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Comment by stevoyoung | Hacker News Reader

Actually, and this in not meant in the dickish way it's going to come across, the designers / developers who do work for $75+ an hour do not lose sleep over 99designs. I would never participate in 99designs but I recommend it to people all the time.

"Hey I need a logo/website, can you help or recommend someone?" "Sure, what's your budget?"

"$350, but I can spend $450 if I reaaaaaaaalllllly need too"

"Oh, that's great. I'm too busy to take any work on but you might have some success with a site called 99designs.com...(explain how it works).."

"...REALLY? that's how it works, that's fantastic. thanks for the recommendation"

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Just because somebody responds with a budget that is worth your time does not mean they also should not use 99designs.

The difference between the best designers there and the designers who need to be paid thousands just to open photoshop is not talent or experience - it's just their sense of entitlement.

Sure, they could still use 99designs. But if they are in my target market why would I refer them to a competitor? That doesn't make sense to me...

I agree, some folks have a terrible amount of talent and don't know their value. I see it all the time. But, I wouldn't make a blanket statement and say "all designers are equal", which is essential what you are saying.

You can call it entitlement if you would like. I call it I've worked my ass off for many years and now have the luxury of only accepting gigs that I want. This isn't about being a dick, it's about doing what's best for me and my family.

"I wouldn't make a blanket statement and say "all designers are equal", which is essential what you are saying."

I said the best on 99designs and guys who want $5k to do a logo are equal. Not every designer is equal.

"You can call it entitlement if you would like. I call it I've worked my ass off for many years and now have the luxury of only accepting gigs that I want."

This is what overpaid people in dying industries always say and think. The market doesn't care how hard you worked or what you think you deserve. Of course, you know this, which is why you made this post and why you want people to think designers doing spec work are 'one step above useless'.

I'm not sure how you've manage to make all of those conclusions base on my post. But anyhow, I'll address them since you took the time to reply.

>"This is what overpaid people in dying industries always say and think."

I would beg to differ. The UX design and developer market is no where near dead. I'm not sure where you've been, but the market is in fact booming. I don't consider myself over paid. In fact, I know many folks that are paid more than I am.

>"The market doesn't care how hard you worked or what you think you deserve."

You are correct, they don't care about what I think I am worth. Well, except when pay me for a gig.

>"Of course, you know this, which is why you made this post and why you want people to think designers doing spec work are 'one step above useless'."

Actually, per the first paragraph of my post, I wrote it because a friend was recently being courted by a very large tech company (not by his doing) and then they sprung a 5+ hour "spec" work assignment on him.

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