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[Mike Hill]

First I want to say I learned a cheap $50 lesson. I should know better but every once in a while I get suckered by feeling sorry for someone's circumstances.

Here's what happened... (This almost made the name and shame section)

Two weeks ago I set out looking for article writers. I posted in this forum and that other forum over there... you know the one!

Anyway... I decided to split the project between two writers because I needed 20 articles within 5 days and I felt sorry for writer "B" because they sent me a long sob story about how desperate they were for work.

So I sent writer "A" and writer "B" their instructions and within the alloted 5 days I allowed for this project I was delivered very good quality articles from writer "A".

Life was good... Until...

Ten days later and not a single reply from writer "B". I sent a friendly email and asked how things were going with the project. No answer... I sent a PM and a few days later, still no answer. That day I noticed a thread started by Writer "B" so I posted in their thread about contacting me and that I sent them a PM and an email.

Two days go by and by this point in time I'm pi**ed... Unfortunately I already advanced the cash through PayPal (slapping forehead now).

It wasn't until I initiated a dispute through PayPal did I ever hear from this person. Actually within 2 hours after filing the dispute a PM waiting for me and an email.

When I read the email I was completely amazed at all the clever excuses, but the real kicker was they plainly pointed out in black and white that I could not possibly win a dispute through PayPal because of their [PayPal] terms or service.

I couldn't believe it... obviously they have had this happen to them before!

Since then they did manage to deliver 7 articles but these are so sub-standard that I could not possibly use them. For the most part they make absolutely no sense. There is no real start or finish and I suspect they are 100% PLR.

Lesson learned...

1. Never let your emotions get the better of you and cloud your judgment.

2. (and most important) NEVER PAY IN ADVANCE..!

End of story!

Mike Hill

[Terry Crim]

You know, this is funny.  Not funny it happened but funny in the sense that I was talking to someone today about decisions and how we go about choosing which ones are good or bad.

You are right about emotions and most decisions based solely on emotions are usually wrong.
It is so easy to get caught up in someone's story and before you know it you are getting involved where normally you may not have.

It is just weird that you wrote this not too long after I had this discussion I mentioned.
Anyway...   


- Terry

[Mike Hill]

Yeah that is weird... LOL

I like helping people just as much (if not more) that the next guy. I like to be the leader in such cases but business is business and I need to feed my family too.

Strangely enough, if that same writer were on the street asking for change I'd be the first to dig deep and give without anything in return. I'm not a bad guy... just firm but fair!

If someone accepts a job and takes the money then they should step up and deliver.

Mike Hill

[John Guanzon]

First I want to say I learned a cheap $50 lesson.  I should know better but every once in a while I get suckered by feeling sorry for someone's circumstances.

Here's what happened. . .  (This almost made the name and shame section)

Two weeks ago I set out looking for article writers.  I posted in this forum and that other forum over there. . .  you know the one!

Anyway. . .  I decided to split the project between two writers because I needed 20 articles within 5 days and I felt sorry for writer "B" because they sent me a long sob story about how desperate they were for work.

So I sent writer "A" and writer "B" their instructions and within the alloted 5 days I allowed for this project I was delivered very good quality articles from writer "A".

Life was good. . .  Until. . .

Ten days later and not a single reply from writer "B".  I sent a friendly email and asked how things were going with the project.  No answer. . .  I sent a PM and a few days later, still no answer.  That day I noticed a thread started by Writer "B" so I posted in their thread about contacting me and that I sent them a PM and an email.

Two days go by and by this point in time I'm pi**ed. . .  Unfortunately I already advanced the cash through PayPal (slapping forehead now).

It wasn't until I initiated a dispute through PayPal did I ever hear from this person.  Actually within 2 hours after filing the dispute a PM waiting for me and an email.

When I read the email I was completely amazed at all the clever excuses, but the real kicker was they plainly pointed out in black and white that I could not possibly win a dispute through PayPal because of their [PayPal] terms or service.

I couldn't believe it. . .  obviously they have had this happen to them before!

Since then they did manage to deliver 7 articles but these are so sub-standard that I could not possibly use them.  For the most part they make absolutely no sense.  There is no real start or finish and I suspect they are 100% PLR.

Lesson learned. . .

1.  Never let your emotions get the better of you and cloud your judgment.

2.  (and most important) NEVER PAY IN ADVANCE. . !

End of story!

Mike Hill

Dang bro, sorry to hear that.   But it's an important lesson to many though.   Work with who you know, like, and trust if possible.   Outsourcing for many is a tough barrier to break but the trial and error in the long run is worth it.

[Tim Thach]

Hi Mike,
   Here's a great "You're FIRED!!!" video on YouTube.

Very funny and G-Rated.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/XpBOVM5oFWo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/XpBOVM5oFWo</a>

[Bev Clement]

Mike what is funny is I have two tabs open, and was just reading the post by B wanting to sell some lens fast, and then reading you here.

[jasonmoffatt]

I hate to say it, but part of my requirements for employees now is. . .

NO EXCUSES!

I don't care if your dog was hit by a bus, your kid fell in a well, or
your penis got whacked off by your jealous ex girlfriend.

I don't care, just. . .

Finish the damn job.

I've been utterly amazed at the amount of excuses I've seen over the
years, so I basically have just come to the conclusion that I don't accept
excuses in any fashion.

If you can't do the work, don't raise your hand.

Now, I'm not usually such a insensitive hardass like this, but the truth is
95% of the excuses you run into are just blatant LIES!

People are just too damn lazy to actually work.

So now, when I post a job I tell them upfront NO EXCUSES, no matter what.

And if you are late on an assignment, I have to go all Trump on ya and say. . .

YOU'RE FIRED!

[wholesalerjoe]

  Maybe with this forum peeps can form a section for proven outsourced vendors who deliver and if we pull together as a community and only use those peeps who have a track record then should be golden :)  Always sucks when someone has to file a payapl complaint to get a basic response. . . . . . . . .

[Joreymay]

Always sucks when someone has to file a payapl complaint to get a basic response. . . . . . . . .

Another thing sucks in that process. When a customer contacts you, and doesn't tell you that they have one of those spam filters that requires a response before forwarding the message to them. They make it impossible to interact with them in a timely manner, which is bad for both sides. They think you are ignoring them, and you think you have been sending them the relevant information. One time, the message from a customer's spam filter was delayed (as sometimes happens on the net) for a few days (and then ended up in the "bulk mail" folder. I was frustrated because I was not getting any response to the questions I sent, and the customer was frustrated because he thought I was not responding.

[silverdragonfly]

The whole dang situation sucks!!  There's got to be away you can get back at writer B.   I saying this not for the satisfaction of making yourself feel better but to stop this person from scamming other people who are looking for his services.   I mad you for.   

Well. . .

Maybe its best that you take the high road and learn from your experience.   I would suggest asking for samples prior to hiring a writer.   

[webrunner]

Same thing happened to me last month.   I wonder if it was the same person.  I lost $25 and got a bunch of excuses as well.

Live and learn.

[Chris Lockwood]

>  I would suggest asking for samples prior to hiring a writer.   

But then the bad writers would probably just send someone else's work as the samples.

[silverdragonfly]

I agree with you but there has to be a way to at least make the person actively think about deceiving you.   Maybe. . . just maybe. . .  you'll catch the person in the act of lying.   

[Joseph Ratliff]

Mike,

Man, I am sorry to hear about your situation.

These types of writers make it hard for totally honest writers like myself to operate...because they usually piss off about 10 - 20 marketers before closing up shop (or having it closed up).

Sucks.

I don't miss deadlines, period, but dishonest writers make it harder to convey that message.   

[Jennifer Herold]

Sorry to hear of your circumstances.  It normally happens in freelance type situations.  I have my phone number and the number of my project manager readily available to all clients at my web dev company.

I suppose the best suggestion is to work with ppl you know and trust.