Recently, i've been looking around sites such as getafreelancer and was shocked at the prices that people are bidding for a job, $30 for a whole site in PHP and flash. How are good, honest people supposed to complete with that?

I thing the price $30 for installing/configure and customizing the script. Not for creating whole website. It is not possible, Interested to see how it is possible?

Might be possible if you're desperate, or you're 12 and looking to enhance your allowance. Other than that.. no way !

You have to keep in mind that a high majority of the freelancers bidding on those projects live in countries where $30.00 usd almost covers a whole months rent (In some cases it does).

The World Wide Web can be VERY competitive when you start putting thousands of different economies in the same market, with the same global resources.

Hinse why outsourcing has become such a HUGE trend. Every few months it seems that the old school is getting bumped out of the way by the new school. Sad but true.

You also have to take into account that a high majority of those designers are inexperienced, thus leaving a BAD taste in the clients mouth after getting burned. Not to mention the communication barrier alone can drive 2 people batty...

I try and stay focused on a local market now days, you know, the ones you can jump in a car & drive a mile or 2 to meet at a coffee shop & go over the spec.'s.... Not all, but most clients like that reassurance & will go with a local - Even if their prices are 10x more simply for the reassurance that the job will get done right the first time.

Just my opinion on the matter, But I think geography & quality will win the battle over rock bottom, unrealistic, cheap, under qualified, industry shattering prices.

Good luck to you!

Good points, Eric. I'm with you -stick to the locals.. or at least the US !

You also have to take into account that a high majority of those designers are inexperienced, thus leaving a BAD taste in the clients mouth after getting burned.

And of course it then leaves the client thinking that ALL designers / developers / coders / SEOs / SEMs are the same

But I think geography & quality will win the battle over rock bottom, unrealistic, cheap, under qualified, industry shattering prices.

I agree, eventually it has to turn full circle. In the UK the "outsourced" call centres are beginning to fade away as companies realise that it costs more in lost business than it saves in salaries.
The same will happen with out-sourcing everything else.

Of course they're just trying to find lower prices. This causes prices to rise in the country that was outsourced to, and makes it less attractive.

It does all come down to the point that it takes a whole heap more energy to win a new customer, than to get more work from an existing client, or a word-of-mouth referral even.