Anyone has a similar experiences with Crossover company?
Why you should never use Upwork
171–180 of 274 posts
Re: Why you should never use Upwork
#172Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm from the deep east so i know exactly what you mean. :D The difference here is of course that in the DDR you weren't asked if it's ok to listen in on you. ;)
Thanks for taking it lightly, sometimes people are touchy :-) > The difference here is of course that in the DDR you weren't asked if it's ok to listen in on you. ;) Yes, but if enough big companies get away with this, then having a choice of "not using Upwork if you don't like it" wont matter much, because you'll be missing where most of the clients are. In other words, you could still take the principled stance, bu…
Well, included in not being asked is also that you weren't told when you'd be listened to. With oDesk you know exactly when since it only happens when you push the button. There are no surprises involved, as opposed to the DDR where you could wake up to your door being kicked in because a week ago someone two tables over in the pub heard you gripe.
Re: Why you should never use Upwork
#173Unfortunately corporate bullying is a new trend seen more and more frequently. We should be very careful in our choice of companies we choose to interact with.
Re: Why you should never use Upwork
#174From the Upwork FAQ: "You'll need to download and use the Upwork Team App—this tool includes the Work Diary, which ensures you are guaranteed payment. By taking work-in-progress screenshots every 10 minutes, it provides proof to your clients that you are hard at work." Screenshots every 10 minutes? You mean... screenshots of MY SCREEN every 10 minutes? That was what made me close their website and totally forget it u…
I’m OK with that requirement.
Before starting to log time for an hourly contract, I close all browser tabs esp. HN and Facebook, close MS Outlook, set “DND” Skype status, close unneeded applications, etc.
That reduce distractions and helps me focus on the software I’m building.
Re: Why you should never use Upwork
#175Earlier quoted context omitted.
The time segments would have indicators of low user activity in that case, plus you'd have the exact same screenshot for a long time in a row. Yes, you can game it even so, but it would be at least inconvenient for you. Besides, if you do keep the stuff you don't want your client to see on another machine, then there's no reason to worry about being "spied" on. :)
I often take 15 minute walks to think about thorny problems or use a pen and paper to sketch out designs. Either of those would yield "low user activity" indicators. It's been years since I've been an employee on any sites like that, but I still think the system is pretty bad. Just start with small projects and then scale up for high performing freelancers and don't offer repeat work to low performers.
I do the same. It's fine. :)
Each snapshot is accompanied by a note of what you're working on as well (if you make one). If you're dealing with a client who'd question that, AND not accept/understand explanations, then you'd be dealing with many more problems from them as well, particularly without a work diary.
Re: Why you should never use Upwork
#176UpWork is simply a joke now. They were a bit better when they were oDesk, but now the sheer incompetence is hard to understand.
They keep inviting me to jobs that have no relationship to my declared skill-set.
They keep inviting me to apply to jobs for clients who have no intention of actually hiring.
They invite me to apply to work for them, and then fail to show up at the agreed upon interview time, several times
Whenever I reach out to support about an issue, they invariably, without fail, make the issue worse.
I'm seriously thinking of just deleting my account so I can focus my efforts on local freelancing
Re: Why you should never use Upwork
#177I think the worst part about this is that I wasn't even surprised throughout the entire story. Anyone who has been a freelancer has dealt with the random, uncalled for threats from clients to give you a bad review or try to suspend your account. It's the reason I gave up on working on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer almost immediately. Building a personal network is way easier to find contract work and you'll ma…
Aren't people on this thread being too harsh on Upwork? I agree that there are problems with the way it works, but nothing is ever perfect. I happen to be from a country with a lower cost of living than US/UK and Upwork allows me to do remote freelancing and charge more than I would be able to charge for work in person. Also, the world is full of clients that won't pay for your work after you deliver it. I don't know…
What's the costs of living? Or what country are you from?
The NY/SV are expensive, as-in the most expensive places in the world. People there can only be paid the money they are paid because they are in a crazy place. It's understandable that remote work worldwide doesn't match up with that.
Anywhere else is cheaper, the range goes from half to 10x cheaper. So, what country are you from? what's your rate?
The point being. If upwork can only pay enough for the bottom 20% income bracket in the world. It is indeed terribly inappropriate for most of HN readers.
Re: Why you should never use Upwork
#178I think the worst part about this is that I wasn't even surprised throughout the entire story. Anyone who has been a freelancer has dealt with the random, uncalled for threats from clients to give you a bad review or try to suspend your account. It's the reason I gave up on working on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer almost immediately. Building a personal network is way easier to find contract work and you'll ma…
Aren't people on this thread being too harsh on Upwork? I agree that there are problems with the way it works, but nothing is ever perfect. I happen to be from a country with a lower cost of living than US/UK and Upwork allows me to do remote freelancing and charge more than I would be able to charge for work in person. Also, the world is full of clients that won't pay for your work after you deliver it. I don't know…
What did they do that deserves praise in this case? All I can see is terrible support and questionable practices.
Seems like they deserve it
Re: Why you should never use Upwork
#179I think that the freelance marketplace is not good for the freelance economy as a whole. A lot of the time, it creates a race to the bottom as far as pricing, and you have to compete with workers overseas undercutting you at every corner. When I first got started freelancing, I used eLance (which is now UpWork). I had a similar experience with a client, they suspended my account for 2+ months, and I won the dispute a…
I'll slightly disagree with the view about "the race to the bottom".
Most of the market is always in the bottom, whatever the market is. Upwork/elance/whatever just make it stand out.
Most of the work is low paying shit by shit clients who have no clue what they are doing. (Nothing special. It's the same with physical companies to physically work at :D).
As a decent freelancer who wanna do decent work for a decent client, you've gotta filter aggressively.
Re: Why you should never use Upwork
#180I think the worst part about this is that I wasn't even surprised throughout the entire story. Anyone who has been a freelancer has dealt with the random, uncalled for threats from clients to give you a bad review or try to suspend your account. It's the reason I gave up on working on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer almost immediately. Building a personal network is way easier to find contract work and you'll ma…
> Anyone who has been a freelancer has dealt with the random, uncalled for threats from clients to give you a bad review or try to suspend your account. This. Totally. Several times, at 3/3 platforms where I've been working (for over two years now). Surprisingly (not), they (the clients) can do this and get away with it any time, but I (the freelancer) can't.
You know... Who has the money? Who has Upwork to please? The client.
So what is your role in Upwork?
Let me tell you what I have realised...
Do you pay to use Upwork? Not directly (you're not the one fueling the whole thing). Are you paid to use Upwork? No, because the money you get is a counterpart for the work you perform.
So... What is the your role in Upwork? Well, you're the product being sold.
In any case you will always lose. You are not putting money into Upwork, but the client is. And the customer is always right.
Plus, they have recently raised their cut, like a lot.