Web Designers - Where To Find A Good One?

[ImaBassetcase]

Hi, I have been struggling for months trying to get a website built and have only found rude, inconsiderate and lousy customer service thus far. I almost signed on with one of the online web developers, and while reading the terms of service, I noticed a whole lot of references to "optional enhancements" that were available. Upon closer scrutiny, I realized most of these options were what I was led to believe were included in my package price. After several phone calls and emails for a more detailed description of what I was getting for my $1000, and after no response I declined the terms of service and ended up having to dispute the charge with my cc company!!!:(

Then I went on to seek another source and signed on with them and have had a hellacious experience with them as well. The instructions for delivering the page content is minimal at best. My "project manager" speaks broken english and responds to my detailed questions with a 4 or 5 word response. Everyone else I spoke with there spoke clear English and I could communicate with them. I can't even get anyone to tell me how to upload my images for my gallery - the only apparent method is to upload one at a time!! I spoke with the design manager last night and he promised to have my project manager to place a drop box in my design panel so that I could drag and drop. That was supposed to have happened by lunch time today. Of course, when I called him back had to leave message and no call back.

Notice I have not mentioned any names because I don't want to bash anybody on a public forum like this, but how could I have struck out both times??? This is all after I attempted to contact three local companies near me and not one of them returned my call when I inquired about hiring them. I have prepared myself to expect the worst from everyone at this point.

The company I am using now is recommended by my hosting service.:confused:

If you have any advice please offer it, if not it just helps to vent.

Thanks,
Rhonda

[vawitt]

Sounds like you haven't been having much fun....

If you have a college or university near you that offers web design classes, you might call them and see if they could recommend a good student who might both enjoy the experience AND do it cost-effectively for you.

Good luck!

~Val in rainy IL

[ImaBassetcase]

Thanks, I had tried that option as well - the only one who was interested at all didn't want anything to do with it after I told him I needed a shopping cart .............

[Wendy]

Hi Rhonda ..

Try cotacting a website that you like the look of and see who did it for them :)

Wendy

[baderms]

Rhonda,

Try www.americaneagle.com (http://www.americaneagle.com). I haven't used them as I work for a large IT comany and we do our own web work, but I've heard a lot of good things about this company.

[baycruisers]

Most (if not practically all) web hosting services have site builder options that allow you to create a site from the ground up, including shopping carts. Agora is a server-based shopping cart program that is common on these hosts. I've never used it so can't speak to the complexity of set up and maintenance.

[ImaBassetcase]

Hey, thanks for all the suggestions. I will keep them for future reference. Last night, I did manage to get in touch with the manager over the whole design team - the one who told me he would have my Project Mgr install a drop box in my panel. Well, he checked and sure nuff nothing had been done so he finally did it himself. I uploaded about 100 mb of images last night with it and it seemed to work just great - BUT I have not yet received confirmation that it was received properly. I did notice the name of the project manager that I started with had been changed to someone by the name of Max - so I can hope that I can communicate with him - if he ever responds to my emails!!!!!!

I am in contract with these folks, and should probably stick it out with them, but when I am done with them I will have to look elsewhere for updates - supposedly, I will be able to add pages and such for myself. I did attempt the site builders in various programs and could not grasp the whole concept and don't have time to learn it. My merchant account service is a local company and is going to assist me in getting the shopping cart set up when I am ready for it. Going to start out slow so that I can control my work flow and not be too overwhelmed. LOL!! Sounds like I'm a little over confident!! Seriously, I have quite a bit of interest locally that should keep me busy for a part timer.

Thanks again and Have a Happy Day!

Rhonda



Thanks again!