Hello, Programmer Payment Stuff

[DarkHavoc]

Hi Guys,

 

I wanted your advice on something. I auctioned off some of my project and these guys say they will do it for 99 dollars.

 

then next thing you know its going to be 200 dollars but they not sure because it might take more then that or alittle less.

 

Then they tell me after we discuss all the details for 1 hr that they wanted a 70 dollar deposite. And the payments will be made at they go along.

 

I told them i would do 70 dollars and the rest when the project was complete. And they did not agree and say I would have to pay 200 in full if i didnt want to work with them piece by piece.

 

Comments? I never worked with these types before and wondering if this is "normal" cuz no way am i getting ripped off. Im from new york haha

 

Dennis,

[TCH-Dick]

I've never paid for anything like that, but what I would do is get the details worked out and get a FIRM price and payment arrangements and then you and them both sign it.

 

The price has already changed once and you havent even done anything yet.

[Lianna]

I agree with Mike.

 

There should be a definitive scope letter that would include specifics of the project, expectations of both parties, payment terms and recourse. That should be signed by both parties and copied to each PRIOR to payment or work starting.

 

Not unusual to be asked for some funds upfront, but 70 of 99 would have thrown a bell or two in my ear. Red flags are usually best observed from your GUT not your eyes! If it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

 

My personal two cents, not necessarily the views of TCH or it's staff.

[TCH-Sales]

I'm totally behind Lianna on this one, I'd be careful to say the least.

[DarqFlare]

I agree with the sentiments expressed here.

[Deverill]

In most web-work-for-hire situations I have see (always as a 3rd party, not a participant) it was normal to do either half-now and half-when-done or 1/3 now, 1/3 at same milestone (usually the final sign off from the customer on the designs) and 1/3 at completion. As Lianna said, 70% is a bit much for up-front fees.

[surefire]

About a year ago, I tried to hire three different programmers off an elance-like site. I didn't even go with the cheapest but got burned every time. Folks who said they could do what they couldn't, folks who tried to deliver stuff that wasn't what I asked (and hoped I wouldn't know the difference)... deadllines that came and went... on and on.

 

Needless to say, I don't like working with strangers over the internet on scripting projects. Since then, I've learned how to do the scripting myself.

 

But now I'm short on time and thinking of hiring help again. I will put an ad in the paper and contact professors at local colleges to see if there is someone local I can find.

 

If that doesn't work, I'll contact other web design firms and farm it out.

 

When I hired these foreign strangers over the internet, I even tried to use an escrow account. It worked pretty well but I had to have a come-to-Jesus chat with one of these programmers so they would finally admit they couldn't deliver and they would release my money back to me.

 

Go local. It's a lot harder for someone to BS you when the conversation is eyeball to eyeball and you know where they live.

[Deverill]

One thing I found about contract work is when I went to a training center (Productivity Point) to take a class. I found that most of the instructors of those training centers and certification centers have "down time" and do consulting work on the side to help meet ends. These may be the best source of contract work and their reputation is important to them so they probably won't try to mess you over.

 

It may be worth a try, but I'd find one local as was said.

[DarqFlare]

You could also use some of us here at TCH.. You know where we post! rofl