New pricing rollout dates announced

[Stefan K]

The thing is that Upwork is expelling writers, graphic designers, translators and maybe few others segments of freelancers from Upwork. Odesk was focused mainly on programmers who typically had long term contract. 4 months ago I introduced my younger brother to Upwork who is a programmer. He now has exactly one client and earnings crossing 8000USD, so he is approaching the top 5% fee. This can almost never happe to a graphics designer. I have had around 70 clients on Upwork, short term, well paid one time jobs. 95% never cross 500USD/lifetime client level. And I was on Elance few years.

Btw. how could Elace survive so many years with 8,75% fee for years. WIth same or even better services?

Upwork claim it is loosing with me, though I am paying thousands USD on fees with my small contracts. I do not want you to loose. So no new jobs on Upwork, almost zero activity here for me. 

Good luck with this genial experiments, but I am not going to volunteer in this. 

[Douglas Michael M]

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@Stefan K wrote:

....Btw. how could Elace survive so many years with 8,75% fee for years. WIth same or even better services? . 

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Stefan,

The same way Upwork survives and makes up shortfalls in revenue: by infusions of venture capital.

The thing is, venture capitalists' patience is long, but not infinite. Elance dug itself a hole out of which it could never rise and turn a profit (or become publicly saleable). So its investors pulled the plug and arranged to transfer its asset base (us contractors), and whatever portions of its market would follow (at least some of our clients and most if not all of the Enterprise clients)  to oDesk, now Upwork, in the belief that it has better prospects for a return on their investment.

tl;dr: Elance didn't survive. It went broke. oDesk ate it.

Best,

Michael

[Vivek K]

Who acquired whom?

Elance acquired oDesk or oDesk acquired Elance?

As far as I know Elance acquired oDesk. That means Elance was in more comfortable position rather then oDesk.  So not really sure how you are sying that "Elance dug itself a hole out of which it could never rise and turn a profit"

[Douglas Michael M]

My answer stands. The figures are available if you care to research them.

[Ivan S]

I have heard that many people are going to leave upwork as they dont like new commission pricing. I d like it because already realy enormous rivalry in my area of work  (more then 144 k specialists) In this case, it will be easier to take projects for me (i'm beginner here)

[Blagoja M]

Maybe it's just my field of work, but these days the job postings are much reduced than usual... maybe i'ts only in my mind, but i think the new pricing is already taking it's taxation...

[Nikola N]

Also I have noticed that the new job postings are extremely reduced, it is really bad sign.

[Douglas Michael M]

I would not expect new postings to take a hit three weeks before the commission rises. If anything, clients affected by it and aware of it might be prompted to post more jobs before it takes effect.

I suspect seasonal variation (the summer slump, according to rich-country production cycles).

Postings may decline as a result of the price hike, though that is most likely to affect the kinds of low-rent clients—the ones unwilling to pay contractors more—Upwork would just as soon do without.

[Cheryl K]

I'm already figuring the new costs into my bids.

Yes it has slowed down, but I think it is the summer season.

Cheepies still abound but hopefully they will leave once they discover the payment "fee" on their end.  I do think it will become more a platform for long-term relationships and less one-time jobs.  I for one will be charging more on the front end of new relationships

But like everything good or bad.........this too will pass

[Cody C]

And then they'll (Upwork) will enact yet another price increase, like they've done the past 2 years.