Client sent me a 20-page spec for a fintech app, then lowballed me into oblivion. Am I crazy for walking away?
Client sends a 20-page spec for a fintech app. Asks for 7 features, 60+ acceptance criteria, Monte Carlo simulations, custom visualization engine, RAG pipeline, SOC2-level compliance, 80% test coverage.
Offers $20/hr, 30 hrs/week, 6 weeks. That's $3,600 for a full production fintech app. Mind you, I got an invite for this, and the initial proposal was more than 30 hours a week, 3-6 months project. My offer was 25$, which is still low but kinda "ok" in my country.
I counter at 12 weeks. He won't budge and I also stand firm at my offer.
He goes ahead reposts the same job under a DIFFERENT ACCOUNT! Changes the entire job description based on my feedback too lol
Oh and he magically teleported from one state to Texas between accounts. From the comments I can see his name has changed as well, which should be a TOS breach right?
I already moved on , but am I crazy for walking away for these kinds of offers? In one hand I think it would help my Upwork account and my career as a SWE if it works out, but I feel like these lowball offers slips into shady category.