Knowing if the price was out of their range is fairly easy to determine. If it is a freelancer you are really interested in, take a look at their profile. Most of us have our rates clearly noted in our overview (when it is a per piece rate, etc.) or our hourly rate set on our profile. The same can be said for expertise, as we each have to choose Entry-level, Intermediate, or Expert.
Another thing to consider is whether it was a niche they are involved in. For example, if the work area is in writing and you need a highly technical article based in the Scientific field but are inviting a freelancer that specializes in non-technical pieces in home design, you're certainly going to be declined (unless, of course, they moonlight in tech).
Finding the right freelancer can take a bit of work, but when you're using invitations, you'll have a lot more success by checking over profiles and work history. That should give you a better idea of what they are comfortable with, which will save you a lot of frustration overall.
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