Hey guys,
A buyer contacted me to write an article for him. Up to that point, business as usual...
He wants 585 words and asks for my price. My standard gigs have prices for either 500 or 800 words, so I give him an intermediate price of $145 that I considered fair for this project.
The buyer then asks why the price of the offer I sent he sees is different from the price I quoted him. Turns out, his Fiverr is set on Canadian dollars, while my offers are in USD. Obviously, the offer price is higher than he anticipated. He asks that I change my default currency, so the offer price is $145 CAD. Naturally, I refused because this is far less than my USD quote, which paved the way for the following interaction:
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Buyer: thought you said $145.
Me: Yes, that is correct. The price is $145. That is the price in the offer. Is it showing something different on your end?
Buyer: 200 bucks.
Me: Is that because your default currency is cad? My quote is in usd. (I saw his profile said from Canada).
Buyer: Are you not canadian.
Me: Yes I am, however the default currency is USD. I was never asked to specify a different currency on my profile. (I've never encountered this issue dealing with Canadian clients before).
Buyer: Ya im not pyaing a canadian in usd just because. Click your Avatar, top right, you will see a currency between help and English.
Me: I understand your position, however I am not changing my profile and pricing for this order. If you are unwilling to accept the order as is, you will have to hire another freelancer who will meet your criteria.
Buyer: lol wow. You literally charge $128.6 for 500 words, and $200, essentially 75 dollars more for an additional 85 words? I figured $145 is sufficient (Extra $16.74 for 85 extra words).
Now here is where I probably reacted wrong, by saying this, which subsequently cheesed him off:
Me: There are hundreds of freelancers on Fiverr who will accommodate your terms. Your time is arguably better spent finding them rather than arguing with me.
Buyer: Wow are you ever rude! You want to over charge your potential clients and after that be rude like you are? I was hoping we could work together because of your SEO and thought we could do many project together but wow you can't see that going from $125 to $200 for the difference of 85 additional words.. I don't know what to say. I will be making it known about this poor interaction and your terrible demeanor
Me: I don't understand your hostility. I presented my terms and you declined them. This is a normal free-market business interaction. As I previously stated, there are other freelancers on Fiverr who will accommodate your request. I am at liberty of setting the prices I deem appropriate for word counts that fall in between my standard offers. I have no obligation to accept a buyer's terms, and you have no obligation to accept a seller's terms.
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I admit my little quip about spending his time was perhaps misplaced, but I feel this buyer was also in the wrong trying to criticize my prices. I told him the price and in no way pressured him to accept it. This is a normal business interaction as far as I am concerned. I don't see any reason for him to report me. In the end, I also reported him for harrassing me.
What is the community's thoughts?