Low Payment Offer on ODesk by Clients

[skytrav1116]

Hello Everybody, How can it be that many Clients on oDesk offer to pay $1 per hour for any type of job? I do not understand why a Contractor would accept such a deal! How much did your computer or laptop cost you in the first place? Not 1 dollar!?! How about your efforts, your time, your understanding of the project and everything else that is required to complete even the most simple of projects? Let us all give a thought to such offers. Thanks

[kimyswirl]

$1 per hour is not yet the worst. I've seen so many clients posting "We will consider below $0.50/( or worst) below $0.25 per hour. We don't care no matter how good your qualifications are, bid higher than $0.25 will automatically be rejected." And here are the contractors still applying to these kind of clients making their heads big. If only they'll boycott it so that clients will know that we're not that desperate. I'm new in oDesk too but I never stooped that low. Just what do those clients think of us?We're not their slaves. I hope contractors should ignore these offers. Bid below $0.25/hour is really too much.Also, I hope oDesk should already put a limit to rate requests of these clients.

[riodesta]

i agree...

[emmanuelv]

I second agree!

[funkflex]

I saw a guy who is workking for $0.1 per hour and that is his profile rate. I think that is really dishonourable for any person,no matter how the job is easy,but you are selling one hour of your life and plus working hard for that money.

[yui101]

We must appeal to Odesk to set a limit of hourly rates to $1, and to stop arrogant clients to pay very cheap for contractor's hardwork.

[bickie]

...and working 4 hours a day at $.25 can buy you a meal...one meal...

[crescentxza]

Well, in Australia, this will get you a pencil eraser if you're lucky, not a meal.

[rajib_humaun]

it`s right though we are new on odesk but not there slaves.

[sivavranagaro]

Erm... Bidding bellow 3 $ is really too much. Bellow 2 $ is just a bad joke. And I'm really sad when I see someone's profile "earned 80 $ (with 2 $ per hour)".

[ykbks]

Strangely (or conviniently) though, oDesk seems to be doing nothing about it. Other Markeplaces (won't name some) have very clear and much cooler costing system. oDesk is loosing facing without knowing it.

[jbontuyan]

i agree with you, i hope in the client side also,

[katrinabeaver]

If you offer a kid candy or a new toy, they're gonna take it. Same with low paying clients, offer them nearly free work and they're gonna take it and with a smile on their face as well

[kimyswirl]

Yep they'll smile at first but will have severe headache after, due to poor quality of the finished job. Hired cheap expect cheap work too. Same with kids.Alright they take the new toy. If it's cheap they'll play with it until it's destroyed they won't care while for expensive toy well they play with it but treasure it.

[apaullo]

The Bidding war has come to its lowest yet...Clients offer lower and lower rate per hour as time goes by...I saw someone working for $0.01!! Now I wonder how much Odesk will get from that contract...This is getting worse friends and If we cannot find a way to solve this problem...our work will just go down the drain

[axman1413]

It really can't all be blamed on the clients. As Katrina pointed out, if they can find people to do it, then why not. This is the aged old battle between labor and industry. Industry insists on seeking out the lowest cost. Labor bows to the offers out of necessity - usually just the basic necessity to survive. "Doing what is right, does not always mean doing what you have the right to do!" - Johnny Akzam I have grown so sick of this site and its exchange of poor labor for what are many times 3rd level or 10th level middlemen. I actually went down today and joined my local Chamber of Commerce, as this site is no longer a reliable platform for new business. I refuse to lower my cost and keep the same high value. Besides, I can't. I live in the U.S. and still make about half what others charge for the same services. This site now caters to the volume, rather than the quality. it started doing so in April 2013, and had steadily declined since. I no longer have faith in the oDesk system for helping to grow a business.

[devjet]

I have posted projects with low offer..... what I mean by that is that the provider should get a picture of the task and then provide a estimate. What happens if if my budget is 1000.- but the job could be done with 300.- then a provider will try to get as close to the max budget..... that is not in the interest of a client.

[asajid]

While I understand that sometimes the client may not know the going rate for his job, I think posting a minimum amount still doesn't make sense. May be if that is the case you should mention in your job post that the budget is open for negotiation? Or maybe odesk should add this option in the job posting form so that the client can leave the budget "open" for people to bid?

[margaretphillips]

[quote=Ayesha] Or maybe odesk should add this option in the job posting form so that the client can leave the budget "open" for people to bid?[/quote] That feature already exists. I post jobs and leave the hourly rate empty. Contractors are free to put in whatever hourly rate they want.

[tburleson]

Yes, this option exists but still many people put in the description "only bids of $1.00 or less will be reviewed - higher bids will be rejected" Also they put low bids or say "Indian, Asian, Philippines ONLY" We are not complaining about the people who leave the rate open. We are complaining about the people who low ball the rate and expect quality for minimum rates.

[cameronjoseph]

I bid what I think the job is worth. Last I heard "est" ment estimated. Twice this week and once last week did this. Budget was 15.00, I bid 100.00, and it was soon followed by another bidder of 100.00. Last I looked someone had come in with a 50.00. Which was still reasonable for the job. If not a tad on the low side. Budget was 250.00, I bid 1,000.00 and it was soon followed by another of like bid. Do not think any of those two actually hired. Oh well, is my thought if did not get one. There are others out there.

[tburleson]

Ok, I understand that someone out there may be able to say they can do the job for $300 when your budget is $1000 and financially you are thinking Whew Who! I just saved a few bucks, but I have had many clients hire that cheap person only to realize that "you get what you pay for" and then turn around and have to pay me to fix their mistakes, errors, etc. and continue on with the work. So now you have possibly paid me my $1000 + the previous low bid $300 making your total cost $1300 which in the end exceeds your budget. Honestly too it's not the fixed price jobs so much that bother me but the hourly jobs. Why is it ok to offer $1.00 per hour for work that it is required to have some type of higher education (perhaps a BS, BA, MBA, certification or license) Really you expect someone who spent $30,000 + on their education to foot the bill for the equipment/service required to work for you (internet, PC, smartphone, tablet, software, etc.) as a contractor - perform quality work for you and then only receive $1.00 (sometimes less) per hour to work? I think not!

[yui101]

We are in a very same perspective of a problem that i fear might destroy the industry of Outsourcing in the Future. Many clients and new-comer contractors now flood Odesk with unreasonably very low rates, imagine how that would encourage other clients to choose very low bidding contractors and disregard other competitive and good freelancers like you? Don't you think that would kill your earnings and others' as like you? There are countries where $1 exchange rate is big enough and there are those places that this isn't fair as a payment to your labor. I couldn't imagine how some contractors and clients agree with .10, .30 and .50 rates for some labor, this is killing other contractors and those greedy and arrogant clients seize of the opportunity. WE MUST STOP THIS OUTRAGE...... WE CONTRACTORS MUST BE AS ONE TO APPEAL TO ODESK REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE IF YOU FORWARD THIS MESSAGE AND IDEA TO EVERY OTHER FREELANCERS HERE IN ODESK THAT YOU KNOW? "CONTRACTORS SHOULD NOT DIVE TO VERY LOW RATES ACCORDING TO CLIENTS WILL. I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT WE PUT OUR MINIMUM LIMIT TO $1 (One Dollar). IT IS PLAIN TO SEE THAT IF WE LET THIS MADNESS CONTINUE THEN SURELY, QUALITY FREELANCERS LIKE YOU AND THE REST WILL LIKELY TO LEAVE THIS INDUSTRY WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY DESTROY THE OUTSOURCING, AND EVEN DESTROY ODESK ITSELF. IN SHORT, . . I AM ASKING TO YOU ENLIGHTEN OTHER CONTRACTORS AND IF POSSIBLE START AN ORGANIZATION OF CONTRACTORS TO ASK ODESK TO LIMIT THE BID TO AT LEAST $1 OR HIGHER AND FORBID CLIENTS TO POST RATES LOWER THAN I MENTIONED. WITH THIS MOVE, I CAN SAFELY SAY THAT I CAN ESTABLISH MY CAREER IN THIS FIELD WITH GUARANTEE AND CONTENT THAT MY LABOR AND SKILLS IS FAIRLY COMPENSATED AS THE REST OF FREELANCERS ONLY NEED TO SURVIVE THE LIFE THEY ARE LIVING. FREELANCERS DON'T HAVE BENEFITS, WE DON'T HAVE BONUS, IF EVER THERE IS, DEFINITELY VERY LOW AND SELDOM. THESE CLIENTS ALREADY HAVE SAVED MILLIONS IN THEIR SPENDING, SO WHY WOULD THEY SQUEEZE UP EVERY CONTRACTOR THEY MEET HERE ONLINE? THAT IS OBVIOUSLY UNFAIR, RIGHT?.. PLEASE HELP ME REACH ODESK AND LET THEM REALIZE THIS. IF THIS PROBLEM IS HELPED, IT’S GOING TO BE A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR US CONTRACTORS, THE ODESK AND THE CLIENTS... LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. . . THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.

[cateb]

I'm thinking that any freelancer that needs an organization to tell them that working for $1 is too cheap -- doesn't need to be a freelancer. If I -- as a professional with an extensive portfolio -- can't figure that out on my own, then I need to go back to working in fast food or whatever I did before I started freelancing. That is a "no-brainer." Its all a matter of not settling for those types of jobs ....don't put in for them, don't haggle, and most importantly DON'T accept them if they're offered.

[bickie]

Freelancing is all about working on projects that you feel is worth your time, aligned with your interests, or pays your bills. If it doesn't qualify any of the above, then why bother?

[sueboo]

I agree with you. No one is forcing us to accept these ridiculously low rates. I figure $1 per hour is a low price. You can write approx. 500 words an hour which equals of course to $1 per 500 words. I am disgusted with the amounts offered. I am worth much more than that and will never accept what is below my abilities. Sue

[mbroznovat]

I stopped reading when I saw the first of the Caps Lock line. Just got off work, please care for our eyes & nerves and stop shouting.

[chakdaniel]

Hi, I've been working with clients on oDesk since 2008. From experience, the clients who pay decently are from North America, Australia, South-East Asia and the UK. The rest - my God, the less said the better. ALWAYS ALWAYS check where the employer is located and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble. I might be Indian but I won't accept jobs at a throwaway price. I've been a writer since 2005 and some of these prices are truly insulting for any self-respecting professional. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do... and I doubt oDesk can do anything either if contractors agree to lesser prices! We are stuck... :( Thanks, Dan

[ltolentino]

That is true! Problem is some are accepting these lower rates that is why more and more clients are offering unjustifiable rates! Just think of your electricity bills!

[sharif_z]

I am really agree with your point.

[cameronjoseph]

I really doubt the ones that this is directed out come to the forums. Much less read English well enough to comprehend what is being said.

[t-hall]

I just wanted to throw in one more bit of something to think about. Have you ever noticed that the people who raise hell about rate limits are most of the time the same people who are struggling? Have you ever noticed that the people who make good money here don't? Consider for a moment...why? There is a VERY good reason for it. I'll give a hint.. it's NOT only about skills and experience. If you can't figure that out on your own, then you are still following. If you want to be successful at any business - you MUST become a leader. oDesk is NOT an employment board, nor is any other freelance site. It's a platform for small businesses to connect. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Sorry if I come across as harsh.. but seriously, people need to understand what this place is and what it takes to earn a living they are happy with. There are no handouts here. You need to go slaughter your own chickens if you want to eat around here. Stop asking other people to do it for you! Happy hunting!

[lnbizsolutionsnm]

Your recent contracts are related to marketing skills. If there were one million global contractors offering the exact same skill sets as you, many in the third world while you live in the first world, you would be aghast at the number of clients who will not consider you because your rate is 'too high'. Now, imagine the position of first worlders in the oversaturated data-entry/administrative field, trying to compete with third worlders and earn a living wage -- not Xbox money -- doing it. Until those first worlders develop a network of first world clients willing to refer them to other people, it's going to be hard going. They have to wade through a sea of folks dazzled by third worlders willing to work for pennies, though. Very tough going. Many months ago, Margaret P. explained that it was necessary to develop new skill sets if one wanted to succeed as a contractor in a very competitive marketplace. She was absolutely right, even though I did not agree with the ultimate thrust of her argument. But no one is asking anyone to slaughter chickens for them. They are asking clients to do the honorable thing and follow oDesk's *own* guidelines regarding remuneration.

[committedwriter]

I agree that many contractors in the third world countries are charging less which demoralizes other contractors relating to any other parts of the world. But to put every egg in one basket is not a good idea. I have seen many first world contractors bidding like they have never seen $1 before but just because they are 'Native' English speakers with low rates gets them the job. People like us are competing with such low ballers on everyday basis which really makes me think why the hell I am here... you know.. I am not a Native English Speaker and will never accept $1 for 500 words kind of ridiculousness. It's way too frustrating to see such clients and contractors actively participating on such sites where there are great professionals ready to serve on the spot..

[agnitechnologies]

I think there are enough "first worlders" who bid far lower than me. I went to a good univ at Baltimore and my expenses here in the "third world" are no lower than what I spent in Seattle or Baltimore. So, I expect and get the wages I would get if I were in the first world. So, the problem is not with third world or first world, but it is a matter of desperation to get a job. Third world is not an endless pool of cheap labor and we are already finding that the number of qualified professionals are drying out. Regardless of whether you are in first world or fourth world or in Mordor, you have got to have the business skills and the professional skills to succeed in the freelancer world.

[committedwriter]

Jean, these clients are looking for those contractors who can slave themselves up to par excellence. The jobs offered by $1 clients are not meant for you, me and the rest of the other contractors who like to be 'paid' for their services. You are talking about $1 huh? I have seen a contractor doing a $0.10 job/per hour right now! I would like appeal to ODesk to make atleast $5 a minimum hourly wage and fixed jobs should be atleast $25 per project. In the recession period, my husband had to come back from Australia and while I was working in a bank. Then came my son and I chose to sit at home. I want to give the best to my child by giving him top class education and top level upbringing like most of us want to give their children. Although my child is in the top school over here in Pakistan with everything spectacular provided to him but I want to move ahead by making a decent living at home. I am still learning oDesk and I would like to explore more options on the internet but I cannot find the same atmosphere elsewhere which makes me come back to oDesk - again and again. We are planning to move to another country but I don't know how will I manage over there since there are very little decent jobs to choose over here. If I am sounding desparate then yes I am since I have studied in one of the best UK universities, gained experience in some of the best banks over here but still I have to keep my eyes open to literally 'search' for good paying oDesk jobs. The jobs offer unrealistic budgets. Suppose the job offers $1000 and says that the client needs $1 per 500 words and the long term opportunity nonsense go with it. Again the most used 'Escrow System' is missing on this website. Why is it so hard to implement such an important part of freelance business? The clients should have their 'Payments Verified' before posting their job. I don't think oDesk needs further advertising to explain that this website is not a spam. Around 200% increase in the grocery and medicine prices have been increased in this country. Electricity bills are increased on annual basis over here. Me and my husband are managing it really well with some support from oDesk but I know it will not continue this way in near future due to oDesk's poor customer support. Inorder to maintain the integrity of this platform, I would sincerely like request on behalf of other contractors to kindly raise the bar and bring some value added services to the members of the oDesk community. The purpose of these threads is not to humiliate oDesk nor to give one a severe blowjob. We are here to help each other by competing and expanding oDesk business. It is high time oDesk starts to take some actions regarding some legit concerns proposed by it's members.

[agnitechnologies]

Started the Twitter campaign - #noescrowatodesk - I see that you (or somebody else) already has a test tweet already.

[droopal]

The only thing I can conclude is that a lot of people have found out that you can agree on a low price and make most of the money in side deals that are off the system. The motive is to save paying the commission to Odesk. Nothing else makes sense to me. The internet is full of dishonest people so why should this place be any different. What we see here in pricing is probably only the tip of the money flow.

[nchinilla]

As long as there are ***removed by admin*** out there who would work for peanuts, then clients will plague odesk asking for these rates.

[committedwriter]

^ | ^ | Is this allowed oDesk? I have 4 blogs and 1 website that I would like to promote any day. The other person on Sourya's thread was promoting her charity relating website. Over here, this guy is advertising as well. Allowed or not allowed?