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What to Do when Caught Outsourcing?

Anything considered a "hustle" and not necessarily a CENTS-based Fastlane

DannyD

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Has anyone ever been in this situation?

Basically, I charge a lot for freelance work and outsource it to other people

And a client on Upwork caught me trying to outsource a job

I basically copy/pasted a message he sent to me into a job posting on that site (guess he was still looking at other freelancers/maybe looking to hire someone for a similar job)

What should I do lol
 
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Lex DeVille

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Did you agree to do the work personally? Did you agree not to outsource?

If not, then what's the issue? Is the client upset?

He's paying for a result, not the intricacies of your process.

Unless you agreed to do it personally or not to outsource.
 

DannyD

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I should have clarified

It is a potential client (not hired yet)

No agreement to do work, let alone do it personally or not

I just don't know how to respond to the message of him asking if it was me that posted a job with more or less the exact wording of our messages

"Yea that's me. I hope you don't mind me outsourcing the job for like 1/10th of the price"

Haha
 

lowtek

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Boneheaded move there bud.

1) If you're going to be outsourcing you should have a tight group of people you trust to do the work properly
2) If you're going to repost jobs, don't use the same friggin language. No clue what you were thinking on that one

Just fess up and see what he says. Since he hasn't hired you, he can't leave negative feedback and you're safe from the consequences of your actions.
 
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DannyD

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So while I was thinking of what to say/waiting for people to chime in

He just said let me know when you can get back with an idea for the project and what it would cover

Guess it's cool/not gonna bring it up

Thanks guys
 

Lex DeVille

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So while I was thinking of what to say/waiting for people to chime in

He just said let me know when you can get back with an idea for the project and what it would cover

Guess it's cool/not gonna bring it up

Thanks guys

Silence is golden.. even in text.

:)
 
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Salesmate

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Has anyone ever been in this situation?

Basically, I charge a lot for freelance work and outsource it to other people

And a client on Upwork caught me trying to outsource a job

I basically copy/pasted a message he sent to me into a job posting on that site (guess he was still looking at other freelancers/maybe looking to hire someone for a similar job)

What should I do lol

So you need to build a list of developers and contractors. You also cannot be so sloppy. This is your lesson learned!

There is nothing wrong with running your business with outside contractors. You are the PM and must keep quality high and be accountable for the work that is produced.

As for getting caught, you might need to let that one go based on how you got caught unless you can spin it. For future ones, you can say your company has presence in different regions but you will be working with me directly or something like that.

We also said that this helps us keep our costs lower. Backing up our with with reviews and knocking out the project when it is given to us. We have also lost jobs because of this.

Good luck!
 

PizzaOnTheRoof

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Has anyone ever been in this situation?

Basically, I charge a lot for freelance work and outsource it to other people

And a client on Upwork caught me trying to outsource a job

I basically copy/pasted a message he sent to me into a job posting on that site (guess he was still looking at other freelancers/maybe looking to hire someone for a similar job)

What should I do lol
I'm all for arbitrage but if you're just acting as a middleman then you're eventually going to get what's coming.

Learn to do the work yourself (maybe you already do), and gather a group of tight-knit people you trust to do the work for you.

How boneheaded would you feel if the client asked you a technical question and you couldn't answer because you have no idea what your hires are doing?

And for the love of god, stop copying and pasting!
 
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Kak

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If freelancing was my plan... I would quit freelancing and get a stable paying job with benefits.
 

lowtek

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If freelancing was my plan... I would quit freelancing and get a stable paying job with benefits.

Some benefits of freelancing over a regular job:

Set your own working hours
Negotiate a pay raise every time you take on new clients
Building yourself as a brand, to increase perceived value over time
Less fear over firing an employer

I don't think freelancing should be one's end-game, but as a way to build skills and income, I think it offers a number of benefits over a traditional job.
 
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Mattie

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Has anyone ever been in this situation?

Basically, I charge a lot for freelance work and outsource it to other people

And a client on Upwork caught me trying to outsource a job

I basically copy/pasted a message he sent to me into a job posting on that site (guess he was still looking at other freelancers/maybe looking to hire someone for a similar job)

What should I do lol
A company once did this too me. Hired me, lied, advertised still with false information given. I quit working for their company, and in their words, since the other company had the same client, the other company stole me from them who were honest with me.

Then they were all upset because another company stole their employee. Even gave the client problems and wanted to blame everyone else for losing a client and employee.

I would take responsibility for you actions. There's consequences. Live with it. Word gets around. In my personal opinion, I would have just told you sorry dude, I will find some one else to do the job.
 

ChrisV

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i mean you’re not gonna deny it and get away with it lol..

but it’s not a big deal. just tell him you needed a co-freelancer to help you with it and you were gonna split the work

or tell him that you’re swamped and need to hire someone for the overflow

i mean have you don’t this before? you just get clients then have indians do the work?

Edit: wait.. you posted it on the same site? using the same exact copypasta text? yea that’s a bonehead lazy bullshit move and you deserve whatever trouble it causes. If you’re gonna outsource do it elsewhere.. and using the same copy pasta? come on bro
 

LittleWolfie

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I'm all for arbitrage but if you're just acting as a middleman then you're eventually going to get what's coming.

I don't actually see what the problem is here. Surely if the person is important the company would have hired an employee rather than a freelancer?

You can't have it both ways either a business and they can outsource of they want to or it's an employee and you pay employee taxes.
 
Last edited:

MarkMiller24x7

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Has anyone ever been in this situation?

Basically, I charge a lot for freelance work and outsource it to other people

And a client on Upwork caught me trying to outsource a job

I basically copy/pasted a message he sent to me into a job posting on that site (guess he was still looking at other freelancers/maybe looking to hire someone for a similar job)

What should I do lol
Just say "No Sir"
And for next time just be careful for what you are doing...
 

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