Profile for maphix - Cheap freelancers SUCK!

maphix aka Mara Gonzalez is a girl, has been a member since March 11, 2005, has scored 2,455 submissions, giving an average score of 1.67, helping 20 designs get printed.

URL: http://www.maphix.com

Nov 16 '11 by maphix
5 Comments
Watch this
Share:

Cheap freelancers SUCK!

The new wave of freelance websites has changes the whole freelancing game by making it as cheap as buying expired onions.
I have been freelancing for several years now, usually getting customers by word of mouth. But the garment/fashion industry that has employed me in the past has been so badly crippled by recession that I have lost many accounts. So I turned to online resources most of which allow freelancers to bid on projects.
The whole concept is cool and dynamic and I can see the potential benefits for both freelancers and freelancees (made that one up...I know).
Con: why on earth would any freelancer bid so low that it is not even worth getting the job????? It makes no sense. You want to get the job, I get it. But 10$ for a logo???? Really??? How about 0$?
Anyways...just thought I would get the word out there. Have a little self respect. Bid at decent prices so that we can all make a living. Peace.

nickv47 on Nov 16 '11 at 4:01pm

Sorry to hear. If people are legit, they'll look you up and let you charge them an honest fee for your talents in my experience. I wouldn't look for work on those sites. Ever you freelance staffing? That's another racket, but you get better rates.

Ste7en on Nov 16 '11 at 4:03pm

Yeah, as more and more crowd sourced and bid based freelance sites pop up I get less and less new clients

Miluette on Nov 16 '11 at 4:08pm

I came into the game when all this was already going on, and it's a little disheartening.

tomgreever on Nov 16 '11 at 4:10pm

Agreed. I try to provide more value via consulting and best practices for marketing/design and ads... not just doing the design. In fact, a couple of times I have even told a potential client "you could do this cheaper at xyz.com if you want" but they didn't want to do that. At least I can feel good about letting them know their options. But you're right, it sucks.

maphix on Nov 16 '11 at 5:00pm

The design part of projects has become the 'freeby' in many cases. Ex: screen printers offer free designs if they get the production. I can understand that. It is not really free, it is an incentive. (I still have to compete with 'free' *sight*)

I have to charge for design so I have to add another 'freeby'. In my case, it is the 'consulting' part (and the x-mas gifts, and the unexpected visits with coffee 'bribe style'). But whatever I do, I don't bring my prices down (lower that they are right now anyways...). It sets a wrong standard.

You must be logged in to leave a comment.