oDesk to merge with Elance

Re:oDesk to merge with Elance by mike_herrera on Thursday December 19, 2013 @12:00PM (#6935880)

Thanks for looking! I can't argue that 10% is the correct fee - it's more of a starting point.

For that fee we guarantee users are promptly paid (net 10 or less, no excuses), absorb all of the usual transaction fees, host and archive the project workspace, and generate/distribute all 1099 and W9's.

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Re:oDesk to merge with Elance by aptwebapps on Thursday December 19, 2013 @09:20PM (#6939507)

It's not the rate I'm questioning, it's asking for it up front.

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Re:oDesk to merge with Elance by mike_herrera on Thursday December 19, 2013 @11:09PM (#6939877)

I see. Do you believe a form of a guaranteed-money-back policy, for the fee, would make it more palatable?

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Re:oDesk to merge with Elance by aptwebapps on Friday December 20, 2013 @12:57AM (#6940163)

Maybe. I'm actually on the other side of this as a freelancer, so might not have the best info. But one thing I've noticed is that one of main the ways I get gigs is by assuring people that the whole thing is going to work. In other words, there's a lot of inherent and perceived risk in outsourcing and if I can start a conversation, I can allay some of their fears. So it seems to me that with an upfront fee, you're tacking on this perceived extra risk or hurdle before they get to talk to anyone. I don't know what the psychology of money-back guarantees is. They don't have much affect on me, for some reason.

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