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If you’ve been a seller on Fiverr for some time you’ve probably come across some bad buyers every now and then. Whether it’s someone treating you without the respect you deserve, or someone trying to take advantage of the fact that you’re a new seller, this guide will hopefully come to some use.

It’s by no means a complete guide or magic potion against bad buyers, but if you follow these tips you might be able to avoid some of the bad buyers out there, or at least deal with them if the order already is in your dashboard.

I hope you’ll share your tips and tricks for avoiding this type of buyer below, as I’d love to learn how you guys deal with this as well!

You know the one I’m talking about. The first message that pops into your inbox might start with “

I want this done but I’m not paying 20USD for it. What’s your best offer?

Or, it might be that they demand free extras. I’ve worked as a waiter, and let me tell you, if the customer asks for a free dessert, they won’t get one. People don’t go to the gas station to fill their tank, demanding a free tire change on the way out.

The same goes for buyers who contact you with a single sentence, most often a “

”. There’s no hi, hello, or thank you. It might happen because the individual was short on time, but honestly, showing some courtesy goes a long way.

I’m always a bit careful if the first thing a potential buyer sends is a question about my best offer, with no curtesy whatsoever.

 This is the buyer that might demand you do more work than agreed upon or pressure you into lowering your rates. Just by looking at the way the buyer communicates, to begin with, you can begin to sort out the ones you’re comfortable working with, and the ones you want to avoid.

Your rates are what they are for a reason. Haggling over price or treating me like a servant is a sure-fire way of getting blocked. This doesn’t mean you can’t negotiate your rate (

) if you are working on a long-term project, or the buyer wants you to complete an effortless task compared to what you’re offering in your gig packages. Still, it has must be done 

 – both in terms of your pricing and the way the buyer treats you. Remember - there’s a big difference between negotiation and demands.

#2 The let’s talk outside of Fiverr-buyer

This might be my number one alarm bell; If they ask you to do work outside of Fiverr, ask for your contact information, demanding to talk on other platforms, or ask you to deliver the work outside of Fiverr, there is a big red alarm bell, a gong, a few bombs, and a loud voice screaming “

. Second, it’s a reason why the buyer wants to avoid Fiverr: these people often wish to circumvent the security that this platform provides in that they have to pay upfront and stick to the terms of service.

In addition to keeping revenue on the platform (after all, Fiverr have to pay their bills, too!), this is one of the main reasons why you’re not allowed to share contact info. If someone tries, they receive my standard reply:

"Unfortunately, asking for or sharing that information is a violation of Fiverr Terms of Service. Since I’m making a living here on Fiverr, I make it a point to follow the guidelines. I’m sure we can work together, but I’ll only deliver and accept orders here. I ask for your understanding in this matter. "

If they ask again, I’ll block them, and most certainly, I won’t do business with them.

Be specific in your gig descriptions and custom offers. Never make it " 

 " - because I damn well guarantee that someone will do just that - whether on purpose or not. Being specific will ensure that people can’t easily take advantage of you being new to the platform, because they can’t claim this and that after the fact.

Don’t sell at 5$. This type of gig almost always attracts the cheapest buyers, and sometimes even the unpleasant ones. If you want to sell your services for 5$, that’s up to you, but I tried, and I’m never going back. I made a 5USD gig, basically offering the same type of service as I do with my 10USD gig, but fewer words included. The result was three bad buyers in a row coming from that gig.

Always be courteous, but firm. Don’t let the buyers treat you like a servant. Be firm about what you’re offering, and what you’re not offering, but do so pleasantly and politely.

I hope this guide has helped you, and I’d love to see your suggestions to avoid bad buyers below!

[Guide] How to avoid bad buyers, and how to deal with them if you can't

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