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Mixed feelings about a local webdesigner...

by its
15 replies
So I found out a local webdesigner charged my old primary school £2000 ($3244.20) for what I figured out was simply a really badly modified WP theme they bought for $40. I guess this inspires me a little to charge more for my services but I'm also quite annoyed someone would do this. Anyone could have done what they did in a few hours work. Now that I've brought it to one member of staffs attention I'm not quite sure what will happen.

Hmmmm.


P.S. They didn't change the admin information and I guessed their password and logged in.
#feelings #local #mixed #webdesigner
  • Profile picture of the author tdanz
    Its all about positioning. You can position your service as premium and provide an excellent customer service and offer something more than what others designers provide.
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    • Profile picture of the author Anthem40
      What does the cost of the WP theme have to do with anything?
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      95% of IM'ers have great relationships with clients who also advertise offline and with other people. Stop missing out on that cash and leverage into it. PM me if you are an established marketer and want to find out how.
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      • Profile picture of the author its
        Originally Posted by Anthem40 View Post

        What does the cost of the WP theme have to do with anything?
        The cost doesn't really mean much. The fact he took a theme instead of building his own and charged 2k for it - that's what is wrong.
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        • Profile picture of the author Anthem40
          Originally Posted by its View Post

          The cost doesn't really mean much. The fact he took a theme instead of building his own and charged 2k for it - that's what is wrong.
          What is wrong about not building his own theme?
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          95% of IM'ers have great relationships with clients who also advertise offline and with other people. Stop missing out on that cash and leverage into it. PM me if you are an established marketer and want to find out how.
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        • Profile picture of the author jimbo13
          Originally Posted by its View Post

          The cost doesn't really mean much. The fact he took a theme instead of building his own and charged 2k for it - that's what is wrong.
          Is it because it is a school that you are having the problem?

          Nigel Kennedy charges a lot of money to let you hear him play Vivaldi. He didn't write it.

          But he gives the audience what they want.

          Does he have some connection with the school? eg Parent or known to Board of Governors?

          Or is he shagging the bursar?

          Schools don't just go to someone down the road these days.

          Dan
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          • Profile picture of the author mojo1
            Reminds me of an old saying: You don't get what you deserve, You get what you negotiate.

            Perhaps this designer first thought and believed he should get 2k for his work.

            If I could pat him on the back I would and at some point in your career, you'll want to also if indeed it went down that way.

            We're not in the Walmart business, where everything is sold cheaply. As many great warriors have already stated, stop thinking with your own bank account when it comes to what you think a business has or might have budgeted to pay for a service.

            Business owners who are truly into growing their business recognize value when it's conveyed as such. Now oddly enough, on the other hand, the designer could have been a friend of a friend so no skin of the school's teeth anyway and they were actually happy to help out a friend. You'll never know the truth of that situation.

            If I may say one last thing, try not to bad mouth what another business person charges because you just never know what went on behind the scenes. Ever heard the term kickback or referral. You just never know what or who made that buying decision and how your speaking negatively might impact their view of you
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        • Profile picture of the author tinknocker
          Originally Posted by its View Post

          So I found out a local webdesigner charged my old primary school £2000 ($3244.20) for what I figured out was simply a really badly modified WP theme they bought for $40. I guess this inspires me a little to charge more for my services but I'm also quite annoyed someone would do this. Anyone could have done what they did in a few hours work. Now that I've brought it to one member of staffs attention I'm not quite sure what will happen.

          Hmmmm.


          P.S. They didn't change the admin information and I guessed their password and logged in.
          Originally Posted by its View Post

          The cost doesn't really mean much. The fact he took a theme instead of building his own and charged 2k for it - that's what is wrong.




          Why do you care what they charged or how much it cost them to build?
          It sounds like your jealous they are making some decent money.

          It's called business.
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          • Profile picture of the author zimbizee
            The value of something/anything is what someone else is willing to pay for it. if the school are happy what's the problem
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    How many hours do you think it took him? Now how much did he make per hour? Do you still think it was unfair? Why?
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    Aaron Doud - Sales & Success
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    While $3244.20 is a lot of money to you on a personal level, it's not that much for a business such as the one you are starting. Nor is it that much for an organization such as a school.

    When it comes to costs and revenues and expenses/overhead..., the sooner you shift away from the personal level to the business level the better off you will be. Both in terms of running a viable, professional business and how much your business entity pays you.


    Dan
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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    • Profile picture of the author txmediaman
      Business is business, buddy. Like the other user's mentioned already, if the school's happy with it, then so be it. It was a win/win situation. Also, I don't think he charges that much to each and every business. I see it very unlikely that a small locally owned business is going to pay that much for a website. When I started I would fix my rates depending on the size and scale of the business. For instance, I once charged $3,500 for a sheriff's office website, but I charged $450 for a local used car business.
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      Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
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  • Profile picture of the author its
    The school isn't happy with it. I assume it only took him a few hours.
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      How do you know the School is not happy? If they told you, tell them you can give them what they want and how long it will take, how much it will cost them.

      If you found out indirectly, and you're sure it's the true truth, tell them you can fix them, how long it will take you to do it, how much it will cost them.

      Then, find out the 'bad' designer's other clients and propose to them to fix the 'bad' designer's bad design, pointing out to them how they'd benefit, of course, and charge them to do it.

      If he's bad at designing but good at getting clients, the bad designer's bound to have quite a few good leads for you.

      Better than complaining, don't you think?

      Originally Posted by its View Post

      The school isn't happy with it. I assume it only took him a few hours.
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    My firm wouldn't touch a Wordpress site for less than $4k, modified theme or not.

    It has nothing to do with the original content source... I don't charge for my time and labor. I charge for my knowledge. Clients know this coming in.

    If the client isn't happy with it, that's a separate issue, but no there is nothing inherently wrong with charging $3200 simply because a purchased theme was used as a starting point.

    You made one mistake here that you'll be kicking yourself for later ... your predecessor had already established a price point they were willing to pay. Instead of saying you think they were ripped off, you should have said "That's about right for the price, but if you aren't happy with it you aren't happy with it. I'll cut you a break and (do whatever you're going to do) for $2,500 instead and we'll make it right."
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    Ron Rule
    http://ronrule.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Patbinc
    This is Business 101: buy low and sell high. Nothing illegal, immoral or harmful in what the designer did. Brand name and chain stores charge $$$ for products they picked or manufactured on the penny in China and elsewhere in Asia, should that be a problem? Absolutely not. Its not about how much something costs, its about finding something at the cheapest price and offering it at the highest price, the margin is called profit. If that is not what you are looking to do in your business, then I would love to hear what and how your business model works :-)
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