a bad argument.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5290540].message }}
abbs 14 years ago

Freelancer is a pain for both (honest) workers and employers

I would strongly recommend that you check out Elance or Vworker, since they have a much better pool of workers, in my opinion. Moreover, they have escrow system and a good dispute resolution mechanism that ensures that scams are extremely unlikely.

If you need help outsourcing, or picking the right worker, feel free to PM me. I might have some useful tips
- Thanks
Signature

Internet-based freelancing is a SCIENCE and The Freelancer Academy has figured it out!

Get my Comprehensive Guide to Finding Success on Freelancer.com and learn how to win projects consistently
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6289229].message }}
loi77 14 years ago

You shouldn't have to pay anything upfront for works yet to be done.

Try to get you money back. Then move on and find another one.

I use oDesk and so far so good.
- Thanks
Signature
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6291318].message }}
Chris Thompson 14 years ago

A few thoughts:

1) If the guy is mentioning his personal problems as a reason for delay, he's not professional. Yes, personal problems get in our way, but you never tell your clients. You keep it to business, and you get the job done. He is probably lying to you.

2) This stuff happens. That's the problem with hiring freelancers. My policy on freelancers is to use them ONLY when I can't justify having one of my regular virtual staff members do the job (specialty stuff), and then, when possible, to have a regular roster of freelancers that I trust.

I have full time staff for things that I do over and over again. But then I have a roster of freelancers who I trust for graphics, web design, wordpress theme customization, ecovers, audio editing, and other stuff that I don't need a full timer on.

So, at first, you may struggle and find that you get robbed by a liar. But it will only happen a few times before you find your TRUSTED pool of candidates that you can come back to over and over again.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6291402].message }}
codefish 14 years ago

There are some strange advices here:
"You shouldn't have to pay anything upfront for works yet to be done." - I never start to work without some amount paid upfront. There are even kids on these sites, yes really! The risk should be shared. If you do not risk some amount, you will always hire such freelancers.
"tampaprogrammer" is right. All of us have had clients of type "There are just a few more simple changes (big list of new features)
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6291613].message }}
ueon 14 years ago

usually you get what you pay for. additionally, i tend to stay away from freelancers in southern asia to avoid situations like this. there are very good and promising freelancers if look hard enough in those areas
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6292100].message }}
myeanne 14 years ago

this thread started last year. who bump the old thread?
- Thanks
Signature
Staff Leasing
We Lease Offshore Employees
Hire inexpensive labor from the Philippines!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6292653].message }}

Problems with your freelancer? or outsourced worked?

Trending Topics

Tribute to Mark...

Building a Children's Educational Ecommerce Ecosystem Instead of Just a Shopify Store

What if we banned Google?

Google Adding Ads to AI?

Is sleep overrated ??