Connects are too expensive.

[#1]

Now , the connects are too expensive. This is the worst decision for freelancers. It's killing them.

16 connects for a job of 20 or 25 dollars. 50+ proposals on that job. How someone can get hired after spending 16 connects. After spending 200 connects worth of 30$, if someone gets a job, how it will be beneficial for him/her. Please take a look on this matter and revise your decision as it's not allowing us to work or to submit expensive proposals. If you can't do anything, please give some good package on buying connects.

[#2]

This is absurd. Either be a freelancer or find an employer. Connects should be the tiniest portion of your budget. If you can't afford them, find an employer. If you refuse to use them, and can't apply, that is your choice.

[#3]

An inappropriate price is an inappropriate price. Also, you're being 1st world ridiculous about connects being the tiniest portion of your budget.

[#4]

As I have said many times, I can't change the socio-economic practices of the world.

You don't know the vast majority of freelancers. No matter how marginalized you feel, there are many, many in far worse situations. There is always someone in worse shape.

This is a worldwide platform, based in the U.S. and using U.S. dollars.

No matter where you live, freelancing requires money. Most people are employed, because all expenses are paid by your employer. The freelancers that I know, no matter where they are, have expenses. If you are spending a lot of money with a poor return, you should stop. I know a lot of freelancers in other parts of the world. The connects are the smallest item on the budget.

[#5]

If I think the number of connects is not appropriate for a given job post, I move on and don't make a proposal to that job. I do think Upwork is trying to reduce the number of proposals made to any job. But the company has become quite woke, and I think that is the root of many of their problems. 

[#6]

I have read all 21 replies and thereafter I want to make my point. This is the worst decision for freelancers. It's killing them definitely because we are not getting any new jobs and the reason is we are afraid of bidding due to expensive connects this is the truth, I was bidding on almost all job posts related to me and I was offered before when connects was not expensive. 

Conclusion: It was good to charge 20% for the project not 10% Even Upwork can charge 30% but connects should not be expensive.

If we are not getting any jobs then 10% or 5% is useless but if we will get a job then if Upwork do charge 20% or 30% then there is no issue because at least we are getting a job. 

I had purchased 100 connects but due to the expensive 20 to 22 connects for 1 job I have invested all with few jobs so the result is nothing now so this is the worst decision for freelancers. It's killing them and it will affect future of freelancers and upwork too.

[#7]

It's only "killing" freelancers who don't use connects wisely, and those who are not prepared for freelancing, or have no skills.

Upwork is not going under from millions and millions (20 million at last count) of connects. If 90% of all freelancers left, Upwork would be doing great.

If you don't want to be self-employed, and pay your way, your only option is an employer who will take care of everything for you.

Everyone thinks they are an employee when they want, and a freelancer when they want. You have to decide if you want to be an adult in self-employment or work for someone else who will pay all of your bills.

[#8]

Jeanne - you are rude and condescending: "Everyone thinks they are an employee when they want, and a freelancer when they want. You have to decide if you want to be an adult in self-employment or work for someone else who will pay all of your bills".

[#9]

Jula - What is rude about that post. Is it that the truth hurts?

[#10]

First of all, your tone is very rude. Secondly, You have to take into account that Upwork was still charging 2-4-6-8 connects and freelancers were paying for it which means they were investing. The 12-16 connects are unjustified as it is too much ridiculous amount. Kindly try to understand that. 2-4-6-8 connects were fine but 12-16 connects are not fine at all.  

[#11]

Upwork have a different perspective. You can say something isn't fine, but they see you (freelancers) as an oversupplied resource that are only adding storage cost (server cost), so YOU needs to be monetized.

They never made any profit so they don't care with what you think is fine for you, because it's not fine for them. 

[#12]

Facts are facts, and I do not sugarcoat the truth. Of course, you think I am rude - I am telling you the truth, and will not join the whining about connects.

I don't make Upwork's rules. If you don't hold every requirement, then don't waste your connects. Don't waste them on boosting, unless you know you are one of the top two.

The connects are fine. The platform should be charging a lot more per proposal, and limiting them. Why? Because I care about the genuine freelancers, and the platform. The biggest problem is unskilled people pretending to be freelancers, or they want to be - but have no marketable skills.

Free connects, and almost free jobs hurt you, me, other freelancers, clients, and the platform.

Freelancing means you are responsible for everything, including all expenses. No one reimburses me for my freelancing costs, and there is no reason why anyone should. I don't know if there is a way for you to deduct your some of your expenses, but you might want to see if it is a possibility.

No freelance platform "cares" about the cogs in the wheel, which is what all the freelancers are to Upwork. When you have almost a million people per job post, you must be highly skilled and at the top of your game to succeed. And yes, that means paying for everything.

[#13]

I disagree with you. Upwork probably means to get rid of the crazy would be freelancers that apply to jobs they would not be able to do correctly. These people are giving Upwork a bad image and many people here wish they stopped trying to invade the platform with their craziness.

I'm not into bidding 16 connects for any jobs unless I'm sure I stand a good chance to get it and I wish everyone would do so.

[#14]

You bid 16 connects and the guy doesn't even look at your bid, he does not hire anybody. These are money thrown away ... to the Upwork wallet.

[#15]

It's called freelancing, where there are no guarantees. Learn about vetting the client and the job to avoid the situation.

[#16]

I'm not to the point of learning, I'm to the point of leaving. Believe me, I've earned in Upwork much more than you did and maybe it's you that should learn something of how things are running here nowadays.

[#17]

---

Artur M wrote:

I'm not to the point of learning, I'm to the point of leaving. Believe me, I've earned in Upwork much more than you did and maybe it's you that should learn something of how things are running here nowadays.

---

Amazing, isn't it?  Such a devastating lack of awareness.

[#18]

If your return is poor, then it is only logical that you find another path.

So, what have you brought to the platform in your vast earnings, with a private profile. If you have made all this money, and never bought a connect, what is the problem? If you have to buy connects, that's part of being self-employed.

When was the last time you examined Upwork's returns? The quarterlies? The red and black of it?

Upwork is a business providing access to jobs. The shareholders are tired of seeing red all over the financials. It is ridiculous to expect something for nothing. There is no place for you to go where everything is free.

What do you bring to help the platform, or to help others? How have you contributed to improving the platform?

I know people are extraordinarily upset when they have to buy connects. I know this is ridiculous, because freelancers pay for everything, and make all decisions about their business. Upwork has legitimate problems, but charging .15 for a connect is not one of them.

If it is not working for you, you have the option to leave. However, it makes no sense to leave an apparently extremely lucrative platform because they are making you pay your way and act like a freelancer.

[#19]

You wrote "What do you bring to help the platform, or to help others? How have you contributed to improving the platform?"
Everyone that works on this platform contributes to improve the platform. Don't forget that for every working hour Upwork takes the fee, which should be enough for the Upwork finances, if there is a proper administration. With 22 thousands of working hours I've done enough.
I beg pardon for responding so late, I don't have time to enter the forum very often, I've been busy working on Upwork. I'm surprised you have time to respond quite often here and to a lot of people. Maybe somebody pays you for that.

[#20]

Upwork takes the fee, which should be enough for the Upwork finances, if there is a proper administration

Nope, these 'freelance marketplaces' cannot seem to profit from having a 'freelance marketplace'. They (and their predecessor) have had over a decade to try. They need to get 'creative' and try something new.

Freelance marketplace members who are mad because their host wants to get some profit, are not greedy or something but simply 'uninformed' in my opinion.

[#21]

You wrote "What do you bring to help the platform, or to help others? How have you contributed to improving the platform?"

Yes, and I'm still asking. Not for you, but for the majority.

Everyone that works on this platform contributes to improve the platform.

Ridiculous. You have obviously not spent time examining the facts behind Upwork. Upwork states that most freelancers never get a single job, never earn a penny, and only use the platform. Exactly how are millions of completely unskilled people contributing to Upwork? They get the free 50 connects, spend them wildly, and then wait for free connects through schemes, or whatever mechanism. Most of the freelancers are a drag on the platform, thus the drive for connects.

Don't forget that for every working hour Upwork takes the fee, which should be enough for the Upwork finances, if there is a proper administration.

Again, you don't understand Upwork's finances. They have never made a profit, until the last quarter of selling connects and firing 15% of their staff. Upwork loses money on unskilled freelancers. So, the institution of connects.

I don't have time to enter the forum very often, I've been busy working on Upwork.

That's great, for you. Glad to hear it.

I'm surprised you have time to respond quite often here and to a lot of people. Maybe somebody pays you for that.

It constantly amazes me, how many people simply cannot fathom why I, and a very few other dedicated freelancers would actually spend time helping others, and not be paid for it. Well, I am sick of the self-serving folks who would never help for free, and only complain about others who do help with no thought of compensation. You don't get it, and I don't care. Why would I?

I'll let you in on the big secret. Some people help; other people won't do anything, no matter what, to help others without guaranteed compensation.

Now, you can decide, if you think Upwork is paying me, or if I'm one of those bizarre freelancers who genuinely believe in helping. There are approximately ten freelancers who consistently provide excellent, free, consistent efforts to provide high-quality responses to freelancers or clients. When there are concepts we don't understand, the usual step is to learn. Perhaps, you should start with looking up "volunteer."

[#22]

I actually looked at your profile to see why you're so mad. I've been a freelancer since 2006 on multiple platforms. What you call "freelancing" is so misguided. Freelancing literally means "not sponsored by or affiliated with an organization or authority." It does NOT mean "pay to apply." You are trying to equate the two like this was YOUR idea. It's condesending. It's unnecessary. And the only person agreeing with you doesn't know what "woke" means. Having a Bethany Mandel type on your side should tell you you're going right off the deep end. Reel it in. From a sensical standpoint, a job that used to cost 8 connects now costing 16 connects for no particular reason other than Upwork felt like it is not "freelancing." It's realizing people are so desperate to find a gig on here that they're taking a chance. Upwork has yet to explain WHY they chose these connect rates, and then they hid the option to sort through jobs by number of connects so you're forced to go through all the 16-Connect jobs to even get to the lower ones. That's by design. And it's not "freelancing."

[#23]

Well, sometimes the guy does look at my bid and sometimes he does hire me. I only pick jobs that interest me and that I know I stand a chance to get.

[#24]

If there are no decent jobs., then you don't apply and look elsewhere. If your return is poor, you have to do something different or lose it all.

Never apply for a job unless you know you can complete it perfectly, and have every single requirement. Never boost, unless you know you will be one of the top two people who apply. Do not bid on every job you see. Learn about vetting clients and jobs.

[#25]

Correct. And so, like any sensible business person, he should recognize that bidding on that job would be a poor investment and bypass it.

[#26]

Please take a look at this matter and revise your decision as it's not allowing us to work or to submit expensive proposals. If you can't do anything, please give a good package on buying connects. === I agree with you and this is a great suggestion but inexpensive connects = more bidding = Job chances will be 99% However Upwork should charge 20% or 30% for the job instead of 10% not an issue as it was good before for all, at least we will get job then no worry to pay even 20 or 30%.

Expensive connects =  low bidding (I could bid 3 to 4 jobs only using 100 connects ) = job chances will be 0 or less than 50%

This is a very serious issue connects should be inexpensive for sure.