Website Designer

[zigojacko]

Dear Zigojacko and Faevilangel

Thank you so much for your replies, especially the advice on people emailing me directly. I am looking through the threads and will also post on the other thread as you say.

In some respects it is bad to say it but I am relieved that I am not the only one to be taken for a ride out there. Wish that weren't the case but I cannot believe the blatant money grabbing going on.

Zigojacko can I call/email you to fill you in on what I am looking for?

Thanks again

Eliser

Sure thing, I can be contacted via the 'UK Search Marketing' link in my signature or you can private message me via this forum if you wish and I can respond with direct contact details if that is easier.

 

[j600com]

Hi there, I have just joined this forum and hope someone can help.

I am in need of some advice/recommendation. I have been stung by a so called web designer company recently. Luckily they only got a deposit which I doubt I will ever see again (I say 'luckily' as apparently people have lost a lot more money than me)!

Is there anyone who can recommend a trustworthy web design company please? What seemed like an easy find at first is now turning into a nightmare. I have slowly realised that you literally have to question every single thing on the web and as no one I know has used a web designer it is so hard!

Sorry if this is a ramble, I am hoping for some understanding people out there who can help. I need an e-commerce site.

Many thanks in advance

Eliser

Hi Eliser, there is a thread on here which lists questions to ask your web designer which you may find useful. Asking these questions beforehand can help avoid problems further down the line.

 

[eliser35]

Hi j600com

Thank you so much for this. I have printed the questions and it is a steep learning curve for me me thinks! I am determined not to get ripped off again.

To Zigojacko: thank you so much I will private message you.


Best wishes

Eliser

 

[j600com]

Hi Eliser,

No problem at all, if this is an eCommerce website the most important thing to do is view their portfolio of past eCommerce projects (eCommerce being the important word here).

Check that they have plenty of examples of transactional retail sites (ignore examples of brochure sites, blogs and print design as that is all irrelevant) and then make sure you are 100% happy with the standard of the stores they have built (if they're not up to scratch, walk away - don't think you'll be the project which will break the trend).

Hope this helps.

Kind regards

Tim

 

[TheGeekestLink]

In some respects it is bad to say it but I am relieved that I am not the only one to be taken for a ride out there. Wish that weren't the case but I cannot believe the blatant money grabbing going on.

Good luck! I need to find a completely new website to make up for the last 3 years' worth of disasters... so perhaps you can PM me when you've got a brand spanking new site up and running!

My personal experience has been awful, so maybe I need the personal touch!

 

[ITsoldUK]

Are they licensed as a web designer?

:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|

What?

 

[eliser35]

Good luck! I need to find a completely new website to make up for the last 3 years' worth of disasters... so perhaps you can PM me when you've got a brand spanking new site up and running!

My personal experience has been awful, so maybe I need the personal touch!

Hi TheGeekestLink, so sorry to hear of your problems, have you found another company as yet? Honestly it makes you want to shout about these people. Isn't there a central body/association that Web Designers sign up to thereby you know they are ok...sort of like The Federation of Master Builders etc? (Not that that is any form of real guarantee sometimes I know but still at least that would be some sort of benchmark to start with!). lt's just so infuriating. Your energy gets taken up with sorting out a bodge job instead of concentrating on your business.

I will definitely let you know and would you do the same for me?

Thanks a lot

Eliser

 

[Faevilangel]

Elise

Unfortunately with web related industries, there are no bodies which look after the industries as anyone with an internet connection can tell anyone they build websites / seo etc.

As my first post said, it's all about research, get recommendations but also research the person to see if they are who they say they are, they have built similar sites before.

Phone them, email them and call their existing clients, find out as much about them as you can.

If I walked upto you in the street and said, give me £500 and I will get you £1000 of business. You would tell me to do one right?

Well it should be the same for a web designer, find them on your own conditions and only go ahead if you're 100% happy.

 

[eliser35]

Elise

Unfortunately with web related industries, there are no bodies which look after the industries as anyone with an internet connection can tell anyone they build websites / seo etc.

As my first post said, it's all about research, get recommendations but also research the person to see if they are who they say they are, they have built similar sites before.

Phone them, email them and call their existing clients, find out as much about them as you can.

If I walked upto you in the street and said, give me £500 and I will get you £1000 of business. You would tell me to do one right?

Well it should be the same for a web designer, find them on your own conditions and only go ahead if you're 100% happy.

Hi Faevilangel,

Yes totally agree except they seem to be getting more and more sophisticated nowadays. For instance with this particular company I contacted 5 of their so called customers by phone and email. All professed to having had great service, I got a copy the accounts from Companies House again all seemed ok.

I have since found out they have been at this probably since 2007 basically taking people's money and running and one seems to be able to pin them down. Unreal!

Thank you for taking the time to post to me. This goes also for everyone who has. lt has really helped me rise from the ashes so to speak!

Best Regards,

Eliser

 

[Faevilangel]

Hi Faevilangel,

Yes totally agree except they seem to be getting more and more sophisticated nowadays. For instance with this particular company I contacted 5 of their so called customers by phone and email. All professed to having had great service, I got a copy the accounts from Companies House again all seemed ok.

I have since found out they have been at this probably since 2007 basically taking people's money and running and one seems to be able to pin them down. Unreal!

Thank you for taking the time to post to me. This goes also for everyone who has. lt has really helped me rise from the ashes so to speak!

Best Regards,

Eliser

Ouch, just goes to show that if someone really wants your money, they will get it

Everyone gets their just desserts in the end though, takes a while but everyone gets caught...

 

[TheGeekestLink]

Well it should be the same for a web designer, find them on your own conditions and only go ahead if you're 100% happy.

This, sadly, is a lesson learned the hard way for most of us.

Great advice to keep reiterating it, though. If even one person manages to avoid the pitfalls, I'll gladly shout this from the rooftops!

 

[j600com]

Hi Faevilangel,

Yes totally agree except they seem to be getting more and more sophisticated nowadays. For instance with this particular company I contacted 5 of their so called customers by phone and email. All professed to having had great service, I got a copy the accounts from Companies House again all seemed ok.

I have since found out they have been at this probably since 2007 basically taking people's money and running and one seems to be able to pin them down. Unreal!

Thank you for taking the time to post to me. This goes also for everyone who has. lt has really helped me rise from the ashes so to speak!

Best Regards,

Eliser

Which company was it?

Please feel free to pm me their name if you don't want to post it on here.