Web Designer taking the mick?

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Salt&Pepper

Salt&Pepper

Free Member
Oct 7, 2011
151
23
London
  • #1
    Hi there,

    I have a 10 page website, some pages have a CMS some newer pages (just developped) don't. I sent an email to the company who designed my website and got the following reply:

    This is to inform you that as your website hasn't been developed on (CMS). Because your website has some (Google Verification Codes) on each page, due this reason our (CMS) doesn't your website.

    But, there is another way to maintain your website. We do provide maintenance package for our customer to keep maintain their websites. I have mentioned the package details below and if you're interested then do let me know.

    Website Maintenance Packages

    - 12 Months Website Maintenance Package £299.00 + Vat


    I think they are taking the mick, but I am not an expert.

    What's the point of having a CMS if you still need to pay somebody to make changes?

    Why would 6 pages out of 10 have a CMS?

    Surely all CMS support verification codes, who does'n use google analytics nowadays?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
    Paul_Rosser

    Paul_Rosser

    Free Member
    Jul 5, 2012
    4,567
    1,107
    London and Essex
  • #2
    From reading that you don't have a CMS, however this would need to make sense to confirm - "our (CMS) doesn't your website."

    But actually not being tied to a providers CMS is a good thing, otherwise moving your site to another provider can be a headache, especially when the CMS has been custom written by the provider.

    Using something standard like Drupal is much easier as if you need to move provider you can find another who supports Drupal and move very easily.
     
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    Salt&Pepper

    Salt&Pepper

    Free Member
    Oct 7, 2011
    151
    23
    London
  • #3
    hi,

    I do have have a CMS, but not for all pages. When I asked why I was given the above reply (which I copy pasted, so I am note sure what they meant) I think they are just trying to sell me the support package.

    The google analytic code is on each page so that does not make sense.
     
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    T

    TOKN

  • #7
    The crux of the matter are as follows. All CMSes should support google analytics as this only requires a small portion of code to be blended in to the pages normal template. It's a very easy job indeed.

    With regards to the maintenance fee 299+vat per annum isn't unreasonable. It's £30 a month after all and companies who offer maintenance as an ongoing service suffer something similar to the free rider problem. That is, some people will want a lot more out than they put in (more than £30 of services each month) and for these people it will seem like a bargain, where as other less fortunate people whose needs are less have to a foot a bill to cover the difference.

    My advice would be not to enter a £360/pa arrangement with a company who don't seem to know what they're talking about, that advice is as valuable in web design as in anything :)
     
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    Paul_Rosser

    Paul_Rosser

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    Jul 5, 2012
    4,567
    1,107
    London and Essex
  • #8
    So for the old pages they used a CMS and for the new 4 pages they didn't.

    Sounds like they have either made a mistake by not using the CMS, or have issues with the CMS so are now moving away from using it. It's also possible they have realised that giving customers the ability to update their own content means no one takes on their support/update package so makes business sense to stop using it.

    Depending on what they used to create the pages if you have access to the site files then you will be able to make your own changes.

    If not then you will need either a support package with them or pay on a per-change basis.

    Or move the site to a provider who does give you a good CMS.
     
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    I

    ITsoldUK

  • #9
    My advise would of course depend on what you want to do.

    However, in some instances it is not uncommon to have landing pages developed outside of the normal CMS (mainly because you want to remove leakage such as navigation etc as the main aim is to capture email/orders) but regarding mainstream pages, they ALL should be within the CMS.

    Sounds to me like corners have indeed been cut.

    I would check that the domain name you own is registered TO YOU and once confirmed, shoot up what you would like to do and a resolution can be posted.

    HTH
     
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    I

    ITsoldUK

  • #10
    TigerWebStudios said:
    The crux of the matter are as follows. All CMSes should support google analytics as this only requires a small portion of code to be blended in to the pages normal template. It's a very easy job indeed.
    Click to expand...

    Do not need to support it, you can add it very easily inside a global template/incl. file and is often better this way as you retain control as to where it is deployed on your page...;)
     
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    C

    CFreshDesign

    Free Member
    Mar 11, 2011
    8
    7
  • #13
    It seems they are wanting more money from you. I am a Graphic and Web Designer. GA doesn't affect the CMS. You can put near enough any page on a CMS so that you can manage easily.

    Honestly, I would take your website elsewhere. Start something as you mean to go on. I always sense a bad working relationship and generally it boils down to money.

    If you need any further help contact me.

    Good Luck

    Claire
     
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    FIZIX Agency

    FIZIX Agency

    Free Member
    Jul 9, 2012
    753
    238
    Peterborough, England
  • #15
    ITsoldUK said:
    Do not need to support it, you can add it very easily inside a global template/incl. file and is often better this way as you retain control as to where it is deployed on your page...;)
    Click to expand...

    I was about to say the same thing, how can it NOT support analytics. They are talking crap. Also, do you have a cms behind the site at all?

    Also, where are they based; I wouldn't use anyone who sent emails out with such broken English. You'll never know exactly what the score is because it makes the correspondence confusing and open to misinterpretation.

    ETA: Just looked at the site, seems that they may be UK based.


    pcproblems said:
    saltandpepperevents (dot) co (dot) uk appears to be registered to your company but all of the nav links appear to point to your web designer ... All looks a bit odd to me, maybe get a webdesigner to give you an opinion about the site
    Click to expand...

    Where is this? I've just browsed their site and the links appear to flow around their site, unless I'm missing something.
     
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    S

    Successukdotcom

  • #18
    Sounds all very weird - we do provide mixed sites of cms but they are custom built and not dependent upon 3rd part software like Drupal or Wordpress.

    Previous experience says that if a security aspect is breached in 3rd party software our customers become vunerable.

    As some are Doctors surgeries, we provide our own custom written cms with permission for clients to transfer both scripts and databases out should they wish to move. We have never lost one yet - but it is a better way to do business.

    Essentially, see if they will give you ftp access and database access - if they wont - move along, they do not care enough....
     
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    I

    ITsoldUK

  • #20
    PDC said:
    Does sound quite strange. I guess you really need a designer/developer you can comunicate with better. Maybe asking a local business to visit and assess your needs would be good.
    Click to expand...

    Great shout.

    And whilst they are there, they could ascertain the current position and maybe act on his behalf to find out what is actually going on.

    This would then give the OP all the info he/she needs to make an informed call.
     
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    T

    The Developer

  • #21
    To the OP I think your initial instincts were spot on. I do not believe that there is any valid reason customers should be so reliant on their designers/developers.

    As others have mentioned, finding an alternative person/business with whom you can communicate more effectively with (and trust more) would be a sensible course of action.
     
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    M

    mit74

    Free Member
    Jun 4, 2010
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  • #22
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    Salt&Pepper

    Salt&Pepper

    Free Member
    Oct 7, 2011
    151
    23
    London
  • #27
    Hi guys,

    Thank you for all the replies, i could not reply yesterday as I was working the whole day.

    I always thought they were talking porkies, as the GA code is in all pages and yet some have CMS. For those of you who visited the website ou would have seen is a very simple website and should be easy to manage.

    The part about my website being redirected to logoinn is really scary and worrying.
     
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    A

    Alan

    Free Member
    • Aug 16, 2011
    7,089
    1,974
  • #28
    Do you own and have control over the domain? As you have all the content it would be very easy for a more honest webdesigner to build you an equivalent site, and if you pick carefully a new site might even cost you less than the proposed annual maintenance fee. So you can always cut & run. (there are tons of Wordpress templates that look like your site, or close, so you could have a website at a low cost in the worlds most popular CMS, and hence maintainable by millions of web firms)
     
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