Clarifying, in a questioning tone?

Half the job was completed.


I chose this person to do the job asked. There were other people in line willing to do the project for similar money. If I go to the board now and ask to have it skinned, the prices will be higher than a package deal. In the end, choosing this person was a waste of money.

I guess this is how it goes on the board. Ill chock it up to experience this time.

maybe it never worked out this time,but there is some good coders on here who go out of there way to help.I myself just seem to attract the bad ones at times :)
Anyway put it down to experience and next time make sure u know exactly what u getting up front before parting with any money.
In all fairness u have been lucky and u have got some work done,whereas there is loads who have paid and not got nothing in return.
Also its hard as its only one sided in this discussion,but from reading all the above it does seem that there was a communication problem and have u actually tried talking to try and resolve this situation amicably.

Pay at the end, no problems there.

I don't think you're in the wrong as far as expecting the full job and not just half of it. (That's arguable, as installing Magento is maybe.. 5% of the work that you were originally asking to be done, but...)

I think you're wrong for hiring this person though. Maybe not "WRONG", but it's definitely where your mistake was. The guy is not coming off as a professional who takes his work seriously. HE should have stated, "Sorry, I only know how to install it." or SOMETHING. Instead he kept saying, "Yeah, I can start install now".

It was obvious to me that the guy either wasn't reading your entire emails, or he was just trying to weasel his way in to just do installation.

For the record, I do professional freelance work, and I wouldn't theme a Magento install for less than $500.00. That's not including design work either. You do get what you pay for.. :/

So it seems that this person, from the responses here, is less than reputable and shouldnt be recommended to others.

I havent yet released his name, but maybe that should be done so others dont run into the same problem?

Although I'd naturally encourage sharing the worker's information to give fair forewarning to others, I do not think it is within the forum rules to do so.
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=136844

You can however, post in your request thread, who did half the job, which woudl then give that person a chance to reply, through an admin, as per the forum rules.

Go for it. As long as you didn't edit any of the cut and pastes. Oh bummer, maybe you can't.

Yes, it was obvious that he was trying to trick you. Notice how he constantly avoided that topic. That would be a clue right away that he was trying to trick you. Next time, make sure they repeat what you say.

Should you pay? Only you know. I wouldn't file for all of the money as they did do the install. Maybe a discount for the deceit?

There are always people that are willing to get paid for the job at the end. These are people that are confident of their work and the people I always use. Some coders/skinners dont want to risk doing the work, then not getting paid, understandable. But its like buying coffee from a strip mall with 5 coffee shops. Take your money where you feel you're getting the best deal. Sure the coder that gets paid at the end occassionally gets burned, but I guarantee you he gets more business than the one that demands to be paid up front or half up front...

Stick with coders that you pay only AFTER you get the job done. Like that everyone wins.

I, respectfully, disagree with you on that one. As a coder of many years, I have worked for some very big clients on their forums and have never been short of work opportunities even though I require a minimum 25% deposit on all work I do :) As someone who codes for a living, it's not in my interest to risk getting "burned". Fortunately I only have to support myself but one day I'll probably have a wife and kids to support. These kinds of people who have a family to feed can't afford to get "burned" :) Similarly, I won't be able to feed myself or pay the rent unless I take money up front not only for my own security, but also so that I have a cash flow to last me for the duration of a project.