Don’t Be A Craigslist Cheapskate When Paying
Craigslist is a really great service, but it is often abused and misused. Happily, I have sold small household items at a reasonable price on craigslist that would not be worth the cost of purchasing a classified newspaper ad, but one area of craigslist that is being abused is the jobs section. Companies and individuals are seeking to hire skilled workers for low wages, often in the minimum wage range or less. They are actively seeking people that they can exploit freely. Then they act like they are doing a public service by giving a person an opportunity!
Due to the economic downturn that our nation and world are experiencing, the exploitation of employees has accelerated. Well that’s the excuse employers and managers currently use, but some of them are of such low morals, they would exploit employees in a good economy. All I can say is that practically everyone on craigslist wants to hire a student, intern, or someone willing to work for cheap. They even go so far as to specify a starving student or artist. Sometimes they want you to work for nothing – period – or for some really insulting amount – below minimum wage or for beer!
After responding to a job opportunity on craigslist and being hired, I was being exploited from day 1 without realizing it. During the hiring interview, I was told my starting pay would be a “training pay rate” and after 90 days my pay would be increased to a new higher rate. Well, after 90 days, the manager refused to increase my pay and for many of my co-workers. She denied that the interviewer promised a pay increase and during the hiring process the employer had me sign documents basically saying they could do whatever they pleased in regard to employee terminations and pay increases. So I quit.
Now that having an Internet presence is becoming more and more important each day, many web designers are asked, “show us how you made it so we can do it on our own “in-house” from now on.” Yet few of those people want to contract web designers to show them how to do design. Or “I don’t want you to work for free”, but the client doesn’t want to pay for it either. Many potential clients approach asking for a “free test” or “say that guy charged us this much, so you should charge us less too.” Each web designer is a professional with their own rates and they are usually willing to negotiate within reason, but they often meet potential clients who want things for as cheap as possible… if not for free!
Negotiating the price before making a large purchase or contacting someone’s service is wise. Trying to re-negotiate after the work is completed is not an acceptable negotiating tactic, its haggling. If negotiating is done before work commences, great. When a client places an order and it is accepted, the client is obligated to pay the fair market value set by the businessman at the time of the order. No respectable hardworking businessman should be asked to give a discount after completing the work.
Giving discounts after completing the work is enabling bad behavior and encouraging lack of planning. It boils down to being consistent. Have a set policy on pricing, terms, agreements, and never deliver the finished product without payment while ensuring you get some up front payment to guarantee the client is serious about finishing. Do not work without a legally binding contract, do not waiver from that contract, be fair and reasonable. If a client refuses to sign a contract, you do not want to do business with them anyway.
Don’t be a craigslist cheapskate when paying. Negotiation beforehand is acceptable, but “a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part” for the businessman or contractor. Clients should remember the rule of two-out-of-three: when you negotiate you can only get two out of three things in regard to quality, price, and time. You can never get something done as quickly as you want, with the best quality, and at a low cost. Many businessmen and contractors should consider adding an ACS line on their bill. A 10-12% surcharge of the total and the only thing negotiable: The Annoying Client Surcharge.
