Worker exploitation is one of the most unfortunate circumstances in the freelance marketplaces. A freelancer looking to make ends meet from his service gets scammed, for what? Hours of diligent creative service. 

They say there are no scammers demonstrating themselves as honest clients on freelance marketplaces. However, overtime, there has been comp

from every side of the world. 

The funny thing about these freelance marketplaces is that you don’t have the independence to contact a client all by yourself except if they are so interested in your job post, profile or proposal. 

Those clients will continue to look for cheaper clients and any slip from the marketplace is an opportunity to evade the cost of the freelancers service. 

Eventually, if a client messages a newbie that has been sorting for a job on marketplaces eventually, they might want to evade the passivity and desperation of this newbie to hire them and not discuss the payment process. 

The thing is I’ve never gotten scammed on any marketplace and this is probably due to being able to have experienced people around me. Perhaps, I might have been affected too if I didn’t have experienced connections around me. 

This article is going to expose the dark side of freelancing on marketplaces and the exploitative actions of clients and even the host. 

Similarly, if you are just getting into freelancing and want to learn about the gig game in the online marketplaces, then you can check out our earlier post about freelancing on marketplaces. 

… Back to business

What Does a Freelance Marketplace Mean? 

This is a platform where freelancers and clients come in contact to complete the gig process. Clients post jobs on marketplaces for freelancers to apply too and in the long run they go with their proposed freelancer. 

Some of them include Gighunt.xyz, Upwork, Fiverr, PayPer hour, Freelancer.com, Designing and so on. 

Marketplaces are still one of the easiest ways to get into freelancing. It is easier to get a job there if you have a solid proof of work. Of course, even for a newbie. 

Similarly, you can use these marketplaces to build your aura, gain experience, an invaluable network and enjoy a steady stream of income from the onset of your career. 

However, the downsides can not be denied too. They are so obvious, even an experienced freelancer can still fall into the exploitations. Let’s get into them. 

6 Possible Worker Exploitation in Freelance Marketplaces

1. Clients Blackmail

One of the most common methods in which clients on marketplaces use to hold down freelancers is the blackmailing of the freelancers on the platform. 

Let’s get on with describing this particular situation: 

• Peter is a freelancer on a popular marketplace looking to get a logo design job. 
• Boom! he gets hired for the sole aim of designing the logo of his business for $50. 
• He was then compelled by the clients to provide a print mock up for his business. This time around, he didn’t open any other project gigs. 
• Instead, he asked Peter to  design his print mock up without payment. Yet, threaten to give him a low rating if he couldn’t deliver this. 
• Freelancers at this point become helpless. Since, there is a very low chance to get a job on freelance marketplaces if you do not have a good rating.

At this point, it is best for a freelancer to report to the support service on the freelance marketplace. Hence, the freelancer might just suffer an unexpected imitation. 

2. Clients Bias

We’re only deceiving ourselves if we say any of this freelance marketplace are concerned with the wellbeing of freelancers. Most of them divulge to the side of clients most times. 

This is the reason freelancers usually don’t matter to them no matter the picture being painted to their support services. Even if they do, suspension wouldn’t be something they’d be doing. 

Eventually, the best advice at this point is to leave any freelance marketplace with this unreasonable plan. 

In fact,  make your research about freelance marketplaces that do this and segregate them out of those you’d be joining for your  team. 

3. Poor Customer Service 

This is a blame I will always put on almost all the popular freelance job platforms out there. The customer service keeps getting poorer with more people getting to join their marketplaces. 

Reason being that they fail to improve their support staff so that it can be sufficient to buyers. Now, when those are now waylaid with complaints and attending to suggestions, then freelancers’ issues become overlooked all the time. 

A friend of mine once told me he joined a community based freelance marketplace for video editors. Though got a few jobs on the platform, he left eventually because of their unresponsive customer support to the same payment strategy complaint all the time. 

4. Account Suspension and Deactivation

I could easily recall when one of my mentors complained to me about a Fiverr suspending account even without her violating any of the rules on the platform. 

Personally, I couldn’t even believe her until after we talked to their customer support and they claimed it was an error from their own side. Their reason was apparently wrong since they were only targeting certain kinds of accounts. 

However, you should also deviate from violating the rules and regulations on each freelance marketplace. Also, avoid spamming, client manipulation and always deliver quality work. 

5. High Commission Rate

See, freelance marketplaces are there for their own profits too and it’s quite good since they are offering a worthy service to freelancers and clients in return. 

However, some of them charge high commission rate in fact up to 20% of the amount paid to the freelancer. So, what do they expect the freelancers to live on.

Fiverr has around 20% commission rate, while Upwork rows with around 10% commission rate which is a little bit justifiable. However, if your earnings are low. 

Conclusion

Starting your freelancing career from the helm of marketplaces carries a lot of benefits. In fact, except for a solid proof of work, the marketplace is going to be in charge of every other part of your business. 

The downsides wouldn’t overshadow the advantages in my own perception. This is a reason I think you should go through my post about starting your freelance career on marketplaces.