October 28, 2024
Get your drink and let's start this story time.
So I was browsing on Upwork one Wednesday and I saw a job post posted 5 minutes ago, not many proposals were sent, I am the perfect candidate, the client has great reviews and even good spending habits on the platform. Yes, I check that too.
I crack my fingers and start writing the proposal. I even got the extra time to record a short video (a new beta feature that I like) introduce myself and comment on parts of the proposal.
And I go on with my day to have lunch. After I checked I got a message stating my hourly rate was too high for their budget and we let the negotiations start.
We agreed on the price, I got the updated contract with my rate increase removed. Smooth and cheeky from their side. 😏 While I am reading the contract I am asked to provide my email for being added to a Slack workspace.
So far nothing that suspicious I think to myself.
Then I get access to the Slack channel, get a short rewritten version of the Loom video instructions and question:
do you think this is something you can help with this project?
I say:
Yes, definitely. I can create a copy of the page and add my design suggestions to it tomorrow morning.
You can add me as a Website Manager with my email: (insert email)
What happens after that? 🦗 🦗
Crickets that’s right. But I thought wait, must be our time zone difference.
Well, well. 😁
In the overview Loom video of the project, there was a man who was clearly not my client talking to Caytlin about the actual client and his new website refresh.
This got me thinking: how many people had been delegated this same project already? 🤔
Since the guy in the video said he didn’t like some of the sections designed by someone else I started questioning everything about this project.
And let’s be clear, neither design was high-level or very impressive, but clearly the client has paid a lot for this to be done and now it's being patched by underpaid freelancers on Upwork.
So my question to those freelancers who delegate and outsource is, do you tell this to your clients?
Also, how do you guarantee that an outsourced freelancer is not passing the work to someone else? 😁
Just curious.
And how is this design business, and not just being a project management?
On Upwork, it says the client is 8 hours behind, but on Slack, it says 8 hours ahead. Which one is the correct one? I do not know.
So here I am waiting for a reply almost 24 after the last message from the client considering my options…
I have already sent a follow-up on Upwork, just in case, during the agreed business hours, expressing my eagerness to start since I was asked twice if I am ready to start working immediately on the project.
When the 24 hours of ignoring pasts I will send another follow-up on Slack and see what happens.
To be continued…
I sent the follow-up reminding them that I have a schedule and plan to manage when taking on more than two projects, and also about the urgency they had yesterday.
And surprise, surprise I got an instant apology for the delay and a silly statement as:
We really need the work yesterday.. maybe we need your help in the near future.
Sure. 😅
Understandably I suggested and then ended the Upwork contract and talk if/when new opportunities come along. As if.
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Stayed until the end! Thank you.
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