[Dove]

I was a veteran of vWorker, too. I found the site quirky and ugly, but deeply functional. Freelancer seems to be the opposite -- very pretty, professionally aggravating. I jumped ship (to my own network) pretty quickly after the transition, and if I needed to find work again through a site, it probably wouldn't be that one.

[moepstar]

>>> I was a veteran of vWorker, too. I found the site quirky and ugly, but deeply functional.

This, this and a thousand times this.

After the switch, i've had to run around and argue with their 1st-Level support-monkeys to merge 2 accounts so i could withdraw what was left over in my vWorker account.

Took 2 months and you can be sure i'll never ever again visit that site >:(

[mgiglesias]

Exactly my feeling. I have only had bad experiences with the vWorker → Freelancer transition. In fact I felt it was engineered for only one simple reason: to get more "workers" to pay the monthly subscription fee.

[mattbarrie]

mgiglesias, I am not going to comment on your business, workana. But your statement is grossly incorrect.

[mgiglesias]

It could be. That's why I said "I felt". A feeling is not a fact by definition

[mgiglesias]

Amazing how there's no single ex-vWorker that's out there saying how happy they are about the no-heads-up-whatsoever acquisition. The could've done a much better job.

[Dove]

They could have. More remarkable to me, though, is that no one's criticizing the transition itself. Everyone is saying, "I liked vWorker better."

I guess it isn't that surprising, when I think about it, though. I knew Freelancer existed. If I'd wanted an account there, I would have already had one. Still, I'd think there would be more people who said, "Oh well, the new site's nice, too."

Judging from this comment thread, people have mostly just . . . left. It's a shame. I liked vWorker.

[mattbarrie]

It's an incorrect statement. vWorker user earnings are well up, around 50% higher than before.

vWorker did have some great freelancers and some really nice features. However it was an incredibly difficult site to use, this is why they did not survive as an independent business. Ironically, this is what those people that were left on the site at the end were high quality. To post a project took something like 3 pages of complicated forms in a 3 point font in order to just get it live. Around 70% of people dropped out of the post project funnel. So of course, if you laboured on to complete those three pages then you are probably a pretty dedicated employer. Likewise if you were a freelancer and put up with horrendous interface, you were probably pretty dedicated. vWorker's UI was franking shocking, and so was its UX. It was right out of 1995.

We imported 100% of the feedback into our reputation system, so the big freelancers on vWorker are also at the top of the leaderboards at Freelancer - and there are significantly more projects on Freelancer than vWorker ever had. Also a vast majority of employers have come across and are active on Freelancer. I am not sure what sort of projects you are going for, or what categories you are working in- I am happy to have a look at your account if you private message or email me to provide some feedback to you.

Regards Matt

[mgiglesias]

You do have a point. All of us ex-vWorker users had to "put up" with the UI. Of course Freelancer is way better in that aspect. In terms of UX you have a better product than vWorker. However so do pretty much all other platforms. It isn't hard to offer something better than a "horrendous interface"

Regarding the feedback transition it indeed went smoothly, minor some glitches (for example one of our ongoing vWorker projects took two months to appear on Freelancer) The reputation, though, was greatly destroyed. To move from a long lasting #1 ranking to be in Level 10 (or whatever, can't remember which one) and from within that level to be placed in the 10s of thousands is not a fair move.

This is purely coming as a vWorker user, it has nothing to do with my business. I do understand that were existing users with an ongoing reputation on Freelancer, so displacing them because of an acquisition is also unfair.

But to offer "a badge" and "one month free membership", after which you have to pay monthly to keep your subscription is the reason why I personally know the majority of the top 100 workers from vWorker moved away from the forced switch.

They, and I, felt aggravated by a sudden and very harsh shutdown. Now this is not freelancer fault, I'd guess, but vWorker. They should have given a more friendly approach to the whole process, other than a "Goodbye folks I'm happy with the acquisition" and a "Email support at freelancer" from now on.

Most of the people I know (including me) from vWorker took our business INTO vWorker. I did not get most of my work through the platform, but I did move my clients into it. We did that because despite the awful UX there was a feeling of being a part of something that worked. You obviously have the numbers so you can probably see that was the case. And I can go as far as saying that probably 80% of vWorker business was handled by the top 20% of workers. So helping that 20% be happy about the transition would probably have helped the process.

This is, once again, my personal feeling as an ex vWorker. I do hope all those ex vWorker users that are part of Freelancer stay there and are happy with their decision.

And kudos to you matt for nerding it up and answer all these comments.

[mattbarrie]

You don't have to pay for membership. Free accounts have a 10% commission, versus 15% for vworker. Our paid commissions drop this as far as 3%.

You were happy moving your clients in to pay 15%?

[mgiglesias]

We paid 12.5% on private projects, 10% on DP.

Free accounts on Freelancer do pay 10% commission. But that's not the only difference. According to your own page (http://www.freelancer.com/membership/) free accounts only offer you 10 bids PER MONTH, 20 skills, 5 portfolio entries (why would you limit a freelancer ability to showcase his quality?)

So yes, I was happy. I personally feel I rather have someone charging me more and provide me a personal service, than pay less and have to pay more to be able to bid. Meritocracy is what should drive your limits upwards, not money.

[mattbarrie]

Hi Dove, I agree there were some nice features there. We're going to implement the best ones.

[mattbarrie]

That's actually incorrect. In fact, vWorkers in aggregate are now earning 50% more than prior, and if you check the directory, many are top of the reputation list now.