Re: Another case of trying to get cheap work

bobafett999 · ‎01-06-2018

I saw this posting. They have hired about 20 people, spent more than $1k. This how the posting reads:

"I have recently started a non profit

I am looking for on page optimisation for my weebly site. Need all tags etc as well as images compressing to improve page speed as well as any other on site optimisation.

We are a new not for profit and have limited resources. Looking for competitive quotes. We DO NOT currently have an ongoing budget for SEO. We are NOT a business. Happy though to be added to your portfolio and give excellent detailed reviews for good work."

Oh they are offering fixed price at $40 and there are 5-10 applicants. WOW

I see similar postings at least couple of times a week.

felipeharo · ‎01-06-2018

what is the problem with trying to get cheap work? Yesterday i saw a guy from bangladesh working for 0.89/hour in a project that has been already spent more than 4000 hours...

There is no harm in trying to get cheap labor in my opinion

bobafett999 · ‎01-06-2018

@Felipe H wrote:
There is no harm in trying to get cheap labor in my opinion

Of course not, but here there is an implicit bribe of "excellent review" anyone can start something and call it non profit.

melaniekhenson · ‎01-06-2018

How do you know the work they're looking for is cheaper than the norm? You bolded the reviews part but they ask for "competitive" rates. ETA: oh, I see $40. Not sure whether you edited to add that or whether I just missed it. So you are saying this should take 13+ hours assuming Upwork's $3/hour recommended minimum? How many hours are you guessing this would take that you feel it is just shy of a swindle? What if it is only a 5-hour job? Still a super low rate but I mean...not against TOS as far as I know.

As for the person stating less than a dollar an hour, THAT'S pretty ridiculous. I though UW had a standard of $3/hour or more (or something like that; somebody correct me). And in that case, I am pretty sure the person is going to get what s/he is paying for, but sometimes, that's all a client wants...someone who can just throw a few words on a page (for example...if it's a writing assignment) with awkward SEO phrases sprinkled in. I mean if that's what they want and everyone is happy, then that's that.

JMO.

felipeharo · ‎01-06-2018

@Melanie H wrote:

I though UW had a standard of $3/hour or more (or something like that; somebody correct me).

JMO.

I thought $3/hour was the minimum too.. but that guy started the project in 2014 so maybe that limit was not set yet.. that's why he got to 4300 hours, which is a lot... after 4300 hours, I'm pretty sure the client is probably satisfied since the project was still in progress.

tlsanders · ‎01-06-2018

@Felipe H wrote:
@Melanie H wrote:

I though UW had a standard of $3/hour or more (or something like that; somebody correct me).

JMO.
I thought $3/hour was the minimum too.. but that guy started the project in 2014 so maybe that limit was not set yet.. that's why he got to 4300 hours, which is a lot... after 4300 hours, I'm pretty sure the client is probably satisfied since the project was still in progress.

How could the client not be satisfied? If I'm paying someone 89 cents/hour, I'll be getting my money's worth if he produces one mediocre 500-word blog post every 30 hours or so.

melaniekhenson · ‎01-06-2018

@Prashant P wrote:
@Felipe H wrote:
There is no harm in trying to get cheap labor in my opinion
Of course not, but here there is an implicit bribe of "excellent review" anyone can start something and call it non profit.

If you believe this then why didn't you just report it? FWIW, I didn't read it that way, but I am assuming a bit of a language barrier. If you see an implied bribe then report the posting. We can't do much from except complain, which won't accomplish much.

tlsanders · ‎01-06-2018

@Felipe H wrote:
what is the problem with trying to get cheap work? Yesterday i saw a guy from bangladesh working for 0.89/hour in a project that has been already spent more than 4000 hours...

There is no harm in trying to get cheap labor in my opinion

I think that depends on how cheap. I recently needed some extra writers on a large project and had someone who was a pretty good writer quote me $7/700-word page. I do obviously build in a cut for myself when using other writers, since I handle all the client contact, etc., and also review and edit every page before submission, but it sure as hell isn't going to be a 90%+ margin. I countered with $25, which I'm still not entirely comfortable with and will increase after the first round or two of work if it doesn't require much editing.

bobafett999 · ‎01-06-2018

@Tiffany S wrote:
I countered with $25, which I'm still not entirely comfortable with and will increase after the first round or two of work if it doesn't require much editing.

You are generous.

tlsanders · ‎01-06-2018

@Prashant P wrote:
@Tiffany S wrote:
I countered with $25, which I'm still not entirely comfortable with and will increase after the first round or two of work if it doesn't require much editing.
You are generous.

Thank you, but I really want to believe that's just basic ethics and most people would do the same.

petra_r · ‎01-07-2018

I honestly do not see the problem. There is no "bribe" - there is an assurance that GOOD work will be rewarded by detailed review, which means much to some people. Whether the rate is high or low, freelancers are free to a) bid on it or move on or b) bid higher.

If the job doesn't suit you, choose a) and if the job suits you but the budget doesn't, choose b)

As for the guy with the $ .89 hourly rate: The job was started before the minimum hourly rate came in, which, incidentally, didn't "help" freelancers but left many losing the income they depended on to house and feed their families. With $ 0.89 still being more than 4 times the minimum wage in the freelancer's country, my view is to leave people alone to make their own choices as to what they do and do not want to accept.

The $ 3 (or $ 0.89) an hour freelancers are not in competition with the $ 20 or $ 50 or $ 100 an hour freelancers any more than Walmart is in compettion with Harrods.

My advice is to concentrate on the job postings and clients who play in your particular sector of the freelancing landscape and ignore what others choose to do in other sectors, on both the client and the freelancer sides, because it does not affect you either way.