As long as we don't get agencies confused with the Industry associations and networks available out there for VAs. A VA has the right to choose their own rates and their own clients but an industry association or network will often help their members get clients and do take RFPs on their sites for members to respond to.

An agency, in my eyes, employs virtual workers and they dictate how much their workers get paid. I don't like that they call themselves VAs too but there's little we can do about it. What we can do is ensure that we conduct ourselves as professionally as possible, align ourselves with reputable VA associations and networks and know we have backup support instead of being a 'stand alone' in times when it's needed.

I could not agree more on this topic....I think I can speak for a good majority of people on this thread and even many other VA's that one of the main reasons we do what we do is so we can work for ourselves...not for someone else. Not for someone else to tell us how we MUST run our business in order to do our job for others. Ridiculous! Keep doing what your doing!

Jennifer

Lately I have also been getting sick of the "hire a VA for 800 a month" ads that appear on google. This has been the way of our society though for ever, hire people as cheaply as possible in order that I can make more money.

These VA agencies though - they are headed for trouble trust me on that. The IRS is cracking down on people who call their workers Independent Contractors yet treat them like Employees. There are many agencies that have been mentioned on this forum who fit this bill. They will be required just like employment agencies such as Manpower are, to call their workers what they are, employees. This will cause them to have to up their prices and their pay, so it is just a matter of time.

Now for the over seas labor farms, that is something we're going to have to deal with forever. But personally I prefer working for and with people who find that type of activity immoral. So, someone who would want to hire someone for slave wages, I don't want to with with them anyway.

My clients like the personal attention I give them, and they treat me well because I demand to be treated well. If we all do that, we'll be fine.

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Stephanie L Watson - VA

I recently had one of the Asian VA groups contact me. They wanted me to outsource my work to them so I could make lots more money - their words, not mine. I told the guy that if his VAs wanted to join my team the same way the other VAs I work with did, then I'm happy to outsource work to them. But I don't outsource work to anyone who hasn't gone through the same process. It is annoying at times. I lost a long-term client to this same company because she can now get a VA for dollars per month at a lot less than she was paying me, and she's also getting paid to promote that company. Which is why I think they approached me - she must have told them to.

I agree with Stephanie in that these "agencies" are online versions of offline temp agencies. Temp agencies in my area charge $25.00 per hour and pay the temp $10.00. I did not go into business for myself to put money in other's pockets.

It's a fact that in a global marketplace we will always compete with overseas $4.00 per hour VAs. The current trend among Internet Marketers is to outsource to highly educated, English speaking VAs in the Philippines who can afford to work for $4.00 per hour because their cost of living is nothing like the US. Many actually feel they are helping these countries and not acting immoral at all. This does make places like elance and odesk nearly impossible for us to make a livable wage.

While this can be frightening to many VAs, particularly those just starting, we need to network our services and charge what we are worth. Do not succumb to the pressures of the current economy or overseas competition and don’t lower your rates to an unfair level. I think many clients find agencies attractive for the convenience of having them find a VA for them because many still don't know much about VAs or how to find one. It can be unnerving for a business owner to have an assistant work off-site, but companies have been outsourcing to web and graphic designers, marketing, business, legal consultants etc. for years with no problem.

I believe that a native born and educated English speaking VA from the US, Canada, England, Australia etc. will always be able to offer better quality services than any overseas VA and there will always be clients that will pay for quality. If you have ever seen the work from some these overseas VAs, then you know what I mean. Keep in mind too that "Internet Marketers" are not looking for VAs as partners in business, they are looking to outsource easy projects to cheap VAs and that is not what most of us want to do.

What bothers me most about these agencies is if they don't promote contracting VAs within the same country of the project.

From a VA standpoint, who doesn't have time to find projects, I could understand going through an agency but it would totally be up to that person.

Would you mind sharing the name of the book?

Hi

I've managed an Employment/Secretarial Services Agency in the 1990's long before I knew about the VA industry. Like any business, we tried to ensure we made a profit, but never at the expense of our staff or our clients. I don't think that if I managed the business now I'd even consider using overseas VA Agencies services. However, that would be my preference for personal reasons.

To the original question of "Do VA agencies concern you?" - yes. Especially if what I'm reading in this forum is true.
On a personal note, I don't want to work for somebody else - this is the reason I started my own business. I'll happily join industry associations if they are legitimate, fit in with my business plan and budget, however not an agency.
Tania

Take a look at some of the websites of overseas VAs. The grammar (and frequently the spelling) makes you cringe down to your toes. If you were a client who wanted a wonderful proposal/presentation so you could try to score a big dollar contract, just think how wonderfully it could be done overseas ... Not!. You get what you pay for - don't expect a Mercedes when you're only prepared to pay for a bicycle. Nuff said.

Lynne

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The Wordpro Wizard
www.wordprowizard.com

Hello~
As having been someone who lost their job earlier this year due to outsourcing overseas. I have had to correct the many errors and mistakes that are made by various vendors outside of the US first hand. I am in the VA business to work for myself and not line the pockets of someone else. I have saw many times the phrase quoted in this thread "you get what you pay for" and agree with that 100%.

Good topic. Thanks, Amy

I may be way off the mark here but just a thought. Getting the word out seems to be the way to go. Do you think it would be appropriate or feasible for the major VA associations and networks either collectively or separately to start national and international marketing and educational efforts in the form of white papers, pushing for interviews/exposure on major radio and tv networks, general industry media kits, spot ads, industry newsletter offers, etc.? Okay, now I will brace myself for responses. LOL

Mattie

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Mattie Stokes