Working For Free?

[Panic57]

I'm working on this site and while the premise is to do gigs for cheap, I'm starting to feel like the customers on there are taking advantage sometimes.  I have this one customer who wants me to do a couple more revisions even though I've already given her extra revision a month after the two week hold on the payment.  I don't mind doing the revision because she paid for it, but I don't like how pushy she's getting about just doing a couple extra things.  On one hand, she can give me a bad review but on the other hand the site is already cheap and I'm already working for pennies.  Have you been in this spot?  What did you do?  I don't have the extra time to work for free but I can't really afford a bad review.

 

[Jasmin Cottontail]

I've been on that spot some time ago, when I was still studying. Well, just like you, I have no problems in doing extra things for other people, even if it's for free. What makes me pissed is that when people takes advantage of your kindness, I mean I don't find it really pleasing.


What I did was I told them what has to be said, that I understand them that they need this to get done however, they should also consider my situation wherein I've given them all that they've need and yer they are still asking for more. Well that's different situation though, and yours is kinda tough one since it's a client, but try to talk to her and let her know your side. I guess she would understand.

 

[Alex]

One of the problems being a freelancer and working on sites such as Fiverr is that you are the mercy of people who can take advantage of you. No one wants a bad review and they know that and hold it over you. Most of these people want as much as they can get, and I find them usually unprofessional. It's the nature of the beast, when people will choose to exploit. If you choose to do the work, I'm afraid that is always a possibility. As you say, you should charge for revisions and state that in the original brief.


I used to do mystery shopping and it was good at first, but then they expected you do more afterwards, so you in effect are working nothing when you consider time to rad the brief, do the job and travel there, and then return and write the report. That's why I don't do it any longer as companies feel the call you at anytime and question you, then expect you to do the job again if they don't think it was done correctly.

 

[biege]

I've experienced the same thing with my customers as well. Even if you think that you are giving enough support some may still think that you're not giving any which is crazy. What I normally do to deal with difficult customers or clients is to make sure you ask them about specifics all the time so you'll know what they're getting at. Another is to acknowledge their needs and shift the fault to the resolution of the problem, because if you just agree with them or stick with the ranting it may just add more fuel to the frustrations. However, if nothing really works for you, don't deal more with people like this, just focus on providing quality services with another client. 

 

[jy76]

Some people are into hobbies.  They don't care about the money.  For instance, what difference does it make to anyone really if the Dallas Cowboys win the Super Bowl?  However, people do get worked up about hobbies.  Note, I would consider sports a hobby for most people.


Note that a blog about a hobby could possibly be hard work with no pay.

 

[DDNatureLover]

I've noticed the same trend with the testing sites where I work. I skip tests that require too much, although there are certainly ones that don't state so up front, and I end up in your situation, doing more than I think is reasonable, or quitting and not getting paid for it. 


I don't do the type of work you've mentioned, partly specifically for that reason. I have online shops, so I know how dependent we all are on positive reviews, and how just one negative feedback/review can kill a business, but would it be possible for you to stipulate up front in the agreement that you will provide something like up to 2 revisions, and after that, another fee will be required? 

 

[kingcool52]

It's annoying for those types of jobs because you want to get some good feedback but then these people come along expecting you to do everything they want for a small price. And you can't really say no because a negative feedback will mean it will be hard to get future customers. There should definitely be some sort of protection for freelancers. There should be an agreement at the start of the job where both parties agree to what is going to be done. And that is all that will be done. If the other party requests more then you can say no and that person cannot do anything about that.

 

[tyche]

That client is obviously taking advantage of you. I think you should report such people on Fiverr when they are doing such things. I think they will warn the client for constantly wanting to have work done for free. You can threaten her first that you would report her or you can go ahead and report her without warning.

 

[BlackMarch]

I do a lot of gig work for money and customers have tried to take advantage of me. I personally will stand my own and tell them that I won't do it when it comes down to it because it's unreasonable for the price. I've done this for web development, mobile development, web design, you name it. I still have great ratings and still get customers. The thing about rating type gigs is that you can give the customer feed back too. As long as it is well explained, you shouldn't have a problem with getting future customers.

Don't be afraid to not be a push over. Although sometimes people are asking for the sake of asking.