Some people want something for nothing. Tempting as the offer sounds, I just don’t need any more nothing right now.
Rant time! Every day – yeah, pretty much every day – I get an email from somebody seeking to hire a slave. In my mind’s eye, I see them standing there with a whip and an evil laughter. “Muuaahhahahhahahaaaaa!”
Here is one of those emails I just received.
“I am looking for an article writer who can write quality articles for the keyword and the special instruction that i provide. I need 500 words and 700 words articles meeting the deadline. I give $1.20 for 500 words article and $2.40 for 700 words article. You can take a keyword after submitting an article. Time frame to complete 500 word article is 2hrs and 4 hrs for 700 words article. Let me know if you have any questions.”
I was tempted to respond…
“Yeah, and I give $5.40 for a quality transatlantic flight. However, I got tired of the ‘comfortable’ seating in the catapult, and the landing is usually quite rough – especially since I always hit the office tower across the street. But, hey, you can’t beat the price, right?”
I didn’t send that email – what’s the point of arguing with a $%#@%! and starting a flame war with someone whose intelligence level makes him a threat to anybody standing close enough when he sets himself on fire?
Other people who want something for nothing think they can get it by threatening me. This has happened many – many! – times. Here is how they would approach the same scenario above.
“I am looking for an article writer who can write quality articles for the keyword and the special instruction that i provide. I need 500 words and 700 words articles meeting the deadline. I give $1.20 for 500 words article and $2.40 for 700 words article. You can take a keyword after submitting an article. Time frame to complete 500 word article is 2hrs and 4 hrs for 700 words article. If you do really good job i hire you to do many more.”
In other words, if you do a really good job, I’ll make you my slave forever. I am always tempted to respond…
“So, let me get this straight.
“First, you expect me to work for peanuts.
“Then, if I do a really good job, you’ll threaten to make me work for peanuts even more?
“So….you’re incentifying me to do a really bad job?”
Of course, I never send that email, either.
A better way to handle such things is to just delete the email. There will always be people who want something for nothing. You don’t want to take them up on their “offer”. You can’t make them see reality. And you’ll only make the headache medicine makers happy by trying.
So just let it go.
And blog about it. That’s always fun.
About David Leonhardt
Technically, a slave is never hired- it’s acquired…But, too many folks think they can get away with a zero pay hire.
Roy: I agree with your point. You are not a slave if you get hired. You are not acquired or forced to write according to “slave” situation. That said, I think you are right about the “race to the bottom” payment. I say that I want to have real money as a payment, so my standard price is 1 kilo of silver for 4 hours of work, as a new media advisor. As a former purchaser, I am good a negotiating with myself! 😉
LOL David, those rates amaze me, On the other side is the thousands of dollars for a thousand-word piece. Where is the happy medium?
Lisa: The happy medium is to use real money like silver! 😉 Have you done bartering in the past?
I’ve done a little Martin but that email in the example, I would not have only have deleted but put it in spam so they could not email me again.
Hi David, I feel your pain but had to LOL at your sense of humor about the situation. I also admire that you did not send the emails and instead shared your thoughts with us. I’m pretty sure your words would of been lost on your wannabe masters anyways.
Thanks for the chuckle
SharlaAnn
Hi David,
It’s true, sometimes we also receive such an email that can blow your mind. They want everything for nothing. Rather than replying I also delete and ignore the email. I feel it is just a waste of time and nothing.
Hi David,
Great post! I did freelance writing for a while, and I got the same offers. The price they offer is extremely low, and it sometimes makes me feel that they have no regard for other people’s time or effort. I am glad that you discussed this in your article. I am still affected by the offers I received and the rates they offered and reading your article was great. Since I know that people are putting their self-worth on top. I am saddened that you had to face this. More power to you!
Greetings, David. I feel your pain, but I had to LOL at your sense of humor in the situation. Also, I appreciate that you did not send the emails but instead shared your thoughts with us. Even if your words were understood, I’m pretty sure your wannabe masters would have ignored them.
Thanks for making me laugh.