@Joachim M wrote:
@Edward W wrote:
God forbid someone would like a better understanding of your project goals and what you do in a more intimate setting than typing responses out.
Edward,
If the job description is clear enough there should be no need to use Skype. Especially as most don't want to talk on Skype but just use the chat feature. If people want to use chat, they can also use email. I've always found chat to be extremely time consuming.
With regards to the job description, I posted four jobs last year, 2 were a translation from German into Spanish, one was about repairing some scripts in a Joomla! website and one was the creation of a logo. For the two German>Spanish translations I also added the documents and a word count. This leaves no room for clarifying questions, especially as the two translators I hired didn't have any questions, just did the job. With the scripts I added the error message I was sent from the company hosting the website and said that I need someone speaking German. I wanted the freelancer to provide his application is German to make sure he masters the language, I also posted the job description in German. So why were bunch of freelancers asking me in English to Skype, bragging about their knowledge of Joomla! and telling me in their application that they most certainly can do the job, if I just explain to them via Skype what is written in the error message (it was in German). Time wasters! With the logo I had one company in Pakistan asking me via Elance for some more details, they then prepared a proposal clearly explaining how they would tackle the job. No need to Skype, so why were a bunch of others pestering me to Skype?
As a freelancer I've also had clients already posting in the RFP that will do an interview via Skype. In the end, it always was a chat session. All they did was asking questions I had already answered in my proposal or that were answered by reading my profile. We are talking about jobs for 30-50 dollar and chat sessions that lasted for 30 minutes and more, more than the job was worth. The last client asking for a Skype interview - it's some time ago now - I told I had no problem with it provided we actually talk and don't chat. I made it very clear that if he just wanted to do a chat I'd charge the time. Alternatively he might ask his questions by email, I'd not charge for that.
Edward, I'm sorry but with the low prices paid here, I have to work as efficiently as possible, Skype chats are quite the opposite of efficiency.
You do not have to work for pennies.
If that's what you desire to do, then so be it.
My issue is with clients who assume they've explained things so well, that they don't need to give the freelancer anymore clarification. Then have the audacity to get upset or agitated at a request to get a better understanding of how to effectively solve the client's problem.
You mean to tell me it's such an inconvience to want to actually help your client and understand the root of the issue? Too often do I come across a client who's looking for a logo, but we end up discovering that a logo is more like putting a band-aid over their leaking pipes and we have to go deeper than that and get to the root of the issue.
I think that's the problem with Upwork. Clients assume and believe they know exactly what's wrong but will not take the time to explore if that option truly solves their problem or not. The kind of designer I am with the values that I have, I cannot just push pixels around on command to satisfy a client for a month and then have them return because the problem has gotten worse. I like to make sure that if we're going to work on this project together that we solve the actual problem and not just run and put a band-aid on a gash with no stitches.
So please forgive any and all freelancers who care enough to want to dig a little deeper than, "Need logo for new business. Details only after you get the job," to truly help some of the more ungrateful clientele on this site. I get far too many anxious and timid potential clients who have been burned several times on this site because designers don't do their jobs. They go with the lowest common dominator for a price and then can't understand why the quality of the design is so poor.
You CAN just use the chat to talk. But more meaningful and purposeful conversation happens when you speak to one another. The dependability on not having to physically speak to each other is what I feel cripples the perception of quality with Upwork. You cannot get to the heart of someone's problem typing 140 characters or less to one another in a chat system and expect phenomenal results.
But carry on with the excuses and believing this is the way client-freelancer relationships are supposed to be. You forge your own success and results. If how you want to mark success as taking on pennies and not truly understanding your clients needs, by all means. But I'm going to work with those who are willing to have patience to work with me so we can solve what's really wrong.
