I found Elance to be a competent and the best outsourcing website to
give me an exposure of 40 international freelance projects. From
September 2007-December 2008, the buyers used to be very good and even
used to pay without being asked for. I got almost Rs 75000/- for the
first 20 projects.
But after wards, when they changed their bidding structure, there are bitter experiences only.
Once the project is awarded and the buyer delays/refuses to fund the
escrow, he is free to give any type of alibi and all the documentation
fee to the tune of 8.75% are landed on the provider.
They should refund the number of bids if the buyer cancels the project
or declines the offer. I have at least 50 such cases and not even a
single bid was refunded. I think majority of buyers and providers out
there are using elance to get connected over a petty sum and then deal
directly avoid making payment to elance. I even reported their security
and reputation flaws but they were thankless and even deleted my report
in the forum. They even refunded the money I deserved back to the buyer.
Now, they are just concerned about absorbing as many providers as they
can and since it is an internet industry, they should do it. But they
should not forget their old providers too who are their backbone. I
have seen many talented providers are actually leaving elance and going
to other sites.
Elance should take action against those buyers who are contacting the providers directly. It should not disclose contact details and make it mandatory for all the conversation via PMB.
