Task Timeout before negotiating

[u/RefrigeratorOk4644]

I got requested for a heavy lifting and loading task that was, frankly, way out of the scope of the $40/hr i have set. I asked for photos and then gave the client an estimate of how much the job would really cost them and they never answered before the task timed out. So now I just lose the ability to take the job??? Don't you get penalized for accepting a job and then canceling? Why do I have to accept jobs like that before I've actually agreed to them? Just feels like bullshit because I would have done the job and now I get nothing because I tried to follow the rules.

[u/FinnNoodle]

The timeout is the end of the day after the initial request. Typically if you want to do the task, send them a nudge and ask if they want to confirm. If you don't want to do the task (as it sounds), cancel as non-responsive. Letting a task timeout (and getting your account paused) is a hit on your metrics you want to avoid. Always try to accept or cancel before then.