Problem with paid services, looking for input
 

So, I hired someone off of here to do some work on my site. I needed a new shopping cart. He installed the cart (magento) as was agreed upon, but he did not skin it. He is claiming that it was not part of the deal, but I believe it was. This person seems to have a lot of feedback on here and has coded quite a few hacks/mods. I dont want to call out any names yet. Am I wrong, or is he?

here is how it went down:

I post on vbulletin.org in the requests for paid services section:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=212943
Post title: Need Magento installed and skinned
Post content: Title pretty much says it all. Im looking to have this done ASAP. I can pay in either PayPal or chocolate chip cookies, your choice.

I get pms from several members. Prices were pretty similar.

The first PM from the person I hired:
My PM back:
Then we switched to email:
me:
him:

Then there are a bunch of emails back and forth about the installation, nothing of importance.

Now, installation is finished and I am sent the details of it.

I send an email:
No response, so 6 days later I send:
No response still, so two days later I send this:
Finally a response:
Me, in a confusing twist of emails quoted in a quoted email:
The response from him:


Well, thats a long post, but that is exactly what happened and contains all of the details. Who is right here?

$75 is too cheap to skin Magento. I don't know how much I'd charge to bridge Magento and vBulletin but I know I wouldn't charge only $75 to install and skin the software.

Let it go and let him keep the money since he did get shopping cart software installed and working properly.

Other people were coming in with quotes of near that. There was no bridging to vbulletin involved. It is a standalone cart.

The price was the only thing that tipped you off that he wasnt including the skin? From my point of view, everything mentioned included skinning. At no point in time was there ever mention of not skinning magento.

You included the paypal email address too ;) I'd edit that out.

As for who is right, he is, I'd say, it's your fault, for advertising for installation only. If you wanted it skinned, you should've included it in your original hiring post.

You're lucky you found someone to install a cart that isn't vB related by posting an ad on a vB support forum, though.

Post title: Need Magento installed and skinned
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=212943

How is that not asking for it to be skinned as well?


Apparently I wasnt as clear as I thought I was.

I never hire people that respond with 1 sentence and the sentence is "No problem, send the payment to..."

Sorry but you need to have some internet street smarts. Just take it as a lesson learned. Dont click on the banners that say "You have won $1,000,000" You live and you learn, not a big deal.

Moral of the story is:

PAY AT THE END!

So you are suggesting that this person is a scammer and I got ripped off.

Are you asking a question or making a statement?

Sorry, I mis-read it.

end of day m8 you got something for your money so it was`nt wasted.Ive been ripped twice and got nothing in return which is even worse,so as someone said above - let it ride and just get someone else to do the skinning.

I would not say u was ripped off,sounds more like a communication problem than anything else.Ive learnt the hard way and that is to make sure the other party knows exactly what u want before any deal is made.
As for scammer - not in same vote again as he did complete the job for you.

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.

I disagree with that as well - I generally charge 50% deposit on any jobs over $100 - 100% payment for any jobs below $100 --- As for being scammed - The OP was not scammed - Obviously there was some sort of communication error, as the person who did the job obviously did not think that skinning was part of the deal he undertook. Why the hell he/she would think that when the title of the post clearly says Need Magento installed and skinned is beyond me. But he/she did install the application - so 50% of the work was done - 50% of the work was paid for.

Someone said chalk it up to a learning experience - I will agree with that assessment. @ the OP - next time you hire someone for any type of online consultation/freelance work (especially for any large jobs) - be absolutely sure that you are communicating exactly what you want from the person who hired - and be sure that the freelancer knows exactly what he/she is doing for the money you are paying. Requiring some type of email invoice and/or requiring your freelancer to invoice you from PayPal with the exact services being performed in the "Message" area are both good ideas. Also - It's a very good idea that you establish some sort of relationship via Instant Message chats or skype (or even phone if your freelancer does phone consultation) --- This is good because there is a relationship established - Someone willing to chat you up on all aspects of the job is likely someone who will perform the job to your standard requirement ;)

Jacquii.

I wasnt saying everyone should only charge at the end, there are people that require 25, 50 75 percent deposits. I was just suggesting to him since he got burned, let it be a lesson learned and do whats possible to make it the only time it happens. If he gets burned again... well you know how the saying goes. I read posts like his before I ever made my first paid mod request. I learned from others mistakes and thank god havent been burned. Found great modders that get paid at the end. Again, not saying you guys arent great, please dont read that as what Im saying.

Well - that's just it - the OP didn't get burned - he received the Magneto installation. He just didn't get the skinning completed. I believe the 2nd post of this thread was on point - installing and skinning for $75 is a ridiculously low price - so the OP paid a bit high for the installation is all. Again (as I said in my post) -- Communication is key when dealing with online consultation/freelance. Obviously there was some communication error... Demanding that someone do work THEN be paid for it is not a reasonable solution to the communication error - But if you can find someone to do hundreds of dollars of work for you without a nominal deposit = good for you :)

At anyrate ==> Yes - I agree - chalk it up to a lesson learned.

I will also add - The OP stated something about having received quotes to install AND skin Magneto for $75 --- 1 last suggestion: Beware of what I like to call "Lowest Price Assassins" --- The recommendations/suggestions I listed in my post still stand ;)

Jacquii.

Most designers worth their salt that do not rip you off will charge you a hell of alot more than $75.00 for an install & skin of anything magento, vbuleltin, ipb, smf etc. They will also ask for a deposit usually because in most cases you are paying far more than that. As stated above you'll find most will ask for different deposits through out the work progress. You will not find many reputable designer/coders that will offer a mock up design and a psd before getting any kind of payment or that will just go ahead on your say so and start a project without receiving any money at all. Designs & coding take many many hours to do & complete and most are not going to waste their time doing something without getting a payment of some kind.

It unfortunate that you did not get what you wanted but sometimes its best not to go with the cheapest price quoted. Unfortunately its sometimes a you get what you paid for kinda thing.