[thelist] What would you do???

     Hello all,

     I have a customer & business ethnics question for everyone.  Please
     let me know what you think.  Don't be afraid to hold back any punches.
     I want your honest opinions.....

     On to the story......

     A few weeks ago, I purchased a script from a company.  Included in the
     price of the script was a monthly special (3 months worth of hosting).
      Since I am happy with my current host, I didn't want to change.
     Anyhow, while chatting with the president of the company, I asked
     about that special.  Since I had seen on another page on this site
     talking about the previous month's special, I asked if I could get
     graphic work done instead.  I was told that he could be talked into it
     and included a little :) with the message.  Well, he gave me the email
     address of his graphics guy.  I wrote him and told him was was needed.
      I specifically told them that I was a small site and didn't have the
     big $$ like some of the bigger sites that we compete against.  He
     replied and told me that the president of the company had given me 10
     hours of credit and that he was expecting the full job to be completed
     within 11-12 hours.  GREAT.  No problem....Until yest....The artist
     wrote me and asked how I wanted to pay for the 9 hours of work.  I
     replied saying that I was supposed to have 10 hrs credit and asked for
     verification on that.  I also cc'd the president in on it too.

     Well, the president emailed back and said that the artist had already
     put in almost 20 hours of work in and that the graphics guy
     underestimted him time.  He also said that he still had to pay the
     graphics guy and that he would leave it up to me as what to do.  (I
     basically got the impression that he was trying to make me feel guilty
     and pay.)

     Now.....As a consumer, would you pay?  Am I obligated to since I was
     only quoted 12 hours max?  Even though we told him we didn't have the
     big $$?  Total for graphic work $1700. (More than the program itself
     cost.)  I have only gotten about 4-5 pictures so far.  Supposed to get
     7-8 total.

     As a business, what would you do if I didn't pay the extra?  I am
     supposed to 1 year support.  Would you with hold support?  I am
     supposed to get a compressed copy of the program.  Would you with hold
     that also?

     On a more personal note, I do have almost all of the email messages
     that have been sent back and forth between us.  So everything is
     documented on my end.

     Thanks for your time and sorry for the long post.

     CDitty


     ps...this is for my personal site not the USPS site.  ;)


     <tip = CYA>
     When talking to a programmer or someone that you are going to be
     paying to do work for you, be sure to keep all emails and chat
     sessions.  That way, if there is a misunderstanding or confusion, you
     can always refer back to them.
     </tip>