Help .. my client..
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- nthkl0
A client should trust you with your estimate. If they don't, walk away and let them no trust someone else.
- eryx0
The thing is I don't know if this is a template site or not, I was hoping someone recognized one that looked like it so that I would have a leg to stand on when talking to the client about why it took no time to develop.
They have been a pretty good client thus far but I am not sure how to react to this recent event.
- are they having some cash flow issues?zenmasterfoo
- he's right... they may have a hard time paying you in a few months.... after all the changes get finalized.... ugh!vaxorcist
- hellojeehae0
that site looks pretty nice to me. Idk have you gone through template monster?
- SeriousFreelancing0
I feel super bad for you. I've been there.
I'd naturally, as in matter-of-factly-back-to-fucking... send them a status report with color coated tasks and blocks of time of what was in and outside the contract. Maybe even make a calculated time against deadline because of the scope creep. And of course an estimate of when you can give it to them.
Regarding the template, I'd have to politely ask them to send a link so you could "fappily" look it over. Honest, clients can be such a pain, especially those D-bags who know your job better than you.
- scrap_paper0
I've definitely seen flash template sites that look like this. Couldn't point you to the exact one but with a little searching you would find the ammunition you needed.
That being said you already have an agreement so all of this "proving" stuff just makes you look insecure. Just tell them that for sure that is a template site, point out its problems like iggyboo said and move on. If they continue to give them trouble just say that you don't have to work together if they don't trust you.
- kona0
that site in 2 days? yeah that's a template they plugged content and imagery into. either that or their full of shit and trying to take advantage of you. even with all of the assets, including copy and imagery there is no way that site could have been built in two days. if you ain't making a lot of money on it it may be in your best interest to cut your ties with the client and go your separate ways, because it doesn't sound like it's worth it.
that of course is me not knowing your financial situation and what not, if you absolutely need to do the project then get them on the phone and calmly explain yourself and talk things out. the client is obviously oblivious as to what it takes to design, develop and implement a website so talk it through.
- jbranda0
• The Scope of the project should match the Quote / Estimate (it's an Estimate! Design evolves and changes causing hype to demand more)
• Within the Contract (yours) should be a clause for anything beyond the scope. (I.E. any requested work not listed or itemized within the quote must be submitted in writing and agreed upon by both said parties, be billed at $110 per hour rate or a negotiated flat fee within XYZ business days);• The site does feel templated. If there is a lot of work on the timeline and little ActionScript. However, you should be able to tell from the ActionScript and components.
I hope this helps. Good Luck.
- SoulFly0
I don't think proving that as a template is a good ground for discussion.
Also, that could be the designer's own template, not a public template. In other words someone may already have the set-up ready to go when they got the order and were able to deliver fast.I agree with the comments above, this client is a red flag, and is trying to screw you over.
- Conways law.. do not attribute to evil intent anything that can be explained by ignorance, stupidity or laziness...vaxorcist
- vaxorcist0
Josev is right....
People either want a unique, quality site, or they want to spend X dollars in Y days for a result that management can be happy with but designers will not be... and customers, well, .... hey, if they're not happy management thinks the designer failed didn't he?!?
Also, note that the Derrinblast site is very, very 2008 or so..... if you were to do a near-clone of that, you'd be asked in a few weeks to make it SEO compliant, and to make fonts bigger on listings, to realize that big background images are suddenly out of hipsterism, and a few random other things....
- vaxorcist0
wow... Do they have anywhere near the info that the derrinblast site does? The only way that could have been done in 2 days was if that client had it all pre-organized increadibly carefully and all the photos already cropped and sized and named and keyworded....
Ask this client how long it will take them to come up with all the descriptions and copy and photo names and put them in a completely clean database or excel file? And how long it will take them to find all those photos and crop them to fit and keyword them?
- Iggyboo0
If a client asks you to make a template site. Explain the reasons why it does not work for them. I'd be up an arms explaining that the readability is so shitty on their listings that no one will ever fully read through the content they had there. And more importantly can someone type the name and address in SEO format to get to that page without having to go directly there from the homepage.. I think you should definitely make it clear a CMS is the way to go and good-luck.
- TheBlueOne0
Do you have a contract?