Raise your hand if you think Upwork charges too many **bleep** fees!

[4a22c6e8]

Connects are expensive and most of them go to waste because they can't weed out the fake jobs. The whole poin of connects is to make sure folks don't just apply to every job, but there are bots out there applying to all the posts, so why are we being charged so much?

[426ba430]

I am also feeling the same way now a days as you do, but there is something new for me that you enlightened me about—the bots out there applying to all the posts. That’s a moment of ‘WOW’!” :glowing_star:😮

can you elaborate a bit more?

[4a22c6e8]

I offer freelance work for software development. Most of the jobs posted in that field have immdiate bids. All the bids are typically 50 connects! 

[feed_my_eyes]

---

 wrote:

I offer freelance work for software development. Most of the jobs posted in that field have immdiate bids. All the bids are typically 50 connects! 

---

That's because dishonest freelancers keep creating new accounts in order to get 50 free connects. It would be easy to solve this if Upwork stopped giving out any freebies.

[tjmisny · Accepted solution]

I think it's all about context...

The current fees would be totally, 100% reasonable IF....

*Upwork had some kind of screening process for clients to deter totally unserious clients who are very unlikely to hire, from posting.  (For example, a nominal fee for clients to post, or a penalty for clients who have posted many jobs without hiring)

*Upwork would reimburse for Connects spent in the event of a client not hiring, even if your profile is engaged with

*Upwork prevented these unserious clients from using AI, which enables more unserious postings, or charged for clients to use AI features

*Upwork did more to prevent scam/bots from posting jobs 

*There is some kind of reimbursement when a client ghosts you before even setting an interview.  I can't tell you the number of times I have paid money to be ghosted, even before a video meeting call is set.  And beacuse this interaction counts as "an interview", I was never reimbursed.

*The algorithm did not de-list or shadow ban people, which absolutely did happen to me for most of 2022.  

Now it's highly unlikely Upwork will ever make these kind of common-sense accommodations for Freelancers, so we are not scammed and abused out of our Connects.  Currently, in this Casino world, we're all marks.  So with that in mind, consider my hand raised.

[4a22c6e8]

Exactly, the problem is they collect all these fees and yet make very minimal attempts to better their interface. They're obviously more concerned about making their paid subscription service more profitable based on the surveys they keep sending me about it. 

[tjmisny]

I just unsubscribed from Upwork Plus - I found it to be a waste of money.  

[4a22c6e8]

Me too, on average I buy about 600 connects every month, their subscription plan has no benefit for me. I also have direct subscription to ChatGPT4.0, so their benefits are absolutely useless. 

[atreglia]

Dayum Thomas, you forgot about the trash pile.  How dare you!  😉

[atreglia]

---

 Omid N wrote:

The whole poin of connects is to make sure folks don't just apply to every job

---

Disagree.  The point of connects is because they can't outright charge to apply for a job so they have to use tokens.  The point of boosted connects is pure undulterated greed.

[d2015538]

o/

[4a22c6e8]

This platform could be much better, if Upwork could actually read these comments and introduce changes that benefits us and them at the same time. 

[the-right-writer]

Upwork is a business. It does not "care" about freelancers or clients. The only concern is making money. Now that they finally discovered a way to make money through unlimited freelancers being pressured into throwing connects at every single aspect of Upwork, it will not change.

I have no issue with Upwork making money. I am willing to pay a good sum for job access. However, as Thomas wrote, only if Upwork improves the platform. Place the platform and category limits back, return the platform and skills test for each skill claimed, remove the obvious scams, remove the offending clients and freelancers permanently, and return to the policies before they decided to allow anyone in, because the new and inexperienced are more likely to throw connects at every possible chance.

[khushbu_gohil]

I usually heard that never pay if you are going for earning...if client or job provider ask for money means it's scam we all know.

But if connects or subscription is actually value adding for freelancers then it's 100% worth it because maintaining, running business have expense and they market to bring new clients but if business not run with their vision then they have to rethink about strategy what can benefits for both end