Re: Customers

We also generally host the sites we design.  We require 50 percent of total
cost (design and hosting) to be paid before we commence work on a site.
Then, what we do during development is to upload the site to a subdirectory
on our server (http://www.virtualtech.com/customername) so that they can
view it online.  Once the customer has given the "OK" to the final design
and paid in full, we then activate his/her hosting account (if we are
hosting) and upload the site to that account
(http://www.customerdomain.com).  This has two advantages: the client is
able to view the site online as we develop it, and they do not have to start
paying for hosting until the site is actually completed (which can be months
in the case of some customers... sure you have all been there).

We will not let a site go live without receiving final payment first.  Had a
few problems with that in the past.  Since implementing this policy, we have
not had any trouble receiving payment.  Most of our clients appreciate the
fact that they do not have to start paying for hosting until the site is
completed.

True, they could simply copy the source code from our server if they really
wanted to swipe the site without paying, but that has never happened in over
5 years of business.

Thanks!

Michael Schultz
Vice President of Operations
Virtualtech Web Site Design and Promotion, Inc.   http://www.virtualtech.com
(800) 474-7001
"We Put The Pieces Together"

----- Original Message -----
From: "Darrell King" <darrell(at)webctr.com>
To: "HWG-Business(at)hwg.org" <hwg-business(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 6:15 AM
Subject: Re: Customers


> Since we are usually hosting the site as well as building it, I will let
the
> site go live.  If I don't have a check within the specified period of
time,
> I remind the client it will need to go offline since I am unable to pay
the
> hosting bill.
>
> I've been stiffed once in 4 years, and I got a fractional payment from the
> one exception.  I have, however, had late payers.  Two common reasons are
"I
> forgot" and "The committee is moving slowly"...perhaps true, perhaps not,
> but the money has almost always showed up and I've never needed to use
more
> than light pressure to get it.
>
> D
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brandon Coughlin" <bcoughlin(at)urx.com>
> To: "HWG-Business(at)hwg.org" <hwg-business(at)hwg.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 3:26 AM
> Subject: RE: Customers
>
>
> Okay, next question:
>
> When do you normally let a website go live, before or after you received
the
> remaining payment?  I have considered letting the site go live, password
> protected until the customer has paid up.  What is the consensus on this?
I
> am hesitant of uploading this guy's website to his web host until he has
> paid his bill but wondering if this does any good?
>
> Thanks!
> Brandon
>
>
>
>

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