I am Really Hurt and Disappointed (Web design scammers)

[Colleen Del Bane~Creator~]

Today I feel so sad. I have been trying so hard to be good to people and during this horrible economic disaster find ways to help them to get a website and pay for management, advertising and optimization of it. I have devised a way that they pay a very reasonable amount for their website and then only pay me a percentage when they make sales, so that if they are not selling then they are not paying outlandish charges for their website and losing all their profits. I haven't even asked for a deposit. I get pay if they get pay. How much nicer could I be about it?

Yet their are still scammers that tell you they want a website and make the verbal agreement that they will sign a contract stating my terms and send it back to me. I like a fool take them at their word and begin work on their website. I work very quickly and usually within days have the site ready to go online. There may still be things needed from the client such as photos of their breeding stock or babies.
( These are not things I have control over.) Basically I have a completed site waiting for a contract. At this point I ask for payment as well. This is when I usually receive an email saying, " I am sorry but I decided to wait awhile to get a website or something like that.

What can people possibly gain from treating someone with good intentions like this?

Yes, I would say I am having a very bad day!

[Colleen Del Bane~Creator~]

Okay I promised everyone that I would tell you who the person was who did this... I am not one to try to muddy a persons reputation when they wrong me, it is just not my nature but since I have removed her and refuse to promote her as an ethical business person I will tell you That her name is Mary Boyles. I have banned her from both this site and also my ethical animal breeders site. She comes across as a very nice person but I can no longer think of her as ethical either as a breeder or in general. Business is business.I would never ask someone to go ahead on a project unless I had the money to pay for it. I feel horrible even revealing her name at all but I did tell you I would let you know.

[Colleen Del Bane~Creator~]

Thank you sue. I have every bit of confidence in my work I was just thinking of the people who were struggling because of the issues that come along with breeding animals but I guess I am going to be forced to be tough now. It is so awful people have to see kindness as a weakness,

[Susan]

Not everyone appreciates nice people. It is a sin but true. Count what happened as a learning experience today. Be sure and change your fee structure for tomorrow. People appreciate things more when you place a value on it. Ask for a healthy down payment. I can see by your websites that your work is well worth paying for.
Best,

Sue

[Colleen Del Bane~Creator~]

I know I have to be a little tougher. Darn it I like the nice me.

[tracy]

Sorry Colleen a little late reading this...But I agree with all, make sure you get a down payment or at least half of the money before you put all YOUR hard work into the wedsites, you take your time and knowledge to create these sites for them then they do this, so infair to you, and yes some people may have legitimate excuses for not following through but you have no control over that and it is not your fault, you have to protect yourself and your work, and even though your a such a wonderful, trusting, caring person in the work world you have to be a little bit more careful and look out for YOU!!!!

[Mike's Sporting Goods]

Hi Coleen, I understand just how you feel. We have a custom embroidery business and I cannot tell you how many times customers just don't pick up thier order. Of course we cannot sell them because they are personalized. We are out the cost of the materials and our time. We have learned from our mistakes and now we ask for deposits. We still have a hard time asking though; that's not how we have done business. Every now and then we still get stiffed.

[Colleen Del Bane~Creator~]

You guys really make me feel special and also are building my self esteem back up, As many of you know I was very sick for awhile and during that time I struggled to build this lovely website for this lady. If by tomorrow I have not gotten payment and contract the site will no longer be available to her and I will (Maybe) start her a new one with different rules. There will be a $100.00 deposit up front an attached $36.00 fee for the over draw her payment not arriving caused to my bank account, a signed contract. rules change here too. I will be charging her 20.00 per hour for website management instead of 10% of sales. It will cost her alot more that way. All because now I cannot trust the lady. If she does not want to accept the new deal, good riddance. If she raises a stink I will nail her to the wall. You all know I will do my best to help people but I will not be disrespected.

[Hart's Reptile World]

Colleen,
Bless your heart and don't be too discouraged or hard on yourself.
I'm a believer in a good heart is always rewarded, albeit sometimes not as soon as we'd like but it does happen.
Also, being a woman in business, it's unfortunate but people still seem to feel more comfortable in taking advantage of a woman over a man.
I've come to the reasoning behind this is still the underlying belief that because women get married they have hobbies whereas men have jobs...even if your the breadwinner.
So, if it's "just a hobby" it's easier to brush someone off.
Unfortunately, we don't live in a society anymore where honesty and kindness are rewarded and appreciated. Instead it's looked upon as an easy mark to take advantage of.
A few years ago I was asked to do a set up at a small type pet fair and was told they had NO money to pay so I even paid for a booth. Talk about stupid. Well guess what, they had someone, a man, doing the program that they paid TWICE as much as I would have charged.
Learned my lesson and since then...no money, no program. It's amazing how often people that expect you to do something for free then come back with, they just happened to have found the funds. Lol
Everyone is right, you have to protect yourself in asking for at least a 50% "non-refundable" deposit up front and the site doesn't get uploaded or go live till the "balance is paid".
It's hard at first but in the long run you'll weed out the undecided and unfortunately those that couldn't have afforded it in the first place.
Respect yourself and those that don't know how kind you are will follow.
Like all of us telling you to hang in there as we know how special you are.

[Joyce Herriges]

Hi There-again---the spot where u'ns were is still empty---but my u'ns will alway's be in my heart---yep it would be just perfect if we could be neighbors again---I left a message for Michael that it's time for garden/yd work again & I can still 'see' him out there helping me!!!!--take care----hi to Mike----Luv's u'ns ------Joyce

[Colleen Del Bane~Creator~]

I love you Joyce!!! I wish we were still neighbors.