Please start at the very bottom. I am in here under my Stony account -- which was my first elance account ever that I had asked them to delete the very next day, after creating W8R.COM, but they didn’t. I’m defending myself here because of someone on the site who chose to badmouth me, thinking I had no access to the site. I only captured this thread up to around this date, but the entire topic was quietly removed by elance 5.2.01. -------------------------- fredgrott 1582492 Unfortanately a considerable amount of fraud is already happening within elance's own billing system as a direct result of elance not following its own rulse and screwing people out of timely payment or payment at all.. 09:28 am 05/Apr/2001 viz2k 1567785 DTP, I'm considering your advice, and thanks...but based on the feedback I get from my bids (where I usually provide my comprehensive CV) I think I am more or less assessed fairly by the buyers with regards to my capability. With regards to my low bids, well I think I would like to retain my rates at the same level, perhaps as an advantage to supplant my limited track record at eLance. With regards to the "impending" possible changes at eLance...you're generally right, and so many providers and buyers are eagerly (impatiently ?) waiting for these to happen... They did delete the email address reference you posted? Oh well...didn't they say they "usually" don't monitor the water cooler?...hmmm 02:03 am 04/Apr/2001 DTPservices 1555807 Hey, elance deleted my reference to their own email address. Cool. 09:41 am 03/Apr/2001 DTPservices 1552555 Sorry about the double post as well - I wish they'd fix this damn site already! I don't mind so much when this happens in the cooler, but when it happens on an RFP, it looks like I'm trying to spam the buyer. 11:14 pm 02/Apr/2001 DTPservices 1552505 Hey viz, no one's going to think you're greedy if you charge more for your work. How is anyone going to know where you're located unless you tell them? You may even be losing some projects because buyers, not knowing that you're in the Philippines, may be suspicious of your low rates and may think you don't have confidence in the quality of your work. I agree that elance undoubtedly loses a fair bit of money due to transactions happening outside of the site. But at least they've taken a few steps towards bringing the contact violations under control, by implementing --**-- and by their recent decision not to even publish the client's names (apparently, people were looking them up in the phone book). I've also heard rumors that in the future, payments will have to go through the elance system, which would also cut down on the amount of fraud that goes on. As for Select, I would be very surprised if eLance doesn't make substantial changes to the program after all of the negative feedback they've received. We've all made our feelings known, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next. 11:10 pm 02/Apr/2001 DTPservices 1552500 Hey viz, no one's going to think you're greedy if you charge more for your work. How is anyone going to know where you're located unless you tell them? You may even be losing some projects because buyers, not knowing that you're in the Philippines, may be suspicious of your low rates and may think you don't have confidence in the quality of your work. I agree that elance undoubtedly loses a fair bit of money due to transactions happening outside of the site. But at least they've taken a few steps towards bringing the contact violations under control, by implementing --**-- and by their recent decision not to even publish the client's names (apparently, people were looking them up in the phone book). I've also heard rumors that in the future, payments will have to go through the elance system, which would also cut down on the amount of fraud that goes on. As for Select, I would be very surprised if eLance doesn't make substantial changes to the program after all of the negative feedback they've received. We've all made our feelings known, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next. 11:09 pm 02/Apr/2001 viz2k 1551818 First of all, thanks but i don't consider myself a specialist on organizational strategy or business management, and really, i didn't mean to be sarcastic, DTP--I just wanted to say that I understand that you weren't directing your "non-American remarks" at me; my apologies if I sounded snide. But in fairness to all, I think the main reason why eLance doesn't make a sufficient profit (perhaps by its own standards) is because there are so many BUYERS AND PROVIDERS who manage to conduct payments outside of eLance, therefore robbing the site of its well-deserved 10% fee. And most of these transactions involve big money...the lesser projects wouldn't bother. How many instances have we encountered where BUYERS would suddenly pull out for flimsy reasons after getting so many bids? I have a few fellow eLancer-friends, particularly in data entry and programming, who would really prefer talking with the BUYER outside of eLance once they establish contact, and taking the pot to themselves. Let's be honest to ourselves...isn't that such a tempting arrangement? What's sad about this is that inspite of all the efforts and safeguards eLance makes to discourage and PREVENT this from happening, it's IMPOSSIBLE to avoid FEE CIRCUMVENTION. Theoretically, it's highly possible to somehow sneak in contact information via eLance (I'm not even mentioning search engines and professional directories). What can eLance do? Realistically, very little. It's really an issue of CONSCIENCE and RESPONSIBILITY on the part of the eLancers. I believe that fee circumvention is one of the business risks that eLance has actually identified at the start. But if eLance would attempt to plug that fiscal hole with a flawed program like Select will ONLY make things worse. Frankly, I do not have any "magic" solution in mind right now, but the best compromise I could think of is this: replace Select with another program that charges far lesser fees and then emphasize that the buyers who opt to pay are NOT GUARANTEED TO HAVE BETTER TALENT, but instead are more "committed" or "aggressive" (fill in the blanks, please) members of eLance. Such a fee scale will be based on the provider's CAPABILITY TO PAY and DESIRE TO GET MORE EXPOSURE. (and not on his experience on talent). Think of it as a "gold, silver, bronze" membership structure. Under this plan, though, organized bidder-providers (i.e. companies) should be prepared to automatically pay a LARGER fee than would a "rookie" individual eLancer, because they are more capable of paying. On the other hand, those who prefer not to pay should not feel bad about not participating in the high-fee "gold" marketplace; however, at the free "bronze" marketplace where they'll start, there must be enough projects for such low-budget providers to bid on. Meanwhile, BUYERS could be asked to choose among the three marketplaces (gold, silver, bronze), wherein the gold marketplace carries a SLIGHTLY higher BUYER's transaction fee than the silver marketplace, etc. (perhaps, 10%, 8%, 5%). The PROVIDER's transaction fee stays at 10% in all levels; and is over and above his MEMBERSHIP fee in the preferred (silver, gold) marketplaces. To make this easy on the pocket, I suggest a $20/month membership fee for the "silver" marketplace and a $50/month membership in the "gold" marketplace--regardles of project category. Just an idea, guys...I do not see myself presenting any formal plan to eLance..but your comments about this set-up will be truly helpful. 10:11 pm 02/Apr/2001 viz2k 1551809 With regards to DTP's observation that I charge "next to nothing" for my work, I will not deny that--IF you would compare my bids to bidders based in the US. As I have said, I bid low not because I want to kill the competition but because that's the fair bid amount that my very low labor rates here in the Philippines would allow...and of course, if I would bid along the levels of US-based providers, that would be committing greed on my part. If Filipino, Indian and other Asian bidders bid real low for contracts on eLance (and within the entire IT industry in general), I think it's a true indication that globalization and the reality of offshore outsourcing (at least in IT and IS) has come to earth, so to speak. Because the Internet acknowledges no geographical boundaries (but labor rates and standards of living still do), this discrepancy will (sadly, on the part of bidders in high-wage countries) be a reality to contend with. The low bids on eLance from offshore providers like me is but a reflection of the phenomenon that started decades ago--Western companies (service/manufacturing) in general are awarding contracts and subcontracts to providers in places with low labor rates. If I bid too low, I meant no offense to anyone--and of course, it's not an indicator that I have less skill and capability to do the job as good as the higher bidders can. In the end, it's still the buyers who decide--between the "cheap" worker thousands of miles away, or the "reasonably-priced" worker within the neighborhood. And with all due respect, DTP, low bidders like us DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO with eLance not getting a sufficient profit...because the eLance staff, of all people, acknowledge the dynamics of outsourcing and certainly foresaw this "low-bid" offshore phenomenon right from the start. People like me who "charge next to nothing" ARE NOT TO BLAME for eLance's insufficient profit, and much less for the implementation of Select, because we bid low AS AFFORDED BY OUR LOW LABOR RATES--the ones to blame are THOSE WHO CIRCUMVENT the 10% fee. 10:10 pm 02/Apr/2001 DTPservices 1548369 viz, judging from your further sarcastic comments, it's obvious that you've missed my point entirely. No, the Select program is not "fair", and I don't like it any better than you do. But I can certainly understand elance's reasons for implementing it - because they were failing to make a sufficient profit off of the 10% service charges, partly due to people like yourself who charge next to nothing for your work. And I can understand why people want to join the program - so they won't have to compete with people who charge $1/hour. Now, I've already heard your reasons as to WHY you place low bids, but I'd certainly like to hear your suggestions about how you think elance can get rid of Select and still make money. 04:33 pm 02/Apr/2001 DONMAC 1539501 viz2k - In viewing your profile, you strike me as one who is more organized and familiar with business and philanthropic administration than most. If any cogent thoughts come to mind as to how elance can better present this site, coordinate activities, solicit business and administer the corps at large, why not volunteer and put together a formal plan of action and submit it directly to elance management? 09:42 pm 01/Apr/2001 viz2k 1535593 thanks, guys. it's nice to hear your own concern about improving eLance and keeping it the top website of its kind. thanks a lot. DTPServices, no problem about that, appreciate your humor. hey, it's better to unite to keep our house in good shape, than to fan the fire of controversy, right? hope that the eLance bosses are taking all our points and our concern seriously...more power (and more projects) to ye all... 07:27 am 01/Apr/2001 stony 1534028 Viz, good points, I don't think anyone misunderstood you though. I think your points were constructive. Yes, it looks like elance would like to divert attention away from c/net and W8R.COM. But the Choice site is beibg visited and commented on by buyers like you mention. And someone who Steve was never in agreement with because of his spin on things is now "speaking" for Steve in General. But another elancer put him in his place. I think it is wrong for elance "plants" to "speak" on behalf of Steve. From what I read of him here he would never have approved of it. Your comments are right on about the buyers too. 12:59 am 01/Apr/2001 DTPservices 1533902 viz2k - I do agree with your position re. Select, and, as I stated, my remarks about non-American providers were NOT directed at you (I'm not an American either). But your post did remind me of some remarks that other providers have made (see a particular post under the "Funny Project Postings" thread that begins "HA HA HA HA HA") which is why I said what I did. The discussion that followed was only intended in a joking fashion, so I'm sorry that you took it so personally. 12:51 am 01/Apr/2001 viz2k 1533149 thanks for your "englightening" comments, but first of all I would be a man to admit my mistake--I meant $150 instead of $15, and that there is NO SPECIAL RATE for offshore providers--minimum is also $40 and maximum is $150. My misunderstood message (and I apologize for not going straight to the point) is that no thanks to "Select," certain providers get to enjoy privileged a position with regards to bidding just because they can afford to pay AND NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE ANY BIT MORE TALENTED AND QUALIFIED for the task. This is the main reason why the BUYERS THEMSELVES (I can rattle off the names of least four buyers at this very second) disagree with Select, because, simply, they are being "cheated" with access to the BEST talent available...In many service categories, there are certain (American or not) providers that are actually COMPANIES who, not content with their strength in number and the other revenues they do get from outside eLance, compete against "petty" non-affiliated individual freelancers who do not have the financial resources of these COMPANIES (and therefore can not participate in Select) but nonetheless definitely have MORE TALENT AND SKILL...truly, this discriminating PROGRAM is really disappointing...So guys, let's be professionals and stick to issues and not be kids and make it "personal". I do not have anything against anyone of particular nationality because I also have American relatives...let's not make this a battle among onshore and offshore providers...let us instead be more vigilant and UNITED amidst these divisive developments...unless of course you would like to join the group which Steve Thompson calls "plants"..."they" are among us in the water cooler, you know...keep it cool, fella ;-) 11:15 pm 31/Mar/2001 Entropy 1529853 Are you suggesting going offshore? Just a moment while I get my swim trunks.... MachCorp, here we come! 02:59 pm 31/Mar/2001 DTPservices 1528725 Better yet, let's move to Russia, undercut everyone, and live like kings on $200 a month. 12:30 pm 31/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1528656 Christine - It's time for us to open virtual offices in Thailand and Singapore and enter elance through those locations. 12:15 pm 31/Mar/2001 DTPservices 1527659 Wait a minute - you only have to pay $15 per month? I didn't know that they had special rates for overseas bidders. Anyway, viz2k, as much as I disagree with Select, most of the projects on elance are paid in American dollars, so I don't see why the fee shouldn't be paid in American dollars as well. There have been several people from countries such as Russia on the boards (this isn't directed at you), saying "we can underbid all of the Americans because our currency isn't worth nearly as much" - well, if you're going to take advantage of the situation some of the time, don't expect any sympathy when it comes to paying fees. 08:45 am 31/Mar/2001 viz2k 1526411 Just a friendly, though unsolicited, advice, which eLance needs at this time:...eLance should think about "Select" and how many freelancers and now LOTS OF outside observers (primarily those awakened by the CNET article) feel badly about it...doing business for profit does not necessitate doing it for greed...as a Filipino saying goes, "ONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO LOOK BACK AT WHERE HE CAME FROM WILL NEVER REACH HIS DESTINATION"...eLance was built upon the spirit of freelancing and on the hardwork of its freelancers...it should do its best to keep the marketplace affordable for all kinds of people looking for freelance work...$15 per month is really too much for freelancers here in Asia; it's the equivalent of a monthly rent for a small room here in most Manila boarding houses (go ahead, check it out)...eLance should cut its losses now and make one of its best managerial decisions in history: abolish Select!...very soon, more and more freelancers will drop out of the Select program because not everyone will be able to win enough projects and pay for the monthly fee...I'll bet on that... 01:24 am 31/Mar/2001 dnixon 1524195 Why the HECK don't they let us talk to the prospective clients anyway? And why is it all set up in the form of an auction? That's ridiculous. It should be more like this: The buyers get to look through the portfolios and see which portfolio they like the most and contact that person immediately. Likewise, the sellers should be able to look through the jobs and post (not bid) but post as to what they can do for the buyer and why they think the buyer should choose them. This should go on as long as the buyer needs it to (within reason) and the buyer should be able to pick a provider (seller) any time. What's up with having to wait until an auction closes? Can't we all as service providers get together and tell elance we want these changes? It's bad enough we have to pay 10% once we get a job (if we ever do). 08:25 pm 30/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1524098 http://news.cnet.com/news/ --**-- .html?tag=bt_pr Guess somebody wanted to listen to what W8R.COM had to say...too bad eLance didn't. 08:15 pm 30/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1482541 (there's a board set up in memory of Steve (W8R.COM) on the last page of the cooler now for anyone who would like to say a few words in remembrance. kind words only, please. i would hope no one would stoop to bashing someone who isn't here to defend himself, but you never can tell.) 08:18 pm 27/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1479753 no, actually Steve talked me into taking it down. i was going to put a blurb about being proud to be a choice provider and reference to his web site, but he told me not to...that he didn't want to see me get kicked off with him. frankly, i couldn't careless if they do kick me off. good riddens to old rubbish, i say. either way, i'll be focusing more of my attention elsewhere. :) 04:46 pm 27/Mar/2001 PureDezine 1472699 oops sorry..I meant that ugly select logo, not choice!! 11:04 am 27/Mar/2001 PureDezine 1472682 Aedyn, Did they take your choice logo off? Noticed it gone. How about removing that ugly choice logo from every account. Need freakin' glasses to view projects now. Maybe I'll offer that to clients. lol 11:03 am 27/Mar/2001 Bundock 1464949 ie last post was addressed to Steve, just in case it wasn't clear! 08:01 pm 26/Mar/2001 Bundock 1464939 Tried to join your chat room with no luck. And keep getting an error when I try to post on your site. So...you have my email. (Accidentally of course). Even if you can't post (why on earth NOT?????????) I'm assuming you can still read this. So...if you get a chance, let me know what's up. 08:00 pm 26/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1461279 what a crappy place to be anymore. forget about it, i'll beat you to the punch, elance. i'm outta here. i have a few projects yet to be decided and one i'm currently working on. after that, you can just...well...you know what you can do with your damn tos agreement! 05:23 pm 26/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1461243 ooooooooooooooooooooooh! now i'm ticked!!! anyone else just get a threat from elance about the CHOICE logo?!! what happens if we all refuse? they suspend our accounts. go ahead, elance, i dare you! as a matter of fact, i double dog dare you! ya jerks!!! 05:22 pm 26/Mar/2001 carolgravelle 1460347 Aedyn: I was roaring at your solo performance...(when was that?...) Very rude of everyone to leave you hanging like that...at least you're a self-entertaining girl! 04:28 pm 26/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1459801 you mean i won't be alone again tonight? guess i'll have to save my singing for the shower. 03:54 pm 26/Mar/2001 hawknest 1454162 Hey W8R. Just voted and posted a message to your board a few minutes ago. Don't see it showing up yet, though. I'll check back L8R. 10:20 am 26/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1452052 okay, after singing comfortably numb, i've finally accepted that you're not going to show up and, quite frankly, i feel drained from my set so i'm calling it a night. and now for my exit number... good night, sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you. (you can almost see the bubbles, huh? i know, i know. me too.) :) 04:22 am 26/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1452019 now i'm singing the oscar meyer weiner jingle. i know, i know--you're gonna really kick yourself tomorrow morning when you realize you missed all this great stuff. i'm sorry, you're just going to have to learn to live with it. we all have our hardships in life. 04:16 am 26/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1452006 i know that disturbs you greatly. no, not that i'm singing and not that i'm singing the facts of life, but that you're missing the whole thing. i'm not doing it over for you. i give one performance a night and that's it. (get your minds OUT of the gutter!) 04:13 am 26/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1451996 i'm singing the theme song from facts of life and you're missing it... 04:12 am 26/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1451976 Steve, come chat with me. :) I'm getting bored there all by myself. :) 04:10 am 26/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1451903 I posted to the guestbook, Steve. Great job!!! I tried to post twice in the forum, but it doesn't like me for some reason. Should I cry now? First eLance, now this...with all this rejection, what's a girl to do? ;) 04:04 am 26/Mar/2001 n.artist 1449086 good question. ;) 09:21 pm 25/Mar/2001 PureDezine 1449029 Why cant we access forum that others posted? Steve? 09:16 pm 25/Mar/2001 n.artist 1448951 Who? Hi Su! 09:09 pm 25/Mar/2001 Bundock 1448660 Hey Steve, I notice you've had a rather special guest on your site...a name beginning with J. Are you trying to keep this all to yourself? Typical!!!! :> 08:36 pm 25/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1427068 Wonder if this has anything to do with the "Choice" logos? "No posting of: • Any third-party seals or logos not explicitly approved by eLance" 07:13 pm 23/Mar/2001 McLeir 1421018 I am just guessing here, but do you need help dreamwks? 09:03 am 23/Mar/2001 DREAMWKS 1420980 I am very new to this community....Need your help Will i get???? :) 08:56 am 23/Mar/2001 DREAMWKS 1420773 I am very new to this community....Need your help Will i get???? :) 08:21 am 23/Mar/2001 DREAMWKS 1420770 I am very new to this community....Need your help Will i get???? :) 08:21 am 23/Mar/2001 DREAMWKS 1420749 hello.....from Dreamworks India --**-- 08:17 am 23/Mar/2001 carolgravelle 1405291 Oh hey...Steve, I forgot to mention what a cool thing the metacom (???) web design, flashy intro is. Did you do it all, or work the magic to make it come to life? 08:43 pm 21/Mar/2001 carolgravelle 1405130 Rob & Tony; thanks for the once-over. Yep Tony, I revamped my portfolio & profile a couple of weeks ago. And yes again, I'm pretty old-school in my process; and though I like to be on top of (and sometimes incorporate) current design trends, I tend to stay pretty simple and clean in my designs. I'm also a bit of a retro in my illustration style. Love that flat color, simple style from the 30's & 40's. You've added quite a bit to your portfolio too, yes? Nice shirt art. 08:24 pm 21/Mar/2001 BVD2 1403394 Hey Carol, You're never around when I'm on the "post". Did you change the format of your portfolio. Nevertheless, you definitely have the "old school" approach to graphic design. That is a compliment BTW. I can tell your concepts are worked out by hand/paper and you manage a wide range of styles. There is one I like a lot. There's an "x", red and black...have to check it again. I'm basically a portfolio guy. I don't read unless there is something specific I need to know. And not being a client, I didn't check your "verbiage". I gotta reload the washing machine ...be back soon.. 05:37 pm 21/Mar/2001 defiant 1403369 Carol, I think that your profile/portfolio is pretty solid. I don't see anything out of whack and the verbage is just fine. ~Rob 05:35 pm 21/Mar/2001 carolgravelle 1403228 Hey Tony...a while i asked for input on my profile/portfolio, skipped away for coffee or something, and you had posted a "do you really want that?..." and left before I had returned. Yep I do, if you have a sec. Let me know what you think; on verbage, header, portfolio pieces...anything out of whack? Sucky? Anyone's comments are greatly appreciated. I'm ducking out again but will check back soon. 05:21 pm 21/Mar/2001 BVD2 1403014 how goze tha battles today? 05:04 pm 21/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1402686 W8R - something small perhaps, depending on your schedule. Is it OK if I email you details? 04:37 pm 21/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1402674 I was just emailing clients as well. I think I figured if I emailed them all answering their questions and asking a few of my own, I WAS working and I didn't have to think hard. (hehhehe) 04:37 pm 21/Mar/2001 Bundock 1402090 I feel as though you're inside my head today, Infinite. This is NOT good! (Yes...I left to send an e-mail to my client and thought...I'll just check back in at the cooler for 2 minutes before I start work again. Now look at me - foot stomping along with you "I don't want to work! I don't want to work today!" 03:54 pm 21/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1401931 Bundock - I hear that! I shouldn't be in eLance at all! I have about a months worth of work to do. Literally. And I have NO MOTIVATION today. I slept awful and have that immature voice in the bag of my head stomping it's feet saying, "I don't want to work" 03:42 pm 21/Mar/2001 Bundock 1401913 Anyway...you've made me feel too guilty! I'd better return to my yuck yuck yuck yuck yucky project that has me buried in files. Later... 03:41 pm 21/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1401891 Hey W8R - I got a question for you. Are you as good at coding pages in HTML as you are at Flash? 03:40 pm 21/Mar/2001 Bundock 1401873 Nor should I, Infinite. But that's half the fun of being here. (Like leaving the classroom in school to go to the bathroom and sneaking off round the corner for a cigarette while you're at it!) The pleasure is partly in the guilt! 03:39 pm 21/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1401825 Hello. I shouldn't be here :( 03:37 pm 21/Mar/2001 Bundock 1401741 Well you're certainly right on the first point. And also, I suspect, on the second. Which is probably why we sometimes argue (Librans frequently having fierce opinions on what constitutes true justice and integrity) 03:33 pm 21/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1401672 Just popped in quick. Saw the traccoon thing. I have WAY WAY WAY too many comments about that to post and none of them nice. 03:29 pm 21/Mar/2001 RisingForce 1401634 Yep.. October 22nd. 03:27 pm 21/Mar/2001 Bundock 1401590 You too, RisingForce? But I can believe that...you see, you're calling for unity. Isn't that what you meant? That's a very Libra thing. 03:24 pm 21/Mar/2001 RisingForce 1401560 Libra's unite!! :) 03:23 pm 21/Mar/2001 Bundock 1401468 You are a WHAT??? I don't believe you're a Libra!! No way. I'd have guessed you to be a Scorpio. Librans are peacekeepers, fair and just, lovers of beauty....wonderful people. Oh? Did I not mention that I'm a Libran? 03:18 pm 21/Mar/2001 McLeir 1401456 My hubbie is a Gemini and you what? He does have two very extreme sides! He vexes me! 03:18 pm 21/Mar/2001 McLeir 1401313 Provoked? Like you poke him with a stick or something? Here Hydie Hydie Hydie... 03:06 pm 21/Mar/2001 carolgravelle 1401286 It's a hyde/jekyll thing. Hyde hides but appears when provoked. I like the alias for him. 03:03 pm 21/Mar/2001 McLeir 1401280 A kind of what W8R? :o) 03:03 pm 21/Mar/2001 carolgravelle 1401118 whadya think? 02:51 pm 21/Mar/2001 carolgravelle 1401107 shredder 02:50 pm 21/Mar/2001 carolgravelle 1401100 : ) : i just thought of an alias for you, Steve... : 02:49 pm 21/Mar/2001 carolgravelle 1400966 Steve: I checked it out...it's interesting that traccoon has chosen to make "anti-choice" his first and most prominant item in his profile. Does he really think that's his best selling tool to any prospective buyers? If I was a buyer I'd click onward... 02:39 pm 21/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1391501 "golden"... "non golden"... I'm beginning to feel like a potatoe chip. 06:36 pm 20/Mar/2001 Ambassador 1391008 I agree. It's fun to think about, even if it ain't gonna happen. What happens if the majority of elancers become Golden. Then the non golden members will be the select few. 05:42 pm 20/Mar/2001 aquintard 1390236 Yeah but it's fun to think about . . . sort of like buying a lottery ticket and mentally spending the millions . . . 04:45 pm 20/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1390197 Quote from Aqui: " Not that it's gonna happen . . " ROFL I can't get my kid to agree on a place to eat out for dinner let alone try to organize something like that! hehehe 04:43 pm 20/Mar/2001 aquintard 1390156 True in the general scheme. But if it were to start showing up uniformly on all bids that might generate the attention span. Not that it's gonna happen . . . .just an interesting thought. 04:41 pm 20/Mar/2001 KaraokeKate 1389992 In response to Ambassador's comment about taglines: Whether in bids or in profiles, I doubt that they're read nearly as often as would be necessary to make any impression as to the pros and cons of the Select program. That would actually require that the buyers then do some homework in to the nature of the "golden bidders", and Human attention spans for busywork tend to be quite short.;) -Kate 04:31 pm 20/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1389976 I haven't actually TOUCHED my profile in forever. Procrastination is a strong point of mine. 04:30 pm 20/Mar/2001 Ambassador 1382744 Hhhhmmm. That's interesting. If everybody had a tag line like IXZ in their bids, I wonder if that would make a difference to the "select" reputations. 04:16 am 20/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1380931 W8R - Call me whatever you want.. LOL. Preferably namew WITHOUT profanities please!!!!!!!! InfiniteXpressionZ is just a wee bit long to type..... IX, IXZ, Infinite, Infini, or just Kim will do! Geez W8R, you have really got a way with words. I'm going to start keeping notes as since I have always been so totally against violence, I have kept to battles of the wit instead in life. (and boy do I get in a lot of those) Mind if I steal some of this? ROFL 10:58 pm 19/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1377015 I post this at the end of my bids: Please Note: Infinite XpressionZ has opted to turn down the invitation to join "Select" as the only real qualification for participation is payment of monthly fees and it is not an indicator of quality service. Then again, I have always seemed to have a knack for making people really dislike me. 04:08 pm 19/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1362234 Aqui - Thank you :) Now I am going to bed to bed to bed. 02:47 am 18/Mar/2001 aquintard 1359299 Speaking of tags. Where is Infinite? I really like hers. 09:41 pm 17/Mar/2001 aquintard 1359296 lol at lawyer chowderhouse and shark du jur. I like the Arctic Char. They're out of Boston. Tag line: If it's not fresh, it isn't Legal. Not sure where the name came from. 09:40 pm 17/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1359242 Shark du jur. 09:33 pm 17/Mar/2001 aquintard 1359194 no -- went to Legal Sea Foods for supper and am blissfully self-indulged at the moment. 09:30 pm 17/Mar/2001 aquintard 1359074 I am proud to say that yes, there are four shots, count them, four espresso shots in my monstrous beverage. 09:21 pm 17/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1359054 Amy, is there any actual coffee in what you got? 09:19 pm 17/Mar/2001 aquintard 1359031 actually . . . this guy growled at me there . . . don't think I've ever had anyone growl at me before and I can tell he meant it in a nice way but . . . 09:17 pm 17/Mar/2001 aquintard 1359016 lol an iced venti quad shot vanilla latte like I always get 09:16 pm 17/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1358816 It's Latin. Spellingis Pucques. 08:57 pm 17/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1358733 Hey, Steve, is that (sp?) a special Starbucks ingreeeeeedient? 08:49 pm 17/Mar/2001 aquintard 1358493 actually, I think I'll pop out and get one now. Oh, the fierce craving of it . . . be back in a bit. 08:24 pm 17/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1358433 Starbucks it is, my lovelies. 08:15 pm 17/Mar/2001 aquintard 1358287 mmmmm Starbucks. Good evening, good good Mr. Mac. 07:57 pm 17/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1358186 Well, pal 'o mine, let's see how the current lowballers cope with serious competition and quality when it comes down to their level. It's one thing for them to fry eggs, but we can fry'em too and also serve up bacon, toast and coffee. 07:48 pm 17/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1358002 Steve, consider lowball pricing a "loss leader" for the time being. 07:12 pm 17/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1357725 Sorry everyone - I kept that email in case I needed it for some reason one day and around 2 weeks ago, my computer majorly crashed and burned. I hadn't backed up Outlook, so it was lost forever. Ortherwise, I would post it for all to read. And the www.whateer.com versus the www.whatever.com/contact.html is right on the money. I mean if there is a big contact button on the main page, is that considered a direct link? Seems their rules can sometimes be as fuzzy and grayed as this whole new stuff. I feel like you need to be a lawyer and read THROUGH it and INTO it and AROUND it and find the loophole! And I really prefer just reading the facts and not in circles. 06:35 pm 17/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1357651 At elance, each and every one of us is engaged in a war of salesmanship with each other. Some of us are passive about it and just post bids. Others, however, are 'verified' sharks and know how to play the game on the private message board. As Eric Meola, the renowned photographer once said, "Great commercial photography is 15% talent and 85% marketing." Well, here on elance we have the same situation. The private message board is where we get to practice our marketing skills as salespeople. When I had the photo darkroom business, every now and then I was the target of a buyer mugging. Certain customers would always try to 200% out of a printing job. Well, I had the luxury of telling them to take a hike because, at the time and location, I was the best in the business. On elance, it's a different story. I do graphics, but here I'm not the best and I'm not alone. The situation on elance at the present for some of us is akin to Gen. Custer's last command order: "Remember men, take no prisoners!" Yeah, right. So for all of us, the private message board is where we can go to try and get jobs by using our brains, words and salesmanship. Steve's perception about the private boards is right on the money because I feel it where many a deal has gone down the drain because of what was and wasn't said. 06:17 pm 17/Mar/2001 UCSI 1357621 Thankks Aedyn - it's appreciated! Hate the recent changes enough as it is...wished my advertising budget was bigger *smile* 06:10 pm 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1357346 as of now, you can post urls, just not DIRECT links to your contact information. in other words, i could post www.aedyn.com, but i couldn't post www.aedyn.com/contact.html (which is a DIRECT link to our contact information page). does that make more sense? i know it's confusing, but the keyword is DIRECT. even though your site has contact information and the buyer can find it, as long at you don't direct them to it, you're fine. subject to change though from the way it sounds...we'll see. 05:25 pm 17/Mar/2001 UCSI 1357128 Hmm - now I am really confused - doesn't take much though. I remember asking Elance directly a while back if we can post URL's and they told me yes, just no email addresses - well which is it now, can or can't we post URL's?? Feeling a bit on the blond side right now...UCSI 04:40 pm 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1357015 know how that goes. you really have me curious now as to what they're thinking of changing it to...i know that more than a few people will be miffed if they make it so we can't supply our url at all. (huh, Steve?) changes, changes, changes...supposed to be in the name of progress, aren't they? (sorry, lil cranky. haven't had my dew yet.) :) oh well, it's saturday. time to go have some fun. :) 04:22 pm 17/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1356958 Thanks Aedyn. I did know about the direct link to the contact info thing and I had mentioned it in my email to eLance, wanting specifics. But what I got in return was a jarbled few lines not really answering my direct question and an add on that they were thinking of changing the policy. Shrug! 04:16 pm 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1356922 cute, W8R.COM. :) hey Infinite, I might be able to clear up the URL thing. maybe. what it applies to at this point in time are links DIRECTLY to contact information. as long as you don't link to the contact page on your site or a page that contains that information, you're fine. even though you have contact information that the buyer can find on your site, you're okay as long as you don't DIRECT him to it. does that make sense? (This is something that has been confirmed by elance to many and something that comes up on a regular basis in the cooler.) :) 04:13 pm 17/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1356868 LOL - That kinda stuff can be majorly confusing to newbees though!!! Granted, ignorance is not an excuse but one can't blame someone for being confused. I feel really bad for new poeple right now!! As for URL posting... well I have my opinions on whether it sould be allowed or not. That's a whole other issue!!! 04:06 pm 17/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1356764 Oh, believe me, I understand! I think every buyer that awarded me a bid had messaged me privately prior. Most with some question about revisions or something. One had asked for a quite a bit of things that were beyond the call basically and I nicely told him that those things would be happily provided upon selecting me as the winner of the project and contracts signed and so forth. I was suprised he still awarded me the job. I certainly can understand the need for it as I wouldn't want someone to say "How many revisions?" on the public board, have me anser with a dozen, "I'll do 10".. "Oh, but I'll do 20" etc. I'm not sure what the resolution to it would be. Possibly the private boards where only the bidder and project poster can post messages but viewable to all. Shrug. I've only been here 6 weeks! Can't say I've given it that much thought! Another BIG problem I saw in the system was the rule about no posting URL's. Taken at face value... here is the rule.. and many people do. I did as a matter of fact for the first two weeks till I found time to post something in the eLance portfolio. At that point I learned of the rule and stopped. But so many others did it. So I wrote eLance asking them what was up. They emailed me back and told me that they were thinking of revising that rule and basically that they wern't enforcing it. Why have it then? 03:58 pm 17/Mar/2001 InfiniteXpressionZ 1356178 How many people are actually taking on those "abandoned" RFP's outside of eLance? I have had a buyer offer the option to me to "save the 10%". I didn't take the offer of course but the fact remains that there are many who would. 02:56 pm 17/Mar/2001 samh 1355849 SIGN THE PETITION AGAINST THE SELECT MARKETPLACE PROGRAM. Take action. They already make a hefty 10% off every sold project! They definitely don't need the money. The petition will be sent to eLance when enough signatures are collected. Go sign, at http://www.samuelanthony.com/elance.asp Thank you 02:28 pm 17/Mar/2001 DONMAC 1353975 A quality relationship is that most illusive of nature's gifts. In a way, it resembles the Higgs Particle in quantum physics, which is the dynamic interplay between two entities being influenced by an 'indescribable' third presence to produce a state call synergy. In the real world, we call it love. 10:42 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352976 I did visit your site, silly! 05:52 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352961 By the by: Did I tell you I have created my own language? mondern? Good NIGHT! MORNING! WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!! 05:50 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352947 See? I'm posting backward now! Great site by the way. I admire web designers. To me, they are the mondern day Degas, or Monet, or Renoir. ;} 05:49 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352941 Yeah, you are right. Actually, I'm really happy with my friends and family. I don't want to change anything at this moment. 05:47 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352930 Anyway, all the best, and a happy st. patrick's day to all! 05:46 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352901 I have a lot of male friends though. It just seems when I cross the line to a relationship, it seems to go sour. 05:42 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352897 Part Irish. I was born in scotland. My breeding days are over. I'm afraid I'm not that successful when it comes to relationships. I'm better off single. 05:41 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352862 Actually, I'm wide awake. Problem is, I've planned this St. Paddy's day thing at our local Irish pub, and it's not going to look good if the organizer doesn't show up. 05:39 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352855 Yeah 8 it does kind of take a back burner at times. Especially if you're not looking for love, marriage, and a baby carriage. 05:37 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352838 No I'm not into lack of sleep. Unless it's for fun. It just sort of happened today. 05:36 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352829 Isn't that long? says who?!!!!!!!!!!! I'm in my prime you know. Time's a wasting! 05:34 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352821 I am a media coordinator for a nonprofit environmental organization. 05:33 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352811 I am in trouble. I have been rereading the posts. My spelling is like a smelly cat. I must go. I have a date tomorrow. First one in....hmmm....7 months...I'll probably look like hell. Oh, well. 05:32 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352792 Well 8 it's not intentional. I went to my day job, then moved into my weekend job, and now, well now I'm here. 05:29 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352783 Well I think I can figure it out. Just need a clear head, which I don't have at the moment. 05:28 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352770 I have now offically been up for 24 hours. I should consider sleeping. 05:26 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352762 Yes 8 I know what you mean. My words are so easily misconstrued. 05:26 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352756 Just checked it out. Very nice. I will try. Tomorrow though. 05:24 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352737 I am not leaving unless you are making me...leave that is 05:21 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352728 OK saved the logo. Now where do I put it? 05:20 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352706 Slainte Aedyn. I'm almost gone too. All the best 05:16 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352695 nah, i think it's just me, NOW. :) i'm gonna hop off here...go place a few more bids and call it a night. have a great one! g'nite. :) (you can have the last word tonight, Steve, but tomorrow night it's mine. deal?) 05:15 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352690 This whole thing is too wierd! I must be tired! 05:14 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352681 I think I'm in a conversation all on my own. 05:13 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352677 i think it means "ireland forever"...i'll make sure. 05:13 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352671 Yes 8. I'm actually quite old! However I feel quite young. Not at this moment mind you, but the kids at the bar keep me young. Like I say, the money is good. I mean easy money. No brainer type of thing. Smile, show your breast, a bit of wit. Twenty percent on the dollar. Some times thirty. 05:12 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352668 i told Sean the other night that you said erin go braugh...or whatever...and asked him what it meant. he didn't know either. and you people call yourselves irish, pah! :) 05:11 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352661 i'm not slow or anything...lol thanks. finally decided what we wanted about a month ago. (guess i know how often you look in my portfolio...) :þ i did shrink it some. did have to, though. 05:10 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352640 or you mean my actual logo logo? 05:07 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352634 you should, you created part of it. :) 05:06 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352620 yup, mine took really fast. couldn't hardly believe it. i prefer to do any uploading at this time of night. goes much faster. mine will do for now. i'll figure out exactly what i want to do to it later. :) 05:05 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352616 Good job actually. Tonight was killer. Money wise. I wonder if it had anything to do with the wee green meanies? 05:04 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352600 i did mine too...just haven't uploaded it yet. started to earlier, got distracted. *ahem* will go do that now. yup, will do. 05:03 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352592 lol...Steve, you be nice. there are other *night* jobs, ya know. ;) although, i've been looking for something kinda part-time... (yuck, i just grossed myself out) 05:02 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352587 Give me one or two crown royals under my belt and I will get in the swing 05:01 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352581 8- the choice logo 05:00 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352569 Yeah, it's fun. Tonight was great. Tommorrow-PARTYTIME! 04:59 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352556 Savy 8, savy. 04:57 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352545 Bartending, one of three jobs. 04:56 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352541 W8: Hey I'd love to join the cfhoice thing. Nice website by the way, but there is no way in hell I know how to latch on that little thingy 04:55 am 17/Mar/ NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352532 You are so lucky 04:54 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352519 Now if you tell me you're all going to bed, I'm gonna scream! I just got off work. 04:53 am 17/Mar/2001 NOWCOMMUNICATIONS 1352512 Slainte! What's up buttercups? 04:53 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352495 hey, weren't you leaving? lol 04:50 am 17/Mar/2001 Aedyn 1352489 oh yeah, you bet. i didn't even realize they were rated yet until the other day when i saw a bid of theirs in logos. they have a good rating, i'll say that much for them. doesn't look fake either...