Why I hate local freelancers?
Written by ED on May 5, 2008 – 1:19 pm - Posted in Singapore |Sounds like a sweeping statement, doesn’t it? I know there are very nice freelancers around but they are mostly rare to come by. As I went in search of blog themes here and there, it is inevitably that a certain degree of tweaking is required. Unless we are as lazy as XiZor (oops! LOL), we probably leave it as it is.
Back to my point about freelancers, 99% of them are sheer rip-off. I begin to think back on my own pricing as a freelancer for a long time, if only I had charged their kind of pricing I would have been considerably well-off. But then again, comes the question whether high prices will bring more leads in. Sometimes, I wish our freelancers can focus more on their deliverance than arguing about they should be rightfully remunerated. That’s being realistic with their pricing that is.
Take this blog for example, I decided to check around for someone who can tweak my previous theme a little. The lowest quote I have received was USD$40 and the highest was along the margin of USD$100. The whole lot of it average around USD$50. Before you call that cheap, we’re talking about hourly charges. Considering the experiences of some of them, perhaps they can get it done in 3 hours flat.
How much will that cost me? A freaking USD$150 (est. SGD$210) for simple blog tweaking? You got to be kidding me right? I eventually turned to overseas freelancers and the offers streamed in like Niagara Falls. Anything from USD$30 to USD$70 - FLAT RATE! Go figure. But I drop the project when I finally found this theme which I am so utterly in love with now.
I think it’s about time our freelancers wake up their freaking idea about glorifying their own abilities to justify their ripping of customers. If you feel that you’re not earning what you should, perhaps the high charges is precisely what is turning customers off.
1. Other freelancers are doing exactly what you’re doing, what makes you so special to be charging twice or thrice the amount?
2. Other freelancers are putting hours into their work too, what makes your time more expensive than theirs?
3. You’re in Singapore, and you’re charging in USD leeching off the exchange rate?
I must be stupid not to charge my clients in USD. I ought to be a rich man now.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Cool down dude.
I guess the reason why they are charging so high is because they might not get another project for the next few weeks. Thus they need to up their pricing to cover for those dry days.
BTW, with the USD exchange rate dropping, it makes no sense for them to charge in USD. I guess they just wanted to make it look cool that they are charging USD. Gives you the impression that they are doing international stuff.
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May 5th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Yea I realized it dropped quite significantly too. USD$30 used to be above the SGD$45 mark but I think now it’s moving closer to SGD$40 range.
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May 5th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
There’s no hard or fast rule on the pricing for each project. And to some extent, I do not agree to point 1 and 2. Why? Cos the pricing depends really on factors such as their cost, profit, market demand, skill level, experience, servicing and the client whom they’re looking at. With all that in mind, pricing are variable.
What boggles me is the USD currency instead of SGD.
I somewhat understood your frustrations as it is not easy to find freelancers who bagged good design skills with credible business sense.
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May 5th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Jon, regarding skill level and experience that is what appalled me when the portfolio I am shown is what 90% of experienced designers can do. Afterall it’s only a blog and not anything complex like creating another MySingapore to rival MySpace. And clients like us wouldn’t know what is considered skilled, and what is not skilled. What is skillful in our eyes, may be frowned upon by other designers.
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May 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Kenna sai endoh wanna talk about me also spell my handle properly leh. LOL!
I am quite sure your post will upset some people and they will disagree quite violently. But maybe when the time comes when the PM tells you, it’s because your China colleague brings in business because they don’t charge as hard, then they’ll wake up.
And yes, I know that piece from Baby Lee is a load of bullshit. It’s as if we are a bunch of good for nothings asking for too much. But the point is this, web design is not a skill that’s rare or in high demand - same like your Tiger beer promoter…
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May 5th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Wow.. that’s a classic mistake arising from overdose. I’ll get it fixed. LOL!
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May 5th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Endoh, I know where you’re coming from on why you’re pissed they charge high for a really simple tweak in the blog, now. hahaha!
Just curious, did you state clearly to the local FL your specific requirements?
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May 5th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Don’t charge in USD! It will keep falling. Charge RMB! It’s going to shoot through the sky!
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May 5th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Jon, yep. I told them of only two specific I need to fix in the previous theme. But doesn’t matter now since I got it fixed with this new theme which I accidentally came across. Maybe God’s watching over me. Haha.
ECL, auntie oei… RMB. Hmmm Paypal accept RMB anot? Haha!
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May 5th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Kaos, then it’s indeed blardi steep for these 2 changes! Good to know everythings alright for you now.
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May 6th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Thanks Jon. Your site is looking pretty neat. I like it.
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
i had this urge to comment. finally i am.
all i can say is “they need to pay the bills too” but the locals charged you too much for those 2 small fix. Perhaps they didn’t get the right message in the first place.
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