How to say "NO" without offending a buyer?

[startabitz]

Hello Fiverr,

My 2022 goals includes being a top rated freelancer and for the exact same reason, I quit my job. so wish me luck 😅

Just today, I received 2 messages from buyers, but the services they have asked for was not exactly I am experienced in or willing to do - it requires a lot of research first and something that can't be delivered in their expected timeframe. I am improving my profile side by side but Highly curious to know How to say good bye to a buyer or that I am not interested their work.

Another aspect I want to share is how to convince others that its not possible even for SME to know everything - especially in development because if you mention you need sometime to do research, chances are they start doubting about your capabilities.

I am bit worried because that might lead to account termination if a buyer, reports profile saying I am discriminating based on region, ethnicity or have provided false information and so on.

Best

Happy New Year

[priyab468]

Quitting your job is a bold move but to each their own. In terms of declining work, you can say "Thank you for considering me, but I'm fully booked at the moment. My apologies but I do wish you all the best", or something similar.  I don't know much about your line of work, but in my opinion, it's best to be open about your capabilities. If developmental requires research and you're not capable of doing it, let them know (and if research is a big part of this type of service then maybe you should consider giving it up or changing your service to suit your capabilities). 

[startabitz]

3 minutes ago, priyab468 said:

Quitting your job is a bold move but to each their own. In terms of declining work, you can say "Thank you for considering me, but I'm fully booked at the moment. My apologies but I do wish you all the best", or something similar.  I don't know much about your line of work, but in my opinion, it's best to be open about your capabilities. If developmental requires research and you're not capable of doing it, let them know (and if research is a big part of this type of service then maybe you should consider giving it up or changing your service to suit your capabilities). 

Development is all about logic and exploring the best possible solutions or perhaps finding existing solutions to a problem. its a core thing to do. For example you come to me for developing a mobile application and want to integrate a local merchant (payment processor for example) and I will say OK, I haven't done it before but there is a documentation which I can refer to. Now, it will be wrong if you'll say OK exclude the time for research because you don't know it. OR you want to create a PDF doc by a software, and I suggest XYZ library which then later proved to be insufficient for your needs. As a developer, this becomes a headache and that would likely to be happen in our field 😅 

Only 20% of the jobs I have done so far, were like Oh, I did this in XYZ project. The Rest is totally problem solving. That's why its a big concern especially for developers.

[melanielm]

I'm sorry, but your project is outside the scope of my expertise. OR Your project doesn't align with the services I provide. -- Something professional and simple like that should work.

As long as you didn't actually claim to do their type of project in your gig, you should be fine.

Why would you think they'd accuse you of bigotry simply because you explain that to them?

[startabitz]

2 minutes ago, melanielm said:

I'm sorry, but your project is outside the scope of my expertise. OR Your project doesn't align with the services I provide. -- Something professional and simple like that should work.

As long as you didn't actually claim to do their type of project in your gig, you should be fine.

Why would you think they'd accuse you of bigotry simply because you explain that to them?

Because I have experience it already not once but twice. I didn't bother at that time because I was doing freelance part time but its a main concern for me.

[melanielm]

2 minutes ago, startabitz said:

Because I have experience it already not once but twice. I didn't bother at that time because I was doing freelance part time but its a main concern for me.

Well, even if a buyer reports you did that here, the Fiverr team will look at your messages and can tell it's true or not.

[lawan21]

1 hour ago, startabitz said:

I am bit worried because that might lead to account termination if a buyer, reports profile saying I am discriminating based on region, ethnicity or have provided false information and so on.

Well I had the doubts too. But then realized, there is no achievement without any risk 😏

[cs_evans]

As @melanielm suggested, short and professional is the best approach if it is someone you have not previously worked with, and you are certain you don't want to do the work.  If it is someone with whom you have a working relationship, you can explain more, but still keep it succinct and professional.  Saying no can be challenging, but it is a great skill to learn, and a sign of wisdom of knowing when to engage and when to walk away. 

[imagination7413]

More reading, for your consideration. 

[danno1950]

7 hours ago, melanielm said:

I'm sorry, but your project is outside the scope of my expertise. OR Your project doesn't align with the services I provide. -- Something professional and simple like that should work.

This type of wording works well for me. It doesn't make it about the buyer, but that I'm not a match for what they need. It doesn't make it a discussion.

[visualstudios]

You are always free to increase delivery time and price, and I think that could solve the problem. Just price those projects higher and with longer delivery times to take unexpected changes or challenges into account. 

[gajuseidi]

10 hours ago, startabitz said:

I am improving my profile side by side but Highly curious to know How to say good bye to a buyer or that I am not interested their work.

You can always politely decline their offer. You are not obligated to do every single job someone inquires you about. Explain that their order is out of your scope of work, or simply reply that you would not be able to work with them if you feel something fishy is going on. I've done it plenty of times and saved myself some major headache.

10 hours ago, startabitz said:

Another aspect I want to share is how to convince others that its not possible even for SME to know everything - especially in development because if you mention you need sometime to do research, chances are they start doubting about your capabilities.

You don't have to convince anyone that it's not possible to know everything - It's common knowledge. A lot of the time when I'm delivering bigger orders, I learn as I go. I have a strong foundation in photo editing and graphic design, but I can't know everything for every specific task and it's absolutely fine.

[mihimaldesign]

Saying no for the jobs out of our scope should be done without directly. It’s better to not to do the job than doing the job where finally the Client didn’t like the output and getting a bad impression for both. We should respect every client and move on. 

[startabitz]

Hello,

About 15 days ago, I got a client to work on a fixed price project, which I tried to avoid but the buyer, played the innocent game and said he had a delivery in 3 days so I want you to work on the app. I made a mistake - accepting the order but somehow got lucky to divide the project in two phases.

I did completed all the parts that was suppose to be done by me in required timeframe, but a delay happened because of client himself. At first he told me the XYZ is ready but that was not the case, he didn't touch that part and then when he provided me XYZ thing completely the opposite to what is needed to complete the job.

So the mental torcher begins.

• Had to work with him on his task as well, planning, creating and then validating - OK, I wanted to leave a good impression - no complaints about it.
• Started to ask me for things that is his personal issues, like why a certain editor not working on his device. I mean, How should I know - but OK, I've a repo to maintain.
• On the top of all the efforts, put blames on me for late delivery and other things that are platform specific things on day to day basis, 
• Then after doing work, even out of scope, start requested revisions, that doesn't makes sense or even out of project scope. After, 4th or 5th revision, I left his team and then again, he blamed for deleting his content. I have mail that says, you have left his team - not deleted.
• I did all of this because I don't want to lose the first order's money, as the task has been done already and I would have got nothing from the order if I cancel it.

He is the type of person I would like to avoid at all cost but here comes the threat again. He is waiting for my next move so if I ask him I will not proceed with his second order, he will spoil the reputation by review.

so what should I do, How can I avoid him, I even decided to do his next order but he is clearly would spoil my repo even if I do so. I'm totally lost. I heard that even after order completion a seller can cancel his order and funds can go back to him, how can I avoid it?

I have 50+ reviews all 5 star rated but I made my other clients feel a bit annoyed because of this person. He is affecting my overall work.

Summary: Again I don't want to cancel the order, the work is completed, delivered, accepted I just don't want to continue with him on his second order.

Regards

[imagination7413]

Is this is one order in two parts, one milestone order, or two separate orders?

---

> "Thank you for your continued interest in my service. Although I do my best for every order I get, I don't think I'm the right Seller for you and your team and that if I continue to work with you, my performance may suffer. You deserve someone who can dedicate their full attention to your project, and I don't think that is me.

[startabitz]

Two separate orders but If I sent him this message, he will provide me bad review on first order.

[donnovan86]

You should cancel the order.

An order cancellation affects your stats for 2 months. A bad review is here for the lifetime of your account. So, that's the ideal thing to do. If you don't cancel, all you can do is to work on his second order and hope for the best. There's nothing else you can do, and customer support won't provide you with an extraordinary, third alternative either. 

[luqmannkhann]

Can't Fiverr Support do anything? 

[luqmannkhann]

I am having an issue with one of my project. The client requested to cancel the order after 95% job is completed. From these replies it seems like nothing much to expect from the support.

[donnovan86]

1 hour ago, luqmannkhann said:

I am having an issue with one of my project. The client requested to cancel the order after 95% job is completed. From these replies it seems like nothing much to expect from the support.

You want them to steal money from the buyer that clearly doesn't want to accept your order and pay you? They are supposed to mediate the situation if you two don't come to an agreement. My question is, why would you share the work with your client if it's not 100% complete? Why risk any cancellation like this?

[startabitz]

On 3/8/2022 at 1:24 AM, donnovan86 said:

You want them to steal money from the buyer that clearly doesn't want to accept your order and pay you? They are supposed to mediate the situation if you two don't come to an agreement. My question is, why would you share the work with your client if it's not 100% complete? Why risk any cancellation like this?

The problem is during the delivery they want you attach the code. Also doesn't make any sense to ask buyer first clear the order, leave a feedback (or even without it) and then I'll attach the code. Many time they provide Github accounts as well so with every single step you have to commit changes. Wondering, what could be done.

[donnovan86]

43 minutes ago, startabitz said:

. Also doesn't make any sense to ask buyer first clear the order, leave a feedback (or even without it) and then I'll attach the code.

If you do that you receive a warning.

I am not a developer so I don't know how those things are delivered. But the idea is that you have to send a complete order one way or the other. If not, you are breaking the rules.

If the customer is a pain to deal with I would just cancel. 

[startabitz]

On 3/7/2022 at 7:15 PM, imagination7413 said:

Is this is one order in two parts, one milestone order, or two separate orders?

---

> "Thank you for your continued interest in my service. Although I do my best for every order I get, I don't think I'm the right Seller for you and your team and that if I continue to work with you, my performance may suffer. You deserve someone who can dedicate their full attention to your project, and I don't think that is me.

After doing additional feature - not promised in initial scope, thinking he might change he behavior, I finally sent him your words. Let's see what happens next. Thanks for your kind words again. 😅