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Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

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Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#51

Post by Bigdognec »

j4pe wrote: post #11

I've been thinking about forming a co-op for a trusted network of freelancers, to handle the crummy parts of the job (sourcing, selling, collecting) while encouraging the good parts (building, branding, partnering with quality colleagues). I had similar experiences being left with fake jobs/bad credit through freelance markets. Thanks for sharing! I generally take longer-term gigs, so consistent dealflow isn't as big…

Hi, I have started investing time in trying to identify local businesses and niche market segments via other methods including advertising. I am also planning on trying to get some tie ups with startups which want prototyping services. It is too early to comment on how effective it is but I definitely feel that it is a much better approach in the long term.

Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#52

Post by Bigdognec »

AlexeyBrin wrote: post #38
josephjrobison wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people would still prefer to use the platform as protection, with their escrow-like payment service.

There is no protection against fraud on Freelancer. If a buyer issues a charge back on his credit card after the project is paid and delivered, you are screwed. Freelancer declines any responsibility for cases like that.

Unfortunately this is the case. I hear that Skrill is safe in this regard. I have had bad experiences with Paypal as well. Do you have any recommendations on what is better way to get paid?

Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#53

Post by mk3 »

flavor8 wrote: post #6
mk3 wrote: post #2

Had similar issues with oDesk, which is now as I know is owned by the same company as freelancer.com. Though it has time tracking and I always tried to bid only on projects with hourly rates, I got stuck with non paying client which dissapeared from the face of the earth, and even when submitting that project is canceled from my side because of no show they are not closing the project. Not to mention I was not paid a…

> Had similar issues with oDesk, which is now as I know is owned by the same company as freelancer.com Are you sure? Elance and ODesk "merged", but I thought they were still competitors with Freelancer.

Sorry my bad, tried all of them stuck with oDesk, at one point in my freelance career, cause they had time tracking quite nicely integrated, then decided that working with clients directly on one hand it's harder to find one outside of the system, while on the other the hourly rate is worth the additional effort. Though I miss badly time tracking capability with screenshots outside of any system where I could share screenshots and work done with my client.

Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#54

Post by mk3 »

yen223 wrote: post #49
michaelkoz wrote: post #45

I own a company and have been using ODESK for the last six years. I have spent nearly 35,000 on above average programmers, their normal rate of pay is anywhere between 15 and 65.00 an hour. At first, i selected this site because it was a good source of low paid talent, but then I realized there were some really solid developers/programmers using the service. I only really had problem with 2-3 guys who said they were…

$35,000 over six years. This is why if you're a programmer of any substance, you should avoid oDesk.

Actually any type of freelancers should avoid if possible. Though if you need to accumulate portfolio and get paid even a little bit it's worth a try. Also I saw some burnt clients only look for local devs for higher rate which is still miserable compared to the price you would pay on the ground.

Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#55

Post by mk3 »

posnet wrote: post #41

I always wonder when I hear these sort of stories out coming out of odesk, freelancer or elance, if the sort of highly qualified developer is actally their target market. Now I am not saying that people on freelancer are incompetent but like the original post said they now don't have a network outside of freelancer which is far more imporant for an actual freelancer web developer as opposed to someone in india or the…

Me myself living in small city in Europe. So it was a good starting point to kickstart my skills in programming, and hacking stuff together. Though the projects are mostly involving wordpress themes and etc. so it gets boring quite fast.

Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#56

Post by k-mcgrady »

witty_username wrote: post #28
dguaraglia wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know a few hundred dollars here and there doesn't sound like a lot, but if you are doing it while living in a country with a favorable exchange rate (say, Brazil or Argentina), it becomes an easy way to earn a decent living. I've done it myself.

I assume you mean PPP ratio.

While PPP is probably most important exchange rates matter too. Most people tend to bid/pay in USD. So for me when the GBP/USD was right I could charge the same as usual in USD but that translated to more money in GBP.

Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#57

Post by twohlix_ »

slaxman wrote: post #37
deathtrader666 wrote: post #34

This is Rishi, and I am the Co-Founder at http://dreamlance.io/ We are starting Dreamlance, a curated marketplace for projects and professionals. Here are 3 ways how Dreamlance is different from all other “curated” marketplaces: 1. The Dreamlance Team actually vets each project that gets posted on our boards - We make sure the project description is complete - We make sure the project deliverables are crystal clear -…

it says "7.5% of the project cost. Payable by the project owner and the freelance professional" Does that mean that the freelancer and the project owner both pay 7.5% each?

"This fee needs to be paid by both the parties before their service contract commences." So I have to pay you to do work if I'm a contractor. Sounds like a great plan.

/sarcasm

Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#58

Post by stefantalpalaru »

krisgenre wrote: post #47
zwetan wrote: post #43

I wasted some time testing those sites: freelancer, odesk and elance here is my conclusion: whatever you do, you will always end up having problems with those kind of site. Either the escrow can be reverted, or the site side with the "employer", how about installing that odesk thing that take a screenshot of your desktop every few minutes ? and on, and on, etc. I worked as a freelancer without such web sites for 10+…

odesk's time tracking app seems extremely scary ( watches keystrokes and takes screenshots ). Can't believe people actually install that thing.

Not extremely, but yes, it's unpleasant. It counts the keystrokes and mouse clicks to prove activity and it takes one screenshot every 10 minutes which you can delete, at the cost of the corresponding 10 minutes not being billed.

Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#59

Post by issaria »

michaelkoz wrote: post #45

I own a company and have been using ODESK for the last six years. I have spent nearly 35,000 on above average programmers, their normal rate of pay is anywhere between 15 and 65.00 an hour. At first, i selected this site because it was a good source of low paid talent, but then I realized there were some really solid developers/programmers using the service. I only really had problem with 2-3 guys who said they were…

"but you know during the job they were Googling answers to the problems"

LOL, what an asshole.

Re: Why you should think twice about Freelancer.com

#60

Post by jackgolding »

issaria wrote: post #59
michaelkoz wrote: post #45

I own a company and have been using ODESK for the last six years. I have spent nearly 35,000 on above average programmers, their normal rate of pay is anywhere between 15 and 65.00 an hour. At first, i selected this site because it was a good source of low paid talent, but then I realized there were some really solid developers/programmers using the service. I only really had problem with 2-3 guys who said they were…

"but you know during the job they were Googling answers to the problems" LOL, what an asshole.

I had to laugh too
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