Web Design for Hot Tub Retailer
Please find below a summary covering project details and feedback. The innate facts are kept as they are, private information is amended.
Introductory information
A fast induction on the buyer’s organisation
We are an exclusive dealer for Hot Springs Portable Spas. The organisation name is Desert Hot Tubs. We have four retail stores in the wonderfuler Phoenix metro area. I am the Owner and President.
Desired goal
What challenge were you trying to address with Forix?
I wanted to redo our website.
Provided solution
What particular tasks were responsible for?
I worked with a gentleman named Jeff in Indiana who is in direct of all website livelihood and treatment from the standpoint of posting specials, making changes, and all SEO [search engine optimization] and Ad Words. He',s my go-to individual when it comes to anything online, Google, etc. I signed a contract with Forix in March or April 2015. From the get-go, I told them that Jeff will be the in-house individual to touch and will be interorder with any templates. I wouldn',t know what to look for or what',s right or unfit. Consequently, Jeff was implicated as my likeness and looking out for my best interests.
It was almost 6 to 7 months precedently they terminally had something we could propel. Jeff wasn',t the one who had approach to the contract that I signed, so none of that came to light behind the website was propeled. He substantiated he had no approach to it. We didn',t substantiate that Forix had complete control of the website. We had no treatment control. There were some codes or approach numbers that only Forix knew and wouldn',t divulge, so we had no power to handle the website.
There',s another term the Forix guy mentioned as an easy way to handle the website and keep it secure: WordPress. Apparently, this had no WordPress capabilities. He said we',re going to be in trouble. It',s not going to work out touching treatment. It',s designed for them to have control of and direct you. That was something I didn',t know. I just reflection they were edifice the website and then would convey ownership to us, like ",Here are the keys, you take over, we',re done.", That',s not how it worked. All of a unanticipated, late last year, we get hacked. Our website is down, and it has this Chinese stuff all over it, below their wait. Apparently, they don',t have updates. According to Forix, WordPress gives you automatic updating capabilities, so things can',t be broken into like that.
We don',t have any trade associated. My belowstanding is the total concept of WordPress is artlessness touching day-to-day livelihood or treatment, putting things in, taking things out. We went back-and-forth with Forix anew and terminally said ",Listen guys, we want control of the website. We want to own it, and take it out of your hands. I',ve already paid you $20,000, and I don',t have anything that I own.", They said ",What do you want? Nobody mentioned WordPress in the commencement.", Jeff never saw the contract.
They ",rebuilt", it, supposedly below a WordPress setting, with the idea that we were supposed to be getting the keys to the empire at some point. Then, of order, they wanted more money. I wrote them another check, and this has been going on back-and-forth. Jeff quiet doesn',t have approach to it, and there are quiet some lock-in features that he can',t get into. We got hacked anew 2 days ago.
Something Jeff establish out, which I didn',t even know was someone hacked the website and deleted true pages of our website. He doesn',t know why or who would do this. I couldn',t conceive why anyone would take the time to do that unless they were a rival. He said they uploaded a bunch of data. I didn',t have the stomach to go on the website yesterday, I was too busy doing other stuff. He supposedly band-aided it unitedly.
We',re supposed to have a fourth location on the website, and we can',t touch it. The total announce was that',s what we want to do. The converse seted almost a year ago, and we terminally substantiated that it was built just for them, with their codes and backdoor stuff that we can',t see. Jeff said, ",I might as well step out owing I can',t do anything with it.", Every time we want to do something, we must touch them. ",That',s the contract you signed up for,", Forix says.
How did you come to work with Forix?
Our manufacturer (which is the largest manufacturer of movable spas in the globe) had a globewide annual dealer meeting two and a half years ago in San Diego. One of their key speakers was a likeness from Forix who talked almost concepts of web design and outgrowth, assisting dealers and upgrading their websites. At the same time, he was representing Forix. He was very good and hung out with the dealers behindward to help with questions and give advice. I was impressed sufficient to want to redo our website from the ground up. I signed a diffuse contract (keep in mind that I am not an internet individual at all).
How much have you invested with Forix?
If I recollect correctly, it',s $25,000, perhaps a pliant more.
What is the terminal result of working with ?
We sent them an email to a guy named Henry, with whom we',ve been interorder for almost a year and a half, assertion ",Hey, we need to get in and post the large aperture of a new location and get it on the website.", He doesn',t answer for 2-3 days. We',re done with these guys.
Results achieved
Could you share any evidence that would prove the productivity, condition of work, or the contact of the engagement?
I just opened a total new location, and we can',t even get it on the website. They have the keys, and we can',t get in to put on the front page of the website that we have a new location. Whatever it is they were supposed to be giving us, it',s not happening. They quiet have these codes to keep us out.
How did Forix accomplish from a project treatment standpoint?
Jeff did his investigation and sent me an email that specifically said, ",Forix built a website almost a WordPress framework and knowingly or intentionally included a plug-in to nimblely hinder and stop, not only website notices of needed updates, but also the power to make certain updates.", Not only did they do this, but they failed to intimate us of this effect and failed to prepare training to ensnare effects caused by providing updates and notice of needed updates. They have refused to answer to repeated inquiries almost how to update the manner plug-ins and even plug-ins that need periodic updating. Since Forix doesn',t prepare labor for the website ",as stated in the contract", or their plug-ins, the website was put at risk from day one by the way in which it was built. His fourth point is ",possible security and stpower risks increase with see day it',s nimble.", The breast line is his conviction that ",The website was built as to self-destruct over time.",
What did you find most forcible almost Forix?
Nothing. I',m sitting here holding a website that I can',t localize. It',s been invaded, I don',t own it, I',m in for $25,000, and I can',t set over. I',m trying to take it away from them, but they won',t just give it to us. I can',t adjoin with them owing I don',t know what I',m talking almost. I',m using my go-to guy Jeff (he and I have been working unitedly for almost 5 years). So far, seething he has said has been correct. I',ve just had it with them. They',re not helping me out, I',m going backwards, the total effect of these hackings has cost me money, and I',m losing sleep.
Are there any areas Forix could better?
They',ve had different rationales over time, one was that the contract didn',t state it this way. I put Jeff on, and supposedly he tells them precisely what he wants. That',s what I want to do owing I work with him daily. Apparently, he made it very clear to them what he wanted, and they quiet haven',t done it. I told them ",If I',m going to pay you more money to go down this road, perhaps you don',t belowstand that I want to own it and control it.", I don',t know how much more single that needs to be, but it just isn',t happening, and now they',re ignoring us.
What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of achievement with Forix?
I sent an email this morning to one of the owners: ",If I had the time, money, and resources, I',d probably sue you, but it',s probably not worth it. My approach is to make sure nation know what kind of issue I',m having with you guys.",
