I normally don’t like to rant on my blog, I feel like it is just bad form, but today I am just plain pissed off. I have a new client, nice guy, made a few mistakes at the beginning of his web development journey, but these things happen and he is on his way to fixing those mistakes.

For a while now I have been going on about how important it is to control your domain name. And here is a prime example as to why you need to get on top of that control if you don’t already have it.

My client, the nice guy…made the mistake of letting a “friend” design his web site. So why is this a mistake? Well unless his friend was a professional web developer, then the chances of getting a professional website falls into the realm of “Not Going To Happen”, but the worst thing is now that the client has realized that he needs professional development help, his so called buddy has chosen to take his original site and domain name hostage. So much for working with friends.

I come into the situation at a very bad time for this project. The client comes to me and says that his “designer” has basically left the planet, leaving the client with a semi finished and badly developed website. So I try to pick up the slack. We are going to have to start from scratch. Should not be an issue except his original designer will not get back to us with any information about the domain name etc… It is always a touchy situation when you arrive on the scene of a  web development project gone wrong. Tempers are flaring on both sides. One the client is not happy with the situation, and two the designer is probably feeling rejected, and might not have been paid for the tail end of service. No one likes rejection, and no one likes to not be paid…

Too often designers let their egos get out of control. I have come across the odd designer who, when put in this situation, will get defensive and vengeful. Much like a bad divorce, the jilted party’s first thought is, “How do I screw this guy?”. Unfortunately, if the client has made the first fatal mistake of not taking control of his domain name, that is usually the first blow across the bow for the jilted designer.

In this situation, the original designer has removed the old site from his server, closed access to the FTP, and is now holding the domain name hostage. So now the client has invested several hundred dollars in business cards and branding that is completely useless and his site is completely down.

So why am I pissed off? I am so tired of developers and designers pulling these tricks. I am sorry you and the client have not worked out, these things happen, get over it and move on in a professional manner. This petty little ego trip you are having is not solving anything. Making life difficult out of spite is not going to get you ahead in this little game.

Any way, Rant Complete!

Stay tuned for future developments….

2 Responses to “Good and Angry – Rant”

1. John Brooks (not really) says:

   May 29, 2010 at 12:20 pm

   I’m the original designer you’re referring to.
   It’s rather interesting hearing about this fiasco from a different perspective; it really shows how lack of communication can destroy a business relationship.

   Here’s how I saw the situation:
   There was a middle man between myself and your client, and since the guy wanted his cut of the payment, he prevented any communication between myself and the client. This meant that any information travelling between client and developer was highly delayed and muddled.

   I’d be happy to help you out with the transfer of domain name, etc. Yes it is frustrating spending a ton of time on a site that I will never get paid for, but nothing I can do about that now.

   I do agree that it was a poorly developed site, though (at least the content management part). It was nowhere near production-ready in that regard, but I didn’t think the front end was that bad? I’d like to get some more detailed feedback about that if you don’t mind

   Anyway, send me an email and we can chat.
2. Lynne Robson says:

   June 1, 2010 at 11:56 am

   Hi John (not really),

   It is tough being on the other end of this I am sure. Please feel free to email or give me a call to chat. I am curios to find out everything that actually went on in this fiasco…