Opinion on hiring a designer

[nyunyu]

Hi, I would to know how long do you ask your customer to wait for a design to finish?
On 31 November 2007, I hired someone to design a website of mine. Nothing to do with vb though, just a normal business driven website.

I pay him USD$275 for a design which for me is good because I think its affordable. But, its been a while without progress. Although he did promise me to keep me updates, but there is none..he did come out with a design but I asked him to make a few ammendment. Only that he send me a psd of the layout and ask me to help him edit it..

I have not enough time, working in real life, maintaining forum, now to edit my supposed to be edited layout by myself? come on!

So, what do you think of this?

[5th-Level]

I always offer lifetime support when i design customs for people but thats just me, I geuss if you had a question he should answer it.

[nyunyu]

How long do you take for 1 design?

[C.ooder]

if it's cool he take only 4 day or 5

bat it's normal he take nole 1 day or 2

[5th-Level]

3 days tops.

Ask any of my prior customers.

[C.ooder]

I m ask Designer (my friend) he tall me what i tall you

[nyunyu]

He is currently taking 20 days!!!
Should I ask for refund?

[5th-Level]

Depends, some designers have other customers and are working on other sites too, but if hes getting the job done then you should just let him finish.

[chanthuyen]

It takes about 2-3 days.

There is no fix delay, there is no protocol on how long a designer can do a job... this is insane.

first, you need YOURSELF to have a ETA... a date where the style have to be installed and perfect for your taste...

after that, you check for any designer that can do such job in such delay. usually, take a designer that will do it in half the time you have your ETA, so if there is changes to be made, you have the time to do it before your open that site.

NEVER pay before the job is done. if a designer/coder request to be paid before, it is because he wants to be sure you can pay.. this is stupid, because he can continue to use his work if you do not... so forget about the reasons... you can pay a upfront of 20 or 40%, but for a simple job, do after...

i sometimes had clients that were so stressed about their design that we were taking ages to make it perfect... i always charge for the extra work to be done... so they calm down on expectations... but i have a good reputation, so i'm not overbidding.

keep in mind to never take the first designer that comes to offer... evaluate the talent of others too... if someone have no portfolio, drop it right now... designers are proud of their works... they keep traces.