Advice about unfriendly buyer?

[pr9spk]

Hi, I hope someone can help. I was contacted today by a buyer with zero feedback. They were quite abrupt, and after some discussions I agreed to do a $5 gig for them to see the quality of my work, which I believe is very professional, and so do the many people who have bought from me in the past.

The issue I have with this buyer is that he wanted some answers to some interview questions, no problem I said. However, he wouldn’t tell me anything about the job or the company. In the end he said “cyber security” but wouldn’t give the company. So I wrote a professional reply and sent it to him. He said it was not what he expected (I knew this was coming), and then was quite rude and started saying that all my feedback comes from only 2 guys (it does not, my last 10 feedback alone come from 7 individual users). I apologized and offered to do the work again and asked if he could provide more information so that he can actually get what he wants. He was quite rude and told me the organisation.

I have since rewritten and sent to him, but am expecting his reply to be asking for a refund or saying that he’s still not happy with it, which I strongly suspect was his intention from the start. I don’t know what I can do here, what’s best if he complains again? Cancel the order and give a refund, or keep the money and take a bad feedback that he is going to give out of spite for some strange reason? I’ve done 92 gigs and only had one feedback that wasn’t 5 star, from a guy that refused to communicate with me and wanted hours of work for $5.

Are there buyers out there who deliberately and fraudulently claim that they don’t like the work so that they can get their money back and keep the work? If so, this is a bit of an issue with the Fiverr platform.

Luckily I guess this is only a $5 gig, worst case scenario is I lose $4 income and all the time I wasted or take a bad feedback on the chin from someone who got 2 gigs for the price of one, but the good news is I get to blacklist this buyer.

If he accepts the work, I think he will leave bad feedback because he seems rude and spiteful, if I ignore the request to give him feedback, will his feedback still appear on my profile, or should I just give honest feedback about this guy?

[misscrystal]

Hello, since it’s just $5 refund his money is my suggestion and in the future if someone is abrupt and sounds difficult before they order don’t be eager to accept a job from them. You can always tell someone that you are not a good fit for their project and suggest they find another seller.

[pr9spk]

Hello, since it’s just $5 refund his money is my suggestion and in the future if someone is abrupt and sounds difficult before they order don’t be eager to accept a job from them. You can always tell someone that you are not a good fit for their project and suggest they find another seller.

I always find it hard to tell people to go elsewhere, what is the most polite way of doing so to someone that insists on using you despite you not being happy about it and then just buys your gig anyway so you are locked into it?

[frank_d]

Hi, I hope someone can help. I was contacted today by a buyer with zero feedback. They were quite abrupt, and after some discussions I agreed to do a $5 gig for them to see the quality of my work, which I believe is very professional, and so do the many people who have bought from me in the past.

The issue I have with this buyer is that he wanted some answers to some interview questions, no problem I said. However, he wouldn’t tell me anything about the job or the company. In the end he said “cyber security” but wouldn’t give the company. So I wrote a professional reply and sent it to him. He said it was not what he expected (I knew this was coming), and then was quite rude and started saying that all my feedback comes from only 2 guys (it does not, my last 10 feedback alone come from 7 individual users). I apologized and offered to do the work again and asked if he could provide more information so that he can actually get what he wants. He was quite rude and told me the organisation.

I have since rewritten and sent to him, but am expecting his reply to be asking for a refund or saying that he’s still not happy with it, which I strongly suspect was his intention from the start. I don’t know what I can do here, what’s best if he complains again? Cancel the order and give a refund, or keep the money and take a bad feedback that he is going to give out of spite for some strange reason? I’ve done 92 gigs and only had one feedback that wasn’t 5 star, from a guy that refused to communicate with me and wanted hours of work for $5.

Are there buyers out there who deliberately and fraudulently claim that they don’t like the work so that they can get their money back and keep the work? If so, this is a bit of an issue with the Fiverr platform.

Luckily I guess this is only a $5 gig, worst case scenario is I lose $4 income and all the time I wasted or take a bad feedback on the chin from someone who got 2 gigs for the price of one, but the good news is I get to blacklist this buyer.

If he accepts the work, I think he will leave bad feedback because he seems rude and spiteful, if I ignore the request to give him feedback, will his feedback still appear on my profile, or should I just give honest feedback about this guy?

They were quite abrupt, and after some discussions I agreed to do a $5 gig for them to see the quality of my work,

So many things that you allowed to go wrong right there.

-you saw the red flag yet proceeded to do business with them

-you agreed to offer a low price entry point so now you have a communication line causing you headaches or a bad review looming over you, all for $4.

-you tried to prove yourself to the buyer vs sending them on their merry, scamming way.

This should be a learning experience for you, so you can move on and start protecting yourself and your work.

[Guest valentinaslogo]

I always find it hard to tell people to go elsewhere, what is the most polite way of doing so to someone that insists on using you despite you not being happy about it and then just buys your gig anyway so you are locked into it?

Agree with Miss C. despite being a new seller i said NO to buyer 2 days ago. There were lots of reasons for that. Buyer asked for unlimited revisions in 10$. he came 3 times in 15 days to ask me if i am available for job and i said No in very polite way, Also blocked him last time.So i thought how is this possible that this buyer could not find a seller in 15 days who can work for him.Also he said," Your work is not that much good but i want to give you a chance."

Some buyers are over demanding i assume.They also says they will approch you for bigger projects for future.But most of the time its a trap.So instead of working for that kind of buyer i choosed to eat pop corn and watch Game of Thrones.

[pr9spk]

Agree with Miss C. despite being a new seller i said NO to buyer 2 days ago. There were lots of reasons for that. Buyer asked for unlimited revisions in 10$. he came 3 times in 15 days to ask me if i am available for job and i said No in very polite way, Also blocked him last time.So i thought how is this possible that this buyer could not find a seller in 15 days who can work for him.Also he said," Your work is not that much good but i want to give you a chance."

Some buyers are over demanding i assume.They also says they will approch you for bigger projects for future.But most of the time its a trap.So instead of working for that kind of buyer i choosed to eat pop corn and watch Game of Thrones.

This might not sound great, but sometimes I just know from looking at the buyer’s username and where they come from whether or not they will try and insist on a refund after receiving the work. Does Fiverr actively monitor buyer’s accounts to see how many times they don’t like the work and request a refund? Surely this would be a great way of cracking down on scammers.

[Guest valentinaslogo]

This might not sound great, but sometimes I just know from looking at the buyer’s username and where they come from whether or not they will try and insist on a refund after receiving the work. Does Fiverr actively monitor buyer’s accounts to see how many times they don’t like the work and request a refund? Surely this would be a great way of cracking down on scammers.

Well i am a newbie here so i do not know about that and when i do not know something i avoid to give wrong advice or statement.But Fiverr is a well reputed organization so i am sure they would be looking in everything.But this is not about them but its about you.i mean you should be knowing when to back down and say NO (of course in polite way).

[pr9spk]

Well i am a newbie here so i do not know about that and when i do not know something i avoid to give wrong advice or statement.But Fiverr is a well reputed organization so i am sure they would be looking in everything.But this is not about them but its about you.i mean you should be knowing when to back down and say NO (of course in polite way).

I guess that is something that comes with experience, I’ve only had 2-3 buyers who clearly did not want to follow the rules.

[misscrystal]

When you communicate and answer questions you should be screening out problems before they place an order. You can simply block those you get the feeling are going to be a problem.
If someone is abrupt or rude or takes up too much time asking endless questions, or doesn’t communicate well or understand you well, these are good reasons to not encourage them to order.

[Guest valentinaslogo]

I guess that is something that comes with experience, I’ve only had 2-3 buyers who clearly did not want to follow the rules.

Well i read a lot of topics here from OP and suggestions from seniors here and trying to avoid learning in hard way with experience.Spending 2-3 hours of reading here have saved me many times from troubles i tell you.

[catwriter]

This might not sound great, but sometimes I just know from looking at the buyer’s username and where they come from whether or not they will try and insist on a refund after receiving the work. Does Fiverr actively monitor buyer’s accounts to see how many times they don’t like the work and request a refund? Surely this would be a great way of cracking down on scammers.

Does Fiverr actively monitor buyer’s accounts to see how many times they don’t like the work and request a refund?

I remember one buyer complaining on the forum that he was no longer allowed to buy because of too many cancellations.

[pr9spk]

Does Fiverr actively monitor buyer’s accounts to see how many times they don’t like the work and request a refund?

I remember one buyer complaining on the forum that he was no longer allowed to buy because of too many cancellations.

It’s hard to believe that a genuine buyer would insist on getting their money back instead of working it through with the buyer to find a better outcome - it really shouldn’t be so easy on Fiverr to request a cancellation when they can keep the work, maybe a three strikes and you’re out approach would stop this kind of fraudulent behaviour?

[brittanymsmith]

It’s hard to believe that a genuine buyer would insist on getting their money back instead of working it through with the buyer to find a better outcome - it really shouldn’t be so easy on Fiverr to request a cancellation when they can keep the work, maybe a three strikes and you’re out approach would stop this kind of fraudulent behaviour?

A three-strikes rule would be lovely! Or even just a way for the buyer to view the work but not download it before accepting the order…

[ridwansugi]

I think it’s best if you cancel the project.
It’s more easy to get 100% completion rate back than maintain 5 Star rating.

From my experience, i would think twice before accept from buyer with:

1. Unclear project detail
2. Demand very fast urgent delivery.
3. Ask alots of discount because …, + … + …

Best of Luck

[catwriter]

It’s hard to believe that a genuine buyer would insist on getting their money back instead of working it through with the buyer to find a better outcome - it really shouldn’t be so easy on Fiverr to request a cancellation when they can keep the work, maybe a three strikes and you’re out approach would stop this kind of fraudulent behaviour?

it really shouldn’t be so easy on Fiverr to request a cancellation when they can keep the work

According to Fiverr’s Terms of Service, if the order is cancelled for any reason, all the rights revert to the seller, and the buyer doesn’t have a legal right to use the work.

[pr9spk]

it really shouldn’t be so easy on Fiverr to request a cancellation when they can keep the work

According to Fiverr’s Terms of Service, if the order is cancelled for any reason, all the rights revert to the seller, and the buyer doesn’t have a legal right to use the work.

Doubt that makes much difference, the buyer will have the work and if that is the way they insist on behaving, then I strongly suspect they don’t care much about rights to the work but will just plagiarize it anyway.

[catwriter]

Doubt that makes much difference, the buyer will have the work and if that is the way they insist on behaving, then I strongly suspect they don’t care much about rights to the work but will just plagiarize it anyway.

If the buyer is using your work, you can file a DMCA notice.

[lenasemenkova]

If someone “sounds difficult”, they probably are. It’s actually a blessing when they show hints of their true personality before the order’s even placed. You tell them something vague and polite, I go with: “I won’t be able to assist with the project. Best of luck.” (or something). Then you block them and never hear from them again.

(Unless they are a crazy person who starts creating multiple accounts to get to you, but the chances of that are pretty low).

In your case, I’d refund them and block them immediately after.

[brenna_n]

yep, there are a lot of fraudulent people here. I would just cancel it

[misscrystal]

It’s hard to believe that a genuine buyer would insist on getting their money back instead of working it through with the buyer to find a better outcome - it really shouldn’t be so easy on Fiverr to request a cancellation when they can keep the work, maybe a three strikes and you’re out approach would stop this kind of fraudulent behaviour?

it really shouldn’t be so easy on Fiverr to request a cancellation when they can keep the wor

I’m sure there are times when a refund is justified. We don’t hear about sellers saying that the order was cancelled because it was awful but this probably does happen.

[pro_designer79]

Thanks…

[designhub777]

If the buyer is using your work, you can file a DMCA notice.

what is it dear ?can you explain it ?

[catwriter]

what is it dear ?can you explain it ?

can you explain it ?

Google is your friend… Or the search feature on this very forum.

[ducktheunicorn]

I always find it hard to tell people to go elsewhere, what is the most polite way of doing so to someone that insists on using you despite you not being happy about it and then just buys your gig anyway so you are locked into it?

When I feel I am being scammed or simply see too many red flags I tell the buyer:

“Thank you so much for considering me for your project but I am not able to meet the specifications you are requiring. I wish you the best of luck in your search.”

Then I block them so they can’t place an order after me telling them no politely.

[misscrystal]

When I feel I am being scammed or simply see too many red flags I tell the buyer:

“Thank you so much for considering me for your project but I am not able to meet the specifications you are requiring. I wish you the best of luck in your search.”

Then I block them so they can’t place an order after me telling them no politely.

If not for the block feature they would then continue to send messages asking why you can’t do their project and sound hurt, mad, and rejected, and want to fight and argue about it, in my experience.