Not allow programmers to bid in projects if they currently have a not completed project.

"That Freelancer"?? hmm... Then I must have worst luck in the world. Because I faced the same problem with ALL my last 4 projects/freelancers. And of course I asked them before, but as you can understand they said "None other"? Do you want copies of their emails later on? One of them wrote: "I'll be available for you from 23:00pm-03:am (his time)!!!! as I've another 3 projects to finish before". The other one wrote "Don't worry I'll not let you down" (But 3 days now I'm still waiting a reply to my emails.

I dont believe if you're still alive Chris.. Do you still remember me.? And do you still remember about your promise.?
I've sent you hundreds of emails, but you didnt reply those until now.

Seriously, that's only a problem of that freelancer.

"That Freelancer"?? hmm... Then I must have worst luck in the world. Because I faced the same problem with ALL my last 4 projects/freelancers. And of course I asked them before, but as you can understand they said "None other"? Do you want copies of their emails later on? One of them wrote: "I'll be available for you from 23:00pm-03:am (his time)!!!! as I've another 3 projects to finish before". The other one wrote "Don't worry I'll not let you down" (But 3 days now I'm still waiting a reply to my emails.

Sorry to hear that but there is no surprise in the fact that the market is full of cheap, unprofessional, irresponsible providers. For example, taking the lowest bid is a straight road to that hell.

these things happen when you choose the cheapest bid, basically is your fault. like when you can't find something in google, is not google, is a problem about your selection skills.

You're totally wrong. In fact there are so many conditions that I'm counting before selecting one and for sure I'm not selecting the cheaper bid (of course not the most expensive too). And when a bid is cheap? eg $100 from a coder in USA is cheap, but $100 from a coder in XXX country where the cost of life is 1/5 of the cost of life in USA is not cheap. Other points that I'm counting: Age. Not because I believe that younger in age programmers are not good. But being 56yo is easier for me to communicate with a 40yo coder than with a 25yo coder. Also if from the discussion I understood that the coder is married with kids, for sure I'll select him than a coder who is single (as I said, only if I know this). Writting the above I wanted to make clear that there are so many factors before getting my decision. Actually on July I've award a project at $300 (putting the money since the 1st day in escrow account), while there were bids even with $80!!!. I just liked a demo from a similar work that the coder already has done. So, don't say the easy saying "Don't choose the cheaper". Regards.

Well, let's let the discussion ended here. I've already sent a private feedback to Scriptlance saying that the feedback system is good idea, but works on the wrong way. The correct way is when clients can vote and discuss posts by clients and programmers can discuss and vote on posts of programmers. My idea was very clear, and I didn't seen anyone to comment the real question. eg Why you don't want this number to appear next to your nickname? This is the question and not if I'm good in selection or not. Only the fact that my idea gots 5 negative votes, means that at least 5 programmers scaring that they can't say "No sir, I don't have currently other projects on hand".

PS- Actually this question is out of date, as I've replaced with the one asking to have the number of concurrent projects.

for me it is not a problem, if scriptlance choose to put the number of current open projects. I just don't understand why someone can take care of that, it is not a valid reason to choose someone over the other, just as if it is married or if he is X years old.

And however skill selection is something you can improve with few projects, after 5-6 projects i think will be easier to understand with who you can do business or not.

If they'll add this number, you'll see the difference that you can not understand now. None client will choose someone knowing that he has already a project in hands. All clients want to have first priority and not to wait in queue.

Well heres my reason because I think its wrong:
Programmer 1: have 5 opens projects BUT he have 4 very little, fix some css, add a logo in header, etc and 1 to create a little php script to add some functionality, so 2 days work max right?
Programmer 2: have 1 open project, but its for $3000 and 30 days its a complete system with reports, installation and testing
Tell me now: who are more bussy?

Both of them are busy. And if they're real professional, they must be at their desk working on their projects and not searching for new projects.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not argue with you. Actually both of your messahe are real discussion and not argue. But, this is my opinion. "Both are Busy".

Sorry I dont agree with you, Im a real complete freelancer, I cant wait finish ONE project to start searching a new one. I KNOW how many hours I can work per day, I know how many hours need to work in each project and I KNOW how many hours I have free yet, with that info I can put my time lines for new projects. Thats a REAL PROFESSIONAL.
I think you have too much time in the Buyer side and forget the real programmer life, most if hes a 100% freelancer. Most of us only pick up 4-6 projects per month and like in my situation I have a family...
And what about buyers sending 5-6 projects in a month? He can paid all? he can response on time to all the message? How many times programmer need to wait ONE day for a simple response?? What about the idea to limit Buyers to post ONLY 1 project if he dont have other open??

Really i love your words Mario.....,

Thinking that equally skilled developer have to cost any bit cheaper just because his/her country is poor is just that sort of mistake. 

"Thinking that equally skilled developer have to cost any bit cheaper just because his/her country is poor is just that sort of mistake."

I don't agree, except if I was unable to put in words my thoughts. Let's say that we have 2 programmers, with exactly the same skills, who will deliver exactly the same quality work. One of them bids $100 living in a country where the average monthly salary is $3,000. The other one bids the same $100 living in a country where the average monthly salary is $500. Still can't find the difference? The first bid is equivalent to one day work. The second is equivalent to 7 days work, while both worked for 1 day.

Sounds like you're paying for "average salary" statistics, not for the product you get for real. You might be surprised by the fact that salaries in IT sector of both countries are nearly the same.

That's funny.. Really funny, my dears programmers. First of all, maybe I'm using SL 100% as client, but in real I'm a programmer. And not someone who started 4-5 years ago, not even 10 years ago. I'm professional programmer since 1984. Does anybody of you know what means Machine code? Or how to programmin an EPROM? (if you don't even know what is EPROM it's time to learn that the first programs was writen in chips (like ROM) and attached to the motherboard).

So, I know best than all how to select one "coder....". And I never said that the IT pricelist are different (at least big differencies) from country to country. I just said that is NOT FAIR. I'm also having high rates. Very high I can say as it's 100 Euros per hour, and I don't get projects for less than 2,500 Euros. I prefer to work by the hour. But still (even if I'm doing it), I'm honest to admit that this is not the right way. #ENDED#

Knowing ERPOM programming is the strongest argument in this discussion. I give up!

As a buyer of small projects I expect my programmers to work on several projects at the same time. In fact, I personally think that it is not of my business if he or she is working on simultaneous projects - because it it his business - as long as I get my product on time with good quality.

If you "expect" him to work on several project, then vote plus. This way, by seeing his/her concurrent projects, you'll be totally sure that he has several projects:-).

You may need to test programmers by giving smaller project. Select programmers based on previous project and reviews.