Fiverr Community Forum

How to deal with clients with different currency/low rates?

Your Fiverr Experience
#1

Hello friends,

Lately I’ve been approached by clients who come to me with work on a low budget. They say they approach me because I’ve mentioned that I can accommodate certain budgets that don’t fit my packages. This is for example, the work qualifies as a $25 project instead of the basic $20 package or standard $30 package.

Not only that, they state that it will be ‘too much’ for them in US dollars, so they request me to adjust the pricing. Recently I took work from a client who paid according to AUD rate because it would cost him too much in US dollars. I had already given him a good discount for the first time but I was appalled when he requested for a revision on the same order, and when I mentioned that there are extra charges for revisions, he started nit-picking my work. I’m pretty disturbed right now as not only did I work at a lower rate for them, they had the gall to berate my well-written content and show resistance to pay extra for the revisions.

I’m not going to charge them for the revisions, but at least hoping for a good review. But I can’t help think of the possibility that they might not leave a good rating and it’ll negatively impact my seller’s profile even though it would be extremely unfair.

Sharing my grievances and looking forward to some good advice from my fellow freelancers on how to deal with such clients.

9 Likes
#2

For what it’s worth, I think you are being far too kind to your buyers.

If they can’t afford to buy your service - that is their problem. Not yours.

As sellers, we are not charities. This is our work, our income, our way to pay the bills.

Your don’t walk into Sears and say “I want that $5,000 TV but I can only afford $3,000”.

Maybe the wording of your gig is encouraging people to think you will lower your prices?

Also, some buyers will be able to afford your service - they just want it cheap.

12 Likes
#3

I don’t know if fiverr has changed something or it’s just a coincidence but I’ve got 2 people (Australia and Canada) this week going: “But you said it was X dollars and it isn’t!”

I just informed them that my prices were in USD and sent them the screenshot of the package description. They didn’t mind and made a purchase anyway.

$ is generally assumed to be USD. Unless you’re from the country that also has dollars of its own. There is no sneaky scheme going on, just assumptions being made. It’s not your job to make an adjustment unless you want to be accommodating. And you can’t be accommodating all the time.

A few years back I used to have a lot of buyers from Australia for some reason. I’d just add “My prices are in USD” to my message. Most people would agree to the price.

4 Likes
#4

I agree. I honestly never thought I would get such stingy clients. I will definitely review my gig so I don’t come off as over-accomodating. Thank you for your feedback, really needed this. Besides we are people and not robots that will do anything they’re told to. Much obliged.

3 Likes
#5

That is a good idea, I guess I should add this to my gigs. I think maybe because there’s a lot of seasonal sales happening, these clients pop up hoping to get premium services in cheap prices? I genuinely try to be accommodating with new clients to encourage more sales. I have had no trouble with repeat buyers. They usually don’t have any issues with charges. But then this particular client really over stepped their bounds and made snarky remarks even though I didn’t refuse the edits they required AND gave them a HUGE discount. Never again. :sweat_smile: :joy:

2 Likes
#6

I’m aware that $5 is a lot of money in some countries, what you can get for $5 varies depending on the country. A friend of mine told me he got an awesome heavenly massage in Thailand for 30 minutes for about 5 dollars once, and boy did I wish I was in Thailand.
BTW I paid 3000 yen ( a little under 30 dollars) for an hour massage in Tokyo…

Bottom line is, while there are people who are sadly not able to afford your services for whatever reason, there are plenty of others who ARE willing to pay, it’s your gig, and you are in charge of choosing the price.

I’ve had plenty of people angrily tell me how expensive my rates were, and I also had people laugh and tell me “they were expecting something higher.”

If the buyer tells you they can’t afford your gigs, just politely tell them you can’t lower your price, move on, and someone else will contact you veeeery soon. :smiley:

4 Likes
#7

Every single time I make a discount, I end up regretting it. Unless I’m the one offering it and it’s a regular client who comes in for a bigger, package deal project.

You’d think people would be appreciative. But instead, they go: “Let’s see how much extra can I squeeze from this hot deal that I got” and it turns into a very unpleasant experience.

And I make everyone aware that I’m shaving $X off the price because of this, this and that. So it’s not like they don’t know that I’m being accommodating or anything. It just kills my faith in humanity sometimes, tbh.

5 Likes
#8

Oh my God, why didn’t I look at it that way? :joy: where I’m from the economy is so bad, a massage from any salon will cost me anywhere between $30 to $50, so yes, every little bit counts! The way you’ve worded your message gives me a lot of hope to get more co-operative clients in the future. Some of my repeat buyers are honestly wonderful people to work with. Hoping to be a bit less lenient with the newer clients because people do take advantage of you if you let them. Time to regain some control over my gigs, and my life. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: Thank you so much for your valuable feedback! :smiley:

1 Like
#9

Good post! I often use the following example when writing in the forum. In major western cities such as New York, London, Paris, etc - $4 ($5 minus 20% Fiverr commission) buys a takeout coffee.

One coffee. That is all. Where I live on the south coast of the UK, where it is a little cheaper, $4 (which is £3) buys one and a half take out coffees!

This is why some sellers need to get real with their prices, and why some buyers need to accept that they might not be able to afford the service they want.

For example, I am a native proofreader, writer and voiceover. You can’t fake what I offer (meaning my native language skills). You either buy the real deal or you don’t.

I’m not going to offer my time and services for below market rate. My prices are already very fair and are worked out to ensure I have an hourly rate of about $20 after fees.

I’m aware that in some countries my hourly rate is dream money. But where I live it is just about enough to pay the bills. We have to be true to ourselves.

4 Likes
#10

Oh dear, sounds exactly like this experience of mine! I do regret it, genuinely. I was hoping to take a day off to recharge but having to read those demeaning comments first thing in the morning really screwed up my day. Really hope that we get clients that are appreciative of the time and effort put in by freelancers.

1 Like
#11

As you are new in the platform i know that is difficult to refuse giving discounts. But in almost of the cases clients that ask for discounts are clients that complain about everything, as you experienced.

And you know… you give an discount for one cliente, but after that other client come and pay the full price… whitch one you give more atention? Who purchase first our who pay your price?

The better way is not give discounts, just in rare cases… or to clientes that you already work with.

1 Like
#12

Definitely, lesson learnt. I wonder why that is the case though. I charged a repeat buyer the package price and he accepted it and didn’t ask for any changes. I charged the new client a price way lower than what the total would’ve been and they’re were being haughty about it. To be paid peanuts for something you spent hours studying and researching before writing it out isn’t as hurtful as when they create issues for you. I honestly don’t understand what they get out of that.

#13

I agree with you!

This was in regards to a writing gig but I recently went through a similar situation with my primary jewellery design gig as well.

I have a degree in jewellery design and gemological sciences and I was awarded a gold medal on upon graduating. Not to brag or anything, but it is a fact that supports my level of competence and not every seller on the platform offers services after proper training and specialisation. I take my work very seriously.

I initially joined Fiverr so I could be paid better for my work than in local markets where the work is not as valued and is disgustingly underpaid. So when clients try to lower your prices to fit their budget, it is like a mockery of your years of training, as well as the amount of time and effort you put into the work.

You definitely can’t fake it when your work is your passion.

2 Likes
#14

Oh you betcha! :wink:
If a buyer asks for a discount, just say “I can’t do that because it would be unfair towards my other buyers who pays in full, and I’d like to treat everyone equally.”
That line has worked for me a lot in the past.

Yeah, same thing in Tokyo.
If you get a small size, you can get a coffee for around $4 or so, but for medium it would be $5 for sure at an average cafe. If you go to Seven Eleven though, you can get freshly brewed coffee for about 2 dollars or so and the quality is actually pretty good.
But yeah, doesn’t change the fact that you can only basically buy coffee! :sweat_smile:

1 Like
#15

Those who ask for discounts are nothing but trouble. I politely tell them that I can’t do it because it would be unfair and unprofessional to all of my repeat buyers who have paid the full price every time.

I tried giving people discounts in the past, and regretted it.They take it for granted that they’ll get a discount and a bunch of special favors every time, and act offended when they discover that’s not the case.

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#16

Give an inch and people want to take a mile.

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#17

Yep, I agree. I mainly do WordPress websites, and when I see gigs for less than $100 for a website - I cringe! People don’t seem to understand that doing a website takes time and patience. I may take $5 gigs for a simple graphic design, BUT, for a WordPress website, for $5 (yes, I have seen a few requests at this price) - c’mon!!

2 Likes
#18

Not only that, they asked for revisions so I have a nagging feeling that they might be one of those people who abuse the revisions button. I’m hoping that if they ask for any more changes I can stall them until the last moment and wait for the 3 days till the order is marked as complete and then have nothing to do with them.

#19

And then say you gave them nothing. Where do these people come from anyway? :joy:

#20

I feel terribly sorry for people who feel they have to undersell such an extensive service such as creating a Wordpress website to get clients. They don’t deserve it, no matter where they come from and how much they need that hard-earned money. If you know a skill and you’re providing other people services, there should be something in it for you. Also considering the fact that Fiverr deducts a certain amount from your earnings. And when people like this come into the scenario and test your patience, you definitely deserve compensation.