Home: Message List - Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

RetailGal — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:45:49 GMT

I hired this website designer to do my ecommerce website. Well, he took half down from my credit card and started with a front page that looked like a high school student had designed it. Then he didn't even get the shopping cart working and nothing else done and took the rest of the remaining balance from my credit card without even finishing the website. So I had to sue him in Oregon and I'm in California. So now I have a lien against his house, because when I filed small claims on him, he knew I had a contract that he never finished. Right now, I'm in the process of collecting, which is a real pain. Be careful of who you hire. I've talked to many people and this story is really popular.

Retail Gal

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

intechspecial — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:00:23 GMT

That is very good information Luckiest.

I looked into the article and thought it was a very informative.

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

your_web_guy — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:14:24 GMT

why thank you very much... i dunno how to blush online but once i figure out the ascii for it i will put it up http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif" alt="" />

and right back at ya on hoping you close >:)

seriously though, there is lots of business out there for all of us and it never hurts to have contacts in the business if any of us come across something that stumps us

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

LUCKIEST — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:29:40 GMT

Last Monday August 11, The Wall Street Journal had a article

"How to Create A Successful Web Site For Nothing"

It might help you, LUCKIEST

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

intechspecial — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:09:09 GMT

web_master_guy:

I must compliment you on your work. Your portfolio is strong and although I initially disregarded your comments, I now understand I was wrong to do as such. It

After reviewing your website, I have a new found admiration of your company.

I am most certain that your clients new and old will be satisfied with your offerings.

I do not know if I have met you previously, so I wish you a warm welcome to the community.

Also, I hope for the sake of my own business that tommorow your business closes its doors.(Joking).

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

your_web_guy — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:50:27 GMT

[quote]Moral of the story: never hire a firm that specializes in graphic design to do databases[/quote]

very VERY true... as a matter of fact i would go one step further and say never higher a design or code firm to build your website period... one will make it look good, the other will make it work good, but which one will help you make money with it?

always hire a salesman who has geek and graphic design tendancies.... like me <g>

even if you arent trying to make money directly with the site (ie ecommerce) you still have goals for it... getting new customers, retaining old ones, etc... there is some reason for doing it and if your designer doesnt ask that question first then run for the door and find someone who is going to build a relationship with you... not just a website for you.

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

DCDirect — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:36:16 GMT

Designing a Web-Site is comparable to designing a Home.

Building a the home as you designed it, takes another step into the real world.

Finding the right guys to do this requires expertise and knowledge of IT Infra-structures, including the limitations of what can be done and how fast.

My advise, find professionals which can do all this in one package.

Good Luck.

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

Joseph V — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:12:31 GMT

Hello,

Thought I might add my 2 cents... We are a Webhost and Networking Company and we see this alot. Even though we do web design and programming we always go into detail with what the customer wants. This is not always that easy.... and sometimes it is. There are some basic questions from a consumer point of view that need to be answered and tranlated into layman terms. Like-

Do you want to sell product online? If so, this is called an ecommerce site that has a shopping cart and it is not something that is going to be over night for a quality job (how many things/products/items really are)

Where do you see your website/business in a year?Two years? Do you see it housing memberships,portals,10.000 more products and customers?

What is your idea of expansion?

Is there a specific funtionality of your site that is critical to your business?

Do you need just a page or two for an online presence?

Many people/business owners are becoming more savvy in this area however the learning curve is scary and can be costly so here are a few tips:

When thinking of web sites and online business you can relate it to these terms.

Web space is in megabytes,Gigabytes = Your real estate for a Brick and morter house. The land that you would build your house on.

Transfer,Bandwidth = Water,Electric Phone Bill. This is what you would consider your utilities for the website. It it also measured in Megabytes and Gigabytes. Very similar to that overpriced cell phone metering we all have.

SO.... why bother me with the hosting side of this? Well as the Domain Expert mentioned it is the foundation upon what your House/Website is built. It dictates how much house you can afford (to a point).

You could easily go out and pay for a 50.000 website/house and not know what or where you can put it.
You may even love the ideas and get caught up in the magic of the new house/website and forget that the neighborhood taxes are beyond your means. Hence getting your new site shut off or that house into foreclosure.

There is a huge difference between a programmer and a web designer. Funtionality and Database programming is the Programmers job. Design (making it pretty) and some programming is the Designers job.

I have seen people go over the top and then realize that there is a substantial amount of marketing involved online that eats away at there budget and at most does not bring them the traffic they need to be successful.

This usually was a combination of the over-expectations of the customer and the crappy unscrupulous sales person or owner that sold them what they don't need.

Have you seen this in other industries? Yes of course. Granted it is not easy to find someone to do this job so ask around go to people that are proven by checking with other businesses that have spent the money and time to get the "right one"

The goal that keeps both parties very happy is to do what any really good real estate person would advise on.

1. Buy the house you can afford (you can always upgrade with the right site)
2. Use a well known builder
3. Buy the house that can be expanded
4. Buy the house that you intended it for. ( raising kids, retirement and so on...)
5. Find the right neighborhood.

For the sake of too lon g a post I will close thank you for listening.
Joseph Voldeck
MadGig.Com

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

RZ4Health — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:17:11 GMT

Oh yes! I was paying for a website and six months later or more they inform me that the package I was sold will not work with what I'm trying to do. After they had fired a web designer and did not tell me who's the new designer, Supervisor promise to take care of it each time I'd called, receptionist would say he can not be reached or its someone different and they have no clue why you are upset. You get the picture I was getting the run around. And I had to fight for a refund and start all over again after months of work gone, and wasted money!

Also I am still learning just how to work the computer and software and computer website language I'm taking a free class online:
www.gcflearnfree.org
RZ4Health

Re: Do you have a Web Designer horror story?

DomainDiva — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:41:41 GMT

If you would have had a DOMAIN EXPERT to work with ...they would have worked with you to first design the set up and data flow and then it would have gone to the coders.

No DESIGN...No Database sense.