Recommendation for Fixed Rate Jobs
I think I have a recommendation for fixed rate jobs. Often providers may have difficulty contacting buyers to let them know that a fixed rate job is complete. All too often days will pass before they are finally able to make contact with the buyer meaning of course that payment is delayed.
I would personally like to see a separate link that allows a provider to end a fixed rate job and generate a request to the buyer to pay for that job. As it stands now if a provider ends the job prior to payment they're in effect waiving their right to be paid.
I understand this wouldn't change the guarantee but it would help providers track those jobs that were complete and not paid for.
One other thing I find frustrating about fixed rate jobs: When you're hired for one they do not show up online in your 'work diary' even if you turn on team. I think this could be changed because I know for myself I'd like to know how many hours I'm investing in a fixed rate job!
Thanks Doreen
Well, if this functionality
on Mon, 2008-11-03 09:10.Well, if this functionality that you are suggesting doesn't finish the assignment, but just generates a reminder - how is it different from you emailing the Buyer the same? Or do you think it will be percepted differently if it comes from "within the system"?
Doreen, to your question about hours on a fixed priced job - do you mean you would like those hours to be visible in your public profile (if you run oDesk team, of course)? I would assume the summary of your work diary should be enough for you to know how much time you have spent on an assignment. But you must be speaking about making this time visible to prospective Buyers as well, right? (Because the Buyer who you are working for will be able to see the time in your work diary anyway).
So please (as always 
)provide more details about how you see it work and what you need it for.
Regards,
Olga
I think it adds more weight
I think it adds more weight to it having the email come from within the system.
A lot of companies (especially when they are new to oDesk and/or outsourcing in general) expect to see an invoice. Emailing the buyer requesting payment and to end the assignment is seen more as casual communication. Whereas receiving an invoice/email with the remaining balance come through the system with the oDesk logo is pushes it over the line and will (most likely) be seen as more "official".
When I accept work through my own website, I usually send them an email with the total amount due. Then, I send them the invoice. It's usually not until they receive the invoice that I receive the payment.
- Danalyn
Before you complain about rates, read all 4 parts of the oDesk Insider Blog's Make More Money series.
Yes
Hi Olga! I am thinking that in fact it does carry more 'punch' coming from within the system. Also in response to Danalyns comment about 'being a nuisance' yes I agree it could be abused - I'm suggesting a "one shot" reminder. Actually, it might be nice if we had a way to 'flag' those buyers who hire for fixed rate work and not pay too :) - also I think it *should* give the provider the opportunity to end the assignment (though I'm not sure if that's more complicated).
And to your ? about the hours - Yes in the work diary would be sufficient. I happened to notice this time (I don't normally take fixed price jobs) that I logged into oDesk (force of habit) and yet the work never showed up in my work diary or time sheet...
This is just restless musings you know me
Doreen
Doreen, to your question about hours on a fixed priced job - do you mean you would like those hours to be visible in your public profile (if you run oDesk team, of course)? I would assume the summary of your work diary should be enough for you to know how much time you have spent on an assignment. But you must be speaking about making this time visible to prospective Buyers as well, right? (Because the Buyer who you are working for will be able to see the time in your work diary anyway).
So please (as always )provide more details about how you see it work and what you need it for.
Regards,
Olga
doreen wrote: Actually, it
Great idea - the buyers have a 'Flag as Spam' button; perhaps providers could have a 'Flag as Cheapskate' button. 
Chuckling
Great idea - the buyers have a 'Flag as Spam' button; perhaps providers could have a 'Flag as Cheapskate' button.
hehe - Martyn, I'm not sure I would 'flag as cheapskate' but 'flag as non-paying buyer' would work (laughing).
I'm all for the cheapskate
I'm all for the cheapskate button! lol.
- Danalyn
Before you complain about rates, read all 4 parts of the oDesk Insider Blog's Make More Money series.
Again
I understand that there is no mechanism for guaranteeing payment and I'm fine with that - but there should be an option for at least us to be able to generate an 'assignment completed please pay invoice'.
Oddly enough I guess I never really gave it much thought because as a rule I don't accept fixed rate jobs. However, I took one this past week (much to my chagrin today) and unlike what I've done in the past (i.e. requested incremental payments) I knew this job would be done quickly so I went ahead and did it agreeing it would be paid at the end.
I finished the job on Friday night and emailed the client on Saturday. No response - I emailed the client on Sunday - no response - Client was fully available on Skype from the first day of the assignment right up until Friday morning and since then has not been on Skype and has not responded to an email either.
*THIS* is precisely why I do not accept fixed rate jobs and this person has definitely convinced me to never accept one again! And, how do I share my experience with other providers so they're not taken in by the same buyer at a later time? Since there are no hours shown/no job shown because it's fixed rate and nothing has been paid, unlike an hourly job I can't leave him negative feedback!
Doreen
the feedback will appear
on Tue, 2008-11-04 17:22.And, how do I share my experience with other providers so they're not taken in by the same buyer at a later time? Since there are no hours shown/no job shown because it's fixed rate and nothing has been paid, unlike an hourly job I can't leave him negative feedback!
Doreen
On fixed price assignments, the feedback will appear on the buyer's history even if zero dollars were paid. The buyer's feedback is weighted by the bid price on fixed price jobs. The zero dollar job will not appear on the provider's history.
But you will have to end the job to leave feedback. I recommend giving it at least a week to try to sort things out before you give up on payment and leave the negative feedback.
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Thanks
Jacqui thanks I didn't know that (since I take so few fixed rate jobs!) Doreen
I agree
We need a way to indicate to other providers if we've been ripped off by a buyer. I mainly do fixed price, but I am rethinking my strategy on Odesk now that I have been ripped over $500 this week. I basically gave my whole week's worth of work up for free!
Contract
Maybe it is time to think about instituting a basic contract into the system for fixed rate jobs. A simple contract that states what is expected and what will be delivered may help both the provider as well as the buyer. I realize that anyone of us providers could draft a simple contract and send it to the buyer, but maybe if it remains on file within the oDesk system it will have more meaning. In a lot of ways I am surprised we all don't do this more here. I know I don't, but have started to consider it. When I started with oDesk I wasn't seeing the problems that others were, but have now started to and am looking for ways to protect myself.
Is a contract a good or bad idea I don't really know the correct answer.
Jason
doreenmartel wrote: IÂ
I would personally like to see a separate link that allows a provider to end a fixed rate job and generate a request to the buyer to pay for that job. As it stands now if a provider ends the job prior to payment they're in effect waiving their right to be paid.
Or maybe not end the assignment completely...but at the very least give providers the option to generate the reminder email/request for payment.
Of course, this could lead to abuse by the providers, too...impatient providers sending one off every day, only to end up annoying the buyer into NOT paying. :\
- Danalyn
Before you complain about rates, read all 4 parts of the oDesk Insider Blog's Make More Money series.