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There will be a time in every freelancer’s career when a Buyer is unhappy even if you take all the necessary steps to communicate and provide your best work. These situations are never fun and can be quite difficult to navigate before you’ve developed an effective process for handling order disputes. 

It's always best to be polite and professional when someone is unreasonable or rude in their criticism of one of your projects. Don't take it personally; most often, the dissatisfaction stems from miscommunication or misunderstanding that you, as a Seller, did your best to avoid. 

Learning how to handle an unhappy Buyer will help you remain calm and confident while you work to find an ideal outcome. 


 It's not always easy to handle a dispute with a Buyer, but there are some things you can do to resolve the situation positively. Here are a few tips for handling order disputes: 


 An apology for your role in a Buyer’s dissatisfaction will go a long way. Be empathetic and assure them that you understand how frustrating this must be. Let the Buyer know that you are sorry for not meeting expectations and that you want to work with them to find a resolution.
 


 2. Listen closely to what the Buyer says


 Hearing negative feedback can be tough, but it’s absolutely necessary when revising an order submission! If a Buyer expresses that they are unhappy, politely ask them if they can provide specific feedback about what they don’t like. If you don’t understand or agree with their points, try to avoid getting defensive. Instead, ask for clarification and let them know that you genuinely want to understand their needs. If they continue to provide unclear feedback, you might ask them to provide an example. 


 It might be tempting to defend yourself or get angry, but engaging on the same level as a negative Buyer may cause the dispute to escalate. Focus on hearing their feedback and adjusting your submission instead of providing all the reasons you did not meet their expectations. You might say something along the lines of, “Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I will do X, Y, and Z to make this better,” and let them know when they can expect a revision. 


 If a Buyer is being particularly uncooperative and refusing to provide feedback, Customer Support can act as a mediator to help diffuse the situation. It is important to remember that Support cannot force a Buyer to accept an order - they are a neutral party to help you and the Buyer come to an agreement. 

Some Buyers are likely to be harder to please than others, but even the most demanding Buyer deserves to be treated respectfully and professionally. Apply their feedback to the next submission and know when to involve Customer Support. If the only option is to cancel an order, you can do so knowing that you gave it your best effort. 

How to Handle Order Disputes

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