Hello everyone, First, let me explain my market scenario. A software buyer posts a project bid request on my website. Freelance programmers from all around the world bid on this project. Once a project is complete, I collect a small portion of the final bidding price. My question is how would showing all bids to all programmers effect the bidding price? In general, I believe this would mean lower prices for software buyers, which would mean less income for my business. However, having lower prices for buyers would mean an increase in the number of buyers on my website, which means more projects would be created. So the real question is whether the increase in the number of buyers would outweigh the price decrease by posting bids. In addition, I sell software packages on my website. That means the more buyers there are, the more packages that will be sold. It is like going to walmart. People always go for one thing but end up buying a couple things. On the other hand, showing bids to everyone may decrease the quality of the work done by programmers. Software buyers like to get things done right the first time. My belief is that there are more bad programmers out there than good programmers. The better quality a product is, the greater customer satisfaction will be and the greater the number of returning buyers there will be. What do you guys think? To show bids or not to show bids? Any advice or thoughts are appreciated. Sincerely, Travis Walters
Travis, I don't see a problem with displaying bids. Its only the way Yahoo's pay per click system was managed until recently. Or the way e-bay is run.
Hey there, Thanks for the great comments thus far. One thing I should have mentioned is with this system, the bids would decrease instead of increase if all bids are shown. Ebay is different because it is an auction website. Sellers want their bids to increase in that case. Rentacoder does not show bids, but getafreelancer shows an average bid price. The later brings up an interesting issue. How does showing the average bidding price effect bidding prices? I do not think it would effect price decreases as much as showing all the bids. So now I have three possibilities. 1. Show all bidding prices. 2. Do not show any bidding prices 3. Show an average bidding price. Sincerely, Travis Walters
First off, if you have used a freelance auction type site before you know that everyone wants to be the underdog (Thinking cheap = Winning the bid). In actuality company's look more into the background & may choose a higher bidder simply by their references. Now, keeping in mind the underdog issue (ALL auction sites are faced with), when you show an amount (Being actual bids or bid average) it allows the underdog the opportunity to post a ridiculously low amount thinking it will help them, retroactively Destroying the industry standard pricing system Vs. quality work ethics. Once your site is found to be low quality programmers (& rumors spread fast) your repeat / retention rates will fall through the floor. Sealed bids have always seemed to work better in favor of BOTH the qualified programmer & the educated Buyer (Eliminating a majority of under-qualified Programmers with industry shattering underdog prices). If you are looking to become a TRUSTED source for Buyers then go with sealed bids. If you are looking for MASS quantity / Low quality Fly by night freelance programmers, then use an open bid system. it's up to you what standard or trend you want to set for yourself. The above are just my thoughts from both a former freelancer & current business owner point of view. I wish you & your business the best of success!
Hey there, Well stated scorpionagency. +REP to all those who helped me in this. I believe I have come to a decision. Even though showing bidding prices may reduce bid prices for buyers, the quality of work is way more important. Thus, I am inclined not to show any bids to other programmers - for at least the project section. For buyers looking for extremely low prices, my find a coder section will allow them to invite new programmers that are looking to get established. I remember when I started as a freelancer it was hard to get established. I had to offer prices way below my expectations until my resume started to build up. My website also has a package section where programmers can offer out-of-the-box solutions. These packages can have fixed costs or be up for auction. I will have to show the bidding prices for the auction section. I believe Ebay really set the example for that type of software. Thanks again for all the feedback. It was greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Travis Walters
Guess I'm the only one that didn't get +Rep O'well, I did try to be helpful though (In my own way). I wish you the best.
I say don't show the bids. While it is true walmart is among the biggest, I don't think that your buyers are walmart type customers. I think they want the absolute best product. Good luck, jomark3