Sanity check. Did I overreact?

[getitdone_eng]

A couple days ago I got contacted by a buyer who was very vague and couldn’t make up their mind about what they wanted from the start. It seemed like they just wanted to consult with me; now, usually I try not to discuss work with my clients longer than necessary, but this particular buyer was very polite and I didn’t want to be rude. So we chat and at one point the buyer decides to place an order, but without providing any details.

At this point I’m asking myself: “is this guy just wasting my time?”. And then the buyer tries to sweet talk me into lowering my price a little in the future. Now I’m beginning to see the red flags, but tell the buyer to get back to me when they make up their mind about the order, and as for lowering my rates, I can’t promise anything.

The next day they follow up with two messages asking to talk to me outside fiverr. That’s already red flag number 3. I know communication off-platform is against TOS, so I instantly contact customer support and get them to cancel the order, then I block the buyer.

The buyer then proceeds to make a new account and contacts me again, asking what’s going on, if they offended me in some way. I try to explain politely that I can’t communicate with them anymore because that might get me in trouble with fiverr.

Then the buyer makes another account and texts me again, but this time they provide a pdf with instructions, guidelines and whatnot, and honestly the whole situation was starting to look so absurd and ridiculous I almost relented and accepted an order from them again, but changed my mind at the last moment and told them to look for someone else.

That upset the buyer and they told me that there was some miscommunication and misunderstanding and that I overreacted.

Did I? What would you do if this happened to you?

[looseink]

I would have pulled the pin after the request to communicate off-platform…maybe even before that.

I think you did the right thing.

I do wonder how the Buyer keeps reappearing with new accounts as Fiverr doesn’t look too kindly at Sellers doing that.

I think if it keeps up, I’d go to Fiverr CS again and tell them you are being spammed or hassled or stalked.

[alphagev]

On a scale from 1 to 10, I’d say you scored 10 or even 11.
Maybe there really were miscommunication and misunderstanding but, at the end of the day, if you feel uncomfortable to work with a buyer you shouldn’t do it. Especially if their behaviour raises multiple red flags. My two cents.

[english_voice]

Over the years I’ve learnt to be direct with potential clients - hopefully never rude though. If they want to waste their time, fine. But they’re not wasting my time. I don’t entertain fools.

I’ve got to the point in my Fiverr life where I’ve streamlined my offering to such a point that I’m not interested in working with people who want to chat ideas through. I appreciate this won’t sit comfortably with some sellers, and of course I recognise that there are some sectors where it makes sense for the buyer and seller to discuss ideas - but I deliberately offer a service that needs no discussion.

I say the above because I would have been very forthright with your ‘buyer’ and told them in no uncertain times that if they contacted me again on any account I would report them to customer support as I had made it clear I don’t want to be contacted by them let alone work with them.

Now, before anyone thinks I’m mad, I’m not. I look after my clients extremely well and I value them greatly. But, I’m just not interested in working with flakey people.

[kometbeats]

Complete overreaction! So what, the buyer tried to contact you outside the platform and then made several accounts, not only breaking ToS but also harassing you. Sarcasm aside I’m amazed you didn’t report them to CS after they tried to get you to contact them off Fiverr.

[moonstaredits]

A couple days ago I got contacted by a buyer who was very vague and couldn’t make up their mind about what they wanted from the start. It seemed like they just wanted to consult with me; now, usually I try not to discuss work with my clients longer than necessary, but this particular buyer was very polite and I didn’t want to be rude. So we chat and at one point the buyer decides to place an order, but without providing any details.

At this point I’m asking myself: “is this guy just wasting my time?”. And then the buyer tries to sweet talk me into lowering my price a little in the future. Now I’m beginning to see the red flags, but tell the buyer to get back to me when they make up their mind about the order, and as for lowering my rates, I can’t promise anything.

The next day they follow up with two messages asking to talk to me outside fiverr. That’s already red flag number 3. I know communication off-platform is against TOS, so I instantly contact customer support and get them to cancel the order, then I block the buyer.

The buyer then proceeds to make a new account and contacts me again, asking what’s going on, if they offended me in some way. I try to explain politely that I can’t communicate with them anymore because that might get me in trouble with fiverr.

Then the buyer makes another account and texts me again, but this time they provide a pdf with instructions, guidelines and whatnot, and honestly the whole situation was starting to look so absurd and ridiculous I almost relented and accepted an order from them again, but changed my mind at the last moment and told them to look for someone else.

That upset the buyer and they told me that there was some miscommunication and misunderstanding and that I overreacted.

Did I? What would you do if this happened to you?

Did I? What would you do if this happened to you?

Not at all. In fact, I would have declined his requests as soon as they were vague about what they want or trying to lower my price. We can’t please anyone if they don’t give guidelines about their requirement, and our work has a established price for a reason. And if they keep contacting me, instant block and report to CS.

And that guidelines through a pdf file? Them creating another account to contact you again after you blocked them? Sketchy.

As sellers, we’re completely free to decline a work offer, even at the slightest sign we have of “this customer is a waste of time”. Plus no one can give you enough money to keep up with their bs.

You did the right thing in the long term.

[janeeditor]

Once they started creating more accounts to avoid the block, it got into creepy, stalking territory. The chances are that you would have had a really difficult client who probably wouldn’t have paid you either, given their intent to take you off platform.

I think you reacted appropriately and likely dodged a bullet here.

[maegan_bertrand]

You most certainly DID NOT overreact here! This buyer’s actions were clearly against TOS, and their behavior was and continued to be inappropriate. I would have done the exact same as you. You don’t have to put up with harassment!

With buyers, you need to draw the line and hold firm to those boundaries- with badly behaved buyers, it’s especially important. After a few brushes of my own, I now have planned responses, and signs to look for that help me know when a client gets a simple and polite “no thank you”, which ones I block, and those that warrant screenshots and a block with report to CS.