Competitions to make stuff...

[DavidR]

These are just ways to get cheap work and not pay the $5 marketplace fee, aren't they?

When I wanted someone to do some coding for me I paid the $5 to create a thread and requested someone to work then I paid them... should I just have posted this...

Coding contest! Anyone who can get this done gets $5 and is the winner :D

It's annoying seeing these pop up every day now. They used to be for like $100 for the winner ...now that's a real competition, even more prize money sometimes. These $5 ones, $10 ones are just a mockery of the system and slave labour, not that I care about that, it's up the 'entrants' if they want to work for a pittance. It's not like the quality of the work is normally all that good anyway, so I'm not trying to cutting off a brilliant source of cheap graphic design... but really it should be stopped.

[lyzyrdgyzyrd]

Have you tried doing something productive with your time lately? Sense of accomplishment does wonders for one's perspective and demeanor.

[DavidR]

Have you tried doing something productive with your time lately? Sense of accomplishment does wonders for one's perspective and demeanor.

You have nothing proper to add to this comment or discussion? No view? I think my point is very valid and not just a wild silly accusation towards anyone. Infact someone has just posted 2 topics about the same competition, the prize is $7. We get these everyday. It's cheapskate don't wanna pay the $5 for the marketplace attitude.

Maybe Greg should create a dolly site section, make lyzyrdgyzyrd mod for that. He can moderate the discussions about PayPopUp payments and run competitions for over-sized page headers... nothing under 400 pixels high and obnoxious colours compulsory!

[minnseoelite]

lol @ both of you

on topic, i can see both sides of this

1. why worry about it, not your time or money.

2. yes a $10 contest or offering layouts for a prize is just avoiding the marketplace.

maybe there needs to be a minimum prize amount say $20

[DavidR]

1. why worry about it, not your time or money.

Because I'm a dickhead who says stuff like this, but I always have a point. It clutters up the forum and makes it an even less respectable place to do business, it's like kids in the playground swapping Pokemon cards.

[TFB_princess]

yeah me smart cause i posted one then i saw it was in the wrong thing now i'm trying to delete the first one get your facts straight

[offthedome]

I've done $5 contests after having a vendor account. So that's definitely not an attempt to avoid the fee.

Also, relax. Don't be a jerk. Not everyone has as much access to cash as you do. There's nothing wrong with a $5 contest.

[nina]

You have nothing proper to add to this comment or discussion? No view? I think my point is very valid and not just a wild silly accusation towards anyone. Infact someone has just posted 2 topics about the same competition, the prize is $7. We get these everyday. It's cheapskate don't wanna pay the $5 for the marketplace attitude.

Maybe Greg should create a dolly site section, make lyzyrdgyzyrd mod for that. He can moderate the discussions about PayPopUp payments and run competitions for over-sized page headers... nothing under 400 pixels high and obnoxious colours compulsory!


rofl

I with you on this... Up until now, i expected the contests section to have a price fee too. I guess not though. And it should. :)

[DavidR]

yeah me smart cause i posted one then i saw it was in the wrong thing now i'm trying to delete the first one get your facts straight

Haha, get my facts straight?

This is the perfect example. Instead of posting two topics, she should have contacted a mod to move the original... this is the new braindead attitude of many users on this forum.

Besides the fact two were posted isn't my point, it just so happens I saw that so mentioned it... I posted this topic before she even made her second topic error.

[TFB_princess]

I've been sick all week buddy don't even get me going. My throat is still swollen so I can't even drink water. So I made a tiny little contest. BIG freakin w00p. And your ganna sit here and rag on my because i'm poor? I can afford to give out 25$ as a suitable prise in your perfect case? get a clue. NOBODY'S PERFECT!!

[minnseoelite]

lets keep this civil and on topic.

[DavidR]

I've been sick all week buddy don't even get me going. My throat is still swollen so I can't even drink water. So I made a tiny little contest. BIG freakin w00p. And your ganna sit here and rag on my because i'm poor? I can afford to give out 25$ as a suitable prise in your perfect case? get a clue. NOBODY'S PERFECT!!

haha, yes when I'm ill I go on an unstoppable rampage of posting contest topics too. I didn't even mention your name, like I said it just so happens that you posted 2 topics for the same competition, so I mentioned it in passing... relax, take your time, spell check, drink lots of fluids it'll help your throat.

[layoutcentral]

Maybe adding a contests area to the marketplace would help? That way you would still have to pay the fee, but it can still be a "contest".

[DavidR]

Maybe adding a contests area to the marketplace would help? That way you would still have to pay the fee, but it can still be a "contest".

At very least leave them at free just remove them all from the recently posted 10 topics so we aren't subjected to them pushing down real topics. Sadly that means the legit ones go too, but that's what bad apples do...

[wce]

At very least leave them at free just remove them all from the recently posted 10 topics so we aren't subjected to them pushing down real topics. Sadly that means the legit ones go too, but that's what bad apples do...

sounds good to me.... I really could careless if all these little contests happen, and if people are willing to participate in them for $3 worth of glitters, then so be it, to each his own... but I admit, I do get tired of seeing contest after contest, especially since I wouldn't participate in them and neither would a lot of other people... the newest threads should be general, all around things that everyone would be interested in...

[Andrew2]

I was gonna post something like this a little bit ago because it's completely true, and I'm not even just saying that... I've discussed it with other MSP members...

But then again, they are just contests... Seems like the big ones get nowhere or are more scams from Dj McDoucheBag... I didn't like how picky someone was being recently after having a $10.00 header contest, It's just 10.00 and if you want certain things then post a "want to hire" thread or something and find someone who will make what you want. I don't know. I just woke up after 3 hours of sleep, I'm gonna go vomit and go back to sleep now.

And yes I'm feeling "..." dot dot dottish...

[zodiac01]

lol like that will stop anything..
clearly you can go anywhere and conduct business... hell ya can even pick up an extra 50 bucks in "Reviews". - http://www.myspacepros.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14774
as long as we think its cute we can get away with it. ( AND still maintain our right to say how screwed up the marketplace or forum is. )
(now i dont think the guy offering 50 bucks was trying to skim out of paying 5 bucks for a thread.. money is obviously not the object there. now the guy taking him up on the deal.. obviously knows it was a wrong thing to do.. but still did it. by stating just pretend this didnt happen.. (same guy has like 20 posts telling other people "this belongs in the marketplace" lol) (guess not when it is convenient for them to pick up a quick fitty.)
(wait let me guess there is a totally valid reason for that one taking place im sure lol ) (maybe if we delete it no one will see it for what it is?)
(because now anyone who stumbles onto that thread will think it is "just the way we do things here at msp") maybe we should lead by example and not try to make the rules on the same days we break them for our personal gain?
not contradictory or hypocritical in the least bit are we? <-- sarcasm


all the new rules.. more mods.. yadda yadda.. doesnt stop the people who are going to engage in this kind of activity. it will just go to the next available non-paid thread.. and as long as there are no repercussions.. it will continue.
to me it should be zero tolerance lol
(but then again im just a prick)
1) make 1 clear rules to read at signup...
2) 1st offence ban for 1 week. 2nd offence 2 weeks, 3rd.. permaban -go to kville.. do not collect $200.. (maybe a warning before 1st ban)

i think it would bring up the learning curve here by at least a good 20% lol

i like entering contests.. i dont think i have ever entered a contest here for the cash.. (well except the $175 one that was a scam lmao). it is usually just because i have browsed the contests forum when i had my editor open.. saw a cool name.. idea.. whatever and just threw something together for the hell of it. just in fun and maybe can help someone out..
used to be every contest was at least 20-30 bucks tho. i think most of the designers who do like entering contests are kind of turned away by the whole $5 thing because it is kinda insulting even when not in it for the money. it automatically screams "not worth my time". i think most of the good designers would get involved in these contests if they could at least buy a happy-meal with their winnings. (i am far from what i would call rich or even well off.. but i generally tip the pizza guy more than these contests prizes)

[CharmRoyal]

I agree with you. I'm not going to explain why, but I do agree with you.

[Jen]

Amen Zodiac

[Nora]

I agree.. but it all depends on what's asked though, if its a graphic like a favicon or something that really doesn't take much time then its crazy to pay 5$ for a marketplace thread when your budget is only around $5.

If people expect work to be put into what they ask for then its really unfair because many hours go to total waste for only a few dollars..

[minnseoelite]

i agree. but for all the noobs while they are good ideas you guys have not been around long enough to remember last spring when a flame war would break out every week or 2 with members being pissed off cause there were to many rules and us mods were harder on offending members. that is why the forum is more relaxed now, the members wanted it.

[Sergio]

I'm more concerned about the actual contest entries rather than the skipping the $5 fee issue. Many (not all) of the contest entries are crap, and it seems that they just want a quick buck. Rather insulting if you ask me.

[tacoflavoredkisses]

^nods head at sergio's cmnt.

[Nora]

I'm more concerned about the actual contest entries rather than the skipping the $5 fee issue. Many (not all) of the contest entries are crap, and it seems that they just want a quick buck. Rather insulting if you ask me.
That's probably because of the money that's offered.. why would any sane person spend a lot of time working on a graphic when they only get a few dollars in return which they have to subtract paypal fees and taxes from.. that would be slavery :turned:

[minnseoelite]

i'm not worried about the contest entires. as another member said if the person is only offering $5 - $10 for a prize then I wouldn't expect anything other then crap entries.

if you eliminate the cheap-o contests then the quality of the entries into "real" contests should increase. i think designers might actually put in some effort if the prizes were more like $30 - $40 like they use to be.

[Sergio]

I've seen crap entries for contests offering a lot of money too. But I see your point.

[CharmRoyal]

Well not to get off topic but people want to spend as cheap as possible and people want to buy as cheap as possible. If you want that then except crap in return.

I'm not trying to say people who don't have a lot of money shouldn't hold contests, but if you expect something extravagant for $5 bucks, just keep in mind, "you get what you pay for".

I don't enter contests much anymore because of this reason... if someone contacts me about doing some custom banner, I name my price. But if I enter a contest to make a banner and the prize is not even half my price I tell people, then the person who paid custom for one wouldn't be too happy now would they (speaking as if I won the contest or not even).

If you were a good graphic artist, would you like a $5-$10 prize for something you worked really hard on? I think the person holding the contest should put them self in the entrants point of view and ask them self if they would spend an hour making something for such a price when they could be getting double or triple more.

Now this is a real contest: http://www.modcloth.com/store/Graphic+Designer-i-23

[Andrew2]

mm, yeah I think the best we can ask for is that people just try to avoid doing the small contests with $5-15 prizes and keep things more professional.

If you need a favicon, ask someone to make you one.
If you need a header then post a marketplace thread or ask a designing if they can help you for your budget.

Ripping everyone off is not the answer and if we keep having these low end contests then people won't submit new awesome contests because they'll only see a low budget part of our great designers in this forum whom are capable of producing much better stuff.

That's my 3 cents.

[belowthestars]

I personally don't have a problem with these small contests etc. Not all of us have tons of money, and i feel for those who don't. I think some of us here are too ignorant towards the situations some of the other members here are in. I hate that alot of members have to result to selling really cheap stuff to make a bit of cash too, makes me feel bad for them!

Wish i could help you all make some money!!! :)

[snapvine]

while i agree with the original post, i think that the downward trend of prizes for these coding competitions may be influenced by things like the mechanical turk services (amazon). we have found people doing stuff for us for $15 or so, and we just started using it.

while the SPIRIT of competition should warrant bigger/better/more significant prizes, i think that this may be influencing what people are willing to offer as prizes.

my 2 cents....wait. mechanical turk is putting pricing pressure on these, too. it's now down to 1.5 cents.

[KevXGraphics]

dat's kool

[mawt]

dat's kool

haha.
This kids funny.

[Connections]

this is a easy fix.

make contests min $10 pay out.

[zodiac01]

there should be a wait too. even if you like the first entry.. if it is a "contest" then i think everyone should have the opportunity to enter or at least be able to plan their time to work on the project or not by knowing the deadline..
i laughed yesterday i clicked on a contest.. brand new.. was closed like an hour later.. with no visible entries.. someone had won via pm.. then opened again another hour later because they didnt like the entry? lol
and then it ended later in the day after a handful of thrown together entries.

i think people would get better results if they held contests for at least a few days.

[DavidR]

i laughed yesterday i clicked on a contest.. brand new.. was closed like an hour later.. with no visible entries.. someone had won via pm.. then opened again another hour later because they didnt like the entry? lol

Yeh I saw that topic, it's a complete joke. Proves my original point entirely. I guess Greg can't be ****ed to reply to this so whatever, the forum stays a joke. Aslong as MSRS isn't being downloaded for free on warez sites all is good huh!

[mawt]

gosh david...
Greg doesn't have enough time to post in every thread!

[lyzyrdgyzyrd]

Still pretty absurd to cry and accuse people of trying to avoid a $5 fee by posting a contest in the contest section that does not levy a fee for posting.