People who want free readings (rant)

[cheshrcat1971]

Sorry, I just need to vent. I am so tired of people wanting free readings on this one site I work on. Clients can enter a free chat area to get introductions and give us their questions before they enter a private, paid chat. That almost never happens...

I am finding this free chat area to be frustrating, mainly because it opens up the potential for abuse from clients. It is rare when I don't have to tell someone that it is against company policy for me to answer any questions in the free chat area. Then, they up and leave.

I mean, I know everyone wants free stuff, and most people don't see this as a means to make a living...but I am so tempted to ask these potential clients if they do their work for free...

[Lillith]

Oh you have hit upon one of my biggest pet peeves! For some reason, there are many, many people in the world who believe that readers should never charge for their services. I can't count the number of times that an obsessed person has screamed at me for daring to charge a fee for a reading. According to this particular set of people, when you have a "gift," it obviously comes from God and should, therefore, be given freely to all who ask. I finally started asking these people a question of my own. Don't gifted artists charge for their art? What about a gifted musician? Don't they charge people to hear them in concerts? Should we not be allowed to make a living from our "gifts?" Yeah, as you can imagine, those questions were not well-received.

Sadly, in the end, there are always going to be those people that feel entitled to get everything in life handed to them for free. You really do have to go through a lot of nuts before you find the golden acorns. But then, once you do, those people are definitely worth the effort!

[Michaela Stubbs]

Originally Posted by cheshrcat1971

Sorry, I just need to vent. I am so tired of people wanting free readings on this one site I work on. Clients can enter a free chat area to get introductions and give us their questions before they enter a private, paid chat. That almost never happens...

I am finding this free chat area to be frustrating, mainly because it opens up the potential for abuse from clients. It is rare when I don't have to tell someone that it is against company policy for me to answer any questions in the free chat area. Then, they up and leave.

I mean, I know everyone wants free stuff, and most people don't see this as a means to make a living...but I am so tempted to ask these potential clients if they do their work for free...

I feel your frustration, since I work for two sites and some of the freeloaders (guests wanting free readings) are indeed very persistent in trying to bully a reader into giving out more information or without having to pay for it. They are at times verbally abusive. I actually asked a client today if he/she works for free. No of course not, not to mention if I sit there all day long pulling free cards, I am banking nothing, nada, zilch, since we are self-employed and work as IC's on commission only. So I completely understand your frustration. Hang in there and don't let the freeloaders get to you.

[mommiplus4]

I have worked on psychic sites for the past two years, and it just doesn't get better. I love my work and love helping people, but at the end of the day, what do you have to show for it? It gets old and people should be ashamed of themselves and they wonder why their lives are in the conditions that they are in. It's actually sickening, the mindset of thinking they do not have to pay. They wouldn't go out to eat and say, "I don't have any money" and expect to get served. So I totally feel your frustration, TOTALLY.

Mommiplus4

[cheshrcat1971]

I made the mistake when I first started of answering a yes/no question for free...and unfortunately someone else came in the free chat room while this was going on (multiple people can be in the free chat). I refused to answer any other questions for the first person, but the second person started demanding I answer a simple yes/no question for her as well. I got a little mad and said no more free information, period.

The first person left in a huff, telling off the second person and blaming her for ruining everything. Of course, the second person left. I'm just glad they have to pay in order to leave negative feedback, or else I'm sure I'd have gotten big black marks, LOL. After that, I made a policy to not answer ANY questions, no matter how simple.

Now, I don't mind telling people how I do my readings, or the types of readings I offer. Heck, I don't even mind talking about the weather! But if you're going to ask me to read cards for you, you better be willing to pay for at least three minutes of my time.

[AstralJessica]

I hear you so much on that one! Freeloaders get on my last nerve. I have to fight the impulse not to kick the person out of my room for asking for a freebie. Im afraid if I did that, I would get no customers or Admins would be asking how come my kick out rate is so high....

[cristina]

No one is mentioned the site you work on...I don't work the Oranum site and I think you have to give free reads there then get them to hire or something...

I do work a site that give 3 free minutes upfront. When a customer comes in. I give them the greeting and ask them if they want my $10 special today or per minute rate...sometimes they click right out if they have no intention to pay. It saves me time and frustration.

[allisonmackenzie]

People always seem to want something for nothing. It is super annoying. I feel your pain.

[PsychicJamie]

There is a network out there, the BIG O, that has banners all over the internet indicating that you get a free reading. I have worked with them for a while, and this actually creates a major problem for the psychics. It turns from a psychic gig to a high pressure sales call. I became so jaded at one point that I just started banning people from my room.

I also found that the big O has an expectation for a person to be in free chat all the time. The other networks that I work pay more, most 75%, I have more volume, and I don't have to deal with people trying to pilfer because of false advertising.

There is also the quandary that O is connected to the porn network LJ. They run their business not like a psychic business, but like a porn network. They run the free chat rooms similar to how the porn industry tries to entice clients. This is a ridiculous concept.

Find yourself a good network or a couple of networks and stick with them. Don't get caught up in the "free chat" scheme that has a person working extensively to try to leverage the false advertising rather than actually just giving good readings. You will be able to sustain longer log in hours on networks that don't require this draining work, and I have found I make a significantly higher paycheck without trying to leverage the free chat modules.

Some free chats are low volume and high conversion. I still work these chat rooms if I know I have the time to sit at the computer, but if I have to do laundry or dishes I just stay logged into the networks that don't require free chat.

[Betsy]

Years ago, there was no 'first 3 minutes free.' Now that many lines offer this, too many people call in, ask 1 question, get their answer and hang up.

Sad state of business not as usual.

Yes, I too feel your (our) collective pain.