Warning: Upwork's new fee structure cost me a $2,000 client

I just had a long-time client bail after Upwork rolled out their new sliding fee for freelancers. They got hit with a 20% markup on my rate since we'd been working together under the old system, and they said it was too much of a hassle to negotiate off-platform. I learned the hard way to keep direct contact info from day one. Has anyone else lost work because of this update?

3 comments

3 Comments

rubyk2624d ago

Oh, the "hassle to negotiate off-platform" part got me good. Like moving a conversation to email is some kind of high-stakes heist instead of just, you know, normal business. Upwork really said "let's add a 20% tax on loyalty" and acted surprised when people got mad (shocked pikachu face). I swear their fee structure is designed by someone who's never actually had to earn a living on the platform. Honestly at this point they're practically begging freelancers to break the rules with those rates.

grantp1424d ago

Man I just started keeping a Google Voice number for first contact and then moved everything to email from there. Hasn't backfired on me yet and saves me that stupid fee. Why pay 20% for nothing?

paige33124d ago

Lol the "shocked pikachu face" got me. I remember one time I tried to explain to a client why we had to keep chatting on Upwork and they were like "wait so I gotta pay a fee just to talk to you?" and I just sat there feeling like the worlds dumbest middleman.