Frequently Asked Questions - Buyers

Please also review and agree to our Terms and Conditions before you sign-up.

General Questions

How does this work?
You need programming and related services such as, a logo/web site design, database development, script installation, script modification, custom programming, etc., but do not know how to find professionals who can do quality work at an affordable price. Simply sign-up, create an account, post your project details, requirements, budget, etc., Registered professionals will respond to your request. This works just like a reverse auction or if you are familiar with how the RFQ/tender/bidding process works in large firms and government institutions.

1. Register
2. Create your project
3. You will be notified of bids
4. Select a programmer
5. Make a payment
6. Rate the programmer
7. Tell your friends and colleagues (won't you please?)

Why should I use you?
Read the testimonials from satisfied buyers.
If you are a small business owner or a freelance/contract programmer you know how hard it is to find trusted, quality, professional services at affordable prices. Our goal is to create a central point and a meeting place for both buyers and programmers. By placing a request here you are asking several programmers/designers to compete for your business. This in turn will benefit you by putting you in the driver's seat. Besides, you do not pay anything upfront and there are no contracts to sign and we stay behind the curtain as we have no interest in any programmers, while you decide whom to hire. You don't pay until you are ready to hire someone - what could be better?

Advantages:
1. It is FREE - no cost for you to post, you have nothing to lose. You do not pay us anything (not even our commission) if you do not pick a bidder to get your work done.
2. Outsource and save money, salary, expenses, time, etc.,
3. You don't have to browse 100 resumes to get some small work done - you post your requirements and project details and qualified bidders will respond to you. You can focus on running your small business.


What is the cost associated?
There is no cost to sign-up and currently no cost to post a project. If you select a specific bid then once you decide and hire a programmer, you will owe us a commission of 3% with a minimum commission of $5 per closed bid. For example, say you wanted to have some logo designed and you get several quotes but you decide to hire a graphic designer who would charge you $250 for the project. You select his bid and then close the project and at that time $7.50 will be deducted from your account. If our commission (based on the above calculation method) is less than $5 then you will pay the minimum of $5 as our referral fee. View the «Fee Structure»

When do I pay for the project?
Please see below

How do I know the programmer will deliver my work according to satisfaction?

Most programmers will do your work according to your specifications as long as you provide proper descriptions in the project and before a bid is awarded. If you need more assurance or a full guarantee, then you can opt for the guaranteed/featured project and pay us instead of the programmer and we (programmingbids.com) will assume the responsibility and we will pay the programmer only after your work has been completed according to satisfaction but this will cost you a higher commission as we assume the resposibility and risk for completion of the project. Please click here to find out more.

What is a guararanteed project?
Please click here to find out more.

Where are you located?
In Lakewood, a suburb of Denver, Colorado - USA.

Projects and Bidding

What kind of projects can be listed?
You can list projects in one of the broad categories (click here to view a list of available categories) and you can select other options for different operating systems, programming languages and database structures, when you create a project. If you need a new category added, just let us know.

Can I select more than one category?
Yes, you can. Just check the applicable categories.

How do I create a new project?
First sign-up and create an account. Login to your account and then click on "create a new project" link and complete the necessary information and details regarding your project.

I need to add more information, how can I add more information?
You cannot add more information to the description itself. However, you can use the project message board to add more information. If the information you provided is completely wrong, you can close your project without choosing a programmer and without any penalty. You can then go ahead and open a new project.

Why can't I add something to my description?
You cannot add more to your description because if we allow the buyers to change the information it can be updated anytime and if programmers/designers bid on a project based on the original specifications, then some buyers may claim that the programmer did not deliver according to specifications. Hence, we do not want to allow buyers to change the description completely, but they can clarify, discuss and amend the specifications in the message board and come to an agreement. See the above question on how to add more information in the project message board.

Why can't I contact a bidder if I need to email/chat with a bidder?
You can contact a bidder after you pick a specific bidder. However, because if you talk to one or any specific bidder offline while the bidding is in process, it is unfair to all other bidders and we will need you to make a deposit and pick a bidder. Hence, you can use the message board to discuss any issues so all bidders can have access to updated information and can see your updated requirements or any related discussions.

I need to see a demo before picking a bidder. If I can't contact the bidder, how can I provide the demo?
Ask the bidder to show you a demo as necessary - we are not barring the bidders from showing you a demo. Bidders can show you demos. We only ask to avoid direct contact, including email exchanges. For most demos, bidders can use a web account to upload their demos and show them to you or so that you can download them and install on your PC/Web account.

How do I know when someone bids - how can I choose the proper bids?
You can check the email notification option and when someone bids on your project, you will receive an email. Just log on to your account and then you will see the account management options.

I already got enough bids, I do not want to wait till the project expires. Can I select a bidder ahead of time?
Yes, you can do so anytime. Just login to your account and "pick a programmer/designer".

How do I pick a programmer/designer?
Please login to your account first. In your account panel, at the center of the page you will see your project(s) listed and the links in the table to pick a programmer -

"Pick a Programmer/Designer - Extend - Close"

Click on the link(s) to pick a programmer or to extend the time or to close the project altogether. After you click on the pick a programmer link you will be give a list of all of your bidders and you can select one that suits/meets your requirements.

However, you will have to make a deposit to cover our commissions, prior to or as soon as you pick a programmer. After you deposit the money, we will put the programmer in touch with you and the programmer will start working on your project. If the programmer does not start the work, then you may pick another programmer.

I picked a programmer - what happens next? How do I get in touch with the programmer?
The programmer/designer will be notified and asked to contact you. If you do not hear from the programmer you picked within 24 hours, please contact us.

How do I make a deposit?
To make a deposit, again in your account panel you will see a button at the top left to deposit money - click on that and follow the procedures.

Why is my project frozen?
1. A project is frozen if the ending date you chose for the project has past. No programmers can place any new bids, you must either pick a programmer,extend the project or create another.
2. A project is also frozen when you have selected a programmer to do your project and are waiting for their reply.

Can I reopen a closed/old project?
No, once a project is closed for any reason it cannot be reopened again. Just create another project in your control center.

Payments and Fees

Do I have to add money to my account when I sign-up?
Not necessarily. However, anytime you close a listing by selecting a winning bid, you must have enough funds in your account to cover our commission. If you have a zero balance for over a 30 day period, your account will be frozen and you will not be able to create new projects.

When do I pay for the project?
NOTE: you may use the paypal account for payments of $500 or lesser amount. Projects with winning bids of over $500 must be paid by a check in the mail or with a money order or by wire transfer.

View the «Fee Structure»

You can either deposit the full bid amount + your commission (3% of the bid or $5, whichever is higher) in your account in one transaction.
-OR-
Phase I - initial commissions for regular projects
At least 10% of the winning bid or a minimum of $15 (whichever is higher) must be deposited with a credit card or from your paypal account, to your account (in the account panel) once you select a bid and before the programmer/designer can begin working on your project. This first deposit covers the commissions both parties owe us. Because the buyer pays for the project all commissions first come out the buyers account and we first deduct commissions both parties owe us (3% buyer commission and 7% programmer commission = 10% total or $5 buyer commission + $10 programmer commission = $15 total, whichever is higher) and then let both parties work together.
However, the first deposit amount will stay in your account and will be refunded (or will be available for withdrawal) to you "ONLY IF" your project is not delivered by the programmer. You cannot cancel your project once you have accepted a bid, unless the winning/chosen bidder backs-off. However, if the bidder backs-off and you decide to work with another bidder as the second choice (you can do so) then any percentage adjustments will be made to your account accordingly. If you do not select any second (or other available choices) then your deposit will be promptly refunded.

Phase II - final payment for regular projects
When the work is done, the buyer is responsible for making the remaining payment, usually 93% (or winning bid minus $10 - the total of whichever is lower) deposit to their account. For example, if the winning bid is $50 - you deposit $40 to your account. However, if the winning is bid is $300, you deposit $279 to your account or if the winning bid is $500 then you deposit $465 to your account. See two examples below. If this is not clear, please ask us and we will explain.

Escrow payments
You can put the money in an escrow for the programmer (this feature is available in your account) and then wait for the programmer to complete the work, but you will not be able to reverse the escrow. We can reverse it but we need a good enough explanation and reason from both parties - it is one parties word against the other and we will not mediate or intervene. If you want us to mediate or represent you then please see the guaranteed option below.

Guaranteed Projects
Please click here to find out more

Examples
Example #1: In this example because the bid is high, the percentage method is use.
Say, the winning bid for your project is $175. You can deposit $175+$5.25 commission in your account.
-OR-
Phase I - you make a deposit for 10% of $175 = 17.50 to your account.
Phase II - you pay 93% of the bid or $162.75 to your account.
In the end, together you would have paid $180.25 ($175 winning bid + $3% commission which is $5.25)


Example #2: In this example because the bid is low and the minimum commission is taken into consideration. Say, the winning bid for your project is $45. You can deposit $45+$5 commission in your account.
-OR-
Phase I - you make a deposit for 10% of $45 = $15 (minimum commission applies) to your account.
Phase II - you pay $35 ($45-$10) to your account.
In the end, together you would have paid $50 ($45 winning bid + $5 commission)
However, if you are not sure and if you want us to withhold the funds in a escrow then you pay us directly $45+5 = $50 by a cashiers check or by a money order and make it payable to: ITM Holdings, LLC, 7515 W. 17th Avenue #B, Lakewood, CO - 80215. We will then pay the programmer $35 as soon as the work is completed.

How do I add money to my account?
Just login and click on the "add money" link in the account management area. You can currently pay with visa, mastercard, american express, discover by credit card on our site or use paypal account to transfer money.

What happens if I do not use all my funds in my account or if I have a balance?
You can withdraw money. Just click the "withdraw money" button in the account management area. You can currently request a payment through a PayPal account. Please note that you cannot withdraw less than $15 at a time.

How do I pay the programmer for the project?
Making "Final Payments" (remaining amount) to the programmer, when the work is done - you have two options:
-----------------------------------------
1. If you want to use our system to make the final payment, then please make sure you add money to your account first by clicking on the "deposit money" button in your account panel and then "transfer money" to the programmer, from the account panel (from your account to the programmer's account) so we can track your payments.
2. If you want to pay the programmer directly (check, money order, wire, etc.,) and if the programmer is willing to accept it then you are welcome to do so. You "must notify" us and the programmer that you will pay the programmer directly upon completion of the work, if that is what you intend to do. However, this is where our responsibility ends - once we have put you two in touch with each other and you have made arrangements for the payment, our work is done and you assume the responsibility of payments and delivery of the project.

Do I have to pay the amount through my account?
No, once you make a payment for our commissions, you may pay the remaining amount directly to the programmer but you must decide before the work starts, which method you want to use (via our system or directly to the programmer) and then notify both us and the programmer.

What is the minimum amount I can transfer (between accounts)?
Currently the minimum is $5.

When will my withdrawal be approved?
Biweekly (twice a month - during middle and end of the month for confirmed transactions, otherwise there is a waiting period). See more in the above question on how it works.

Is there a fee to transfer money?
No. Currently, there is no fee.

I still have some questions before getting started - how I can contact you?
Just email us and enclose the nature of your contact, your name, email and explain the issue/question.