Is this right?

They have: 31 posts

Joined: Mar 2003

A friend of mine, for whom I began building a website, had decided to hire another WebMaster who was more experienced to do his site. However he wants me to manage it, do the updates, maintain it etc.

The person he hired wants to host the site on his server, and doesn't seem to want to give the site to me to host on my server. I understand this was the original agreement, but now the other WebMaster says, no. Now it seems he does not wish to build the site now seeing as we will not be hosting it on his server.

I understand there could be some issues with my server supporting the langage he is using(PHP) but what worries my friend is this did not even get mentioned.

Plus this guy is asking for his credit card information, when his credit card company tells him the webMaster does not need the credit card to build a shopping cart. I suggested that this guy had built his own secure server, but my friend(who owns a computer repair shop and knows a few programmers) says it sounds too shady to him.

My friend is afraid the guy is going to try to nickle and dime him to death, since he got a good price on the site design.

DaveyBoy's picture

They have: 453 posts

Joined: Feb 2003

Sounds really dodgy to me!

The Webmistress's picture

She has: 5,586 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

I agree, sounds very dodgy and the part that worries me is the fact that he wants your friends credit card number! Has he said why he needs this?

They have: 447 posts

Joined: Oct 1999

so, has he got money into this already? If so count your losses and go someplace else. If not just fuxxor him and go someplace else. If he's local sue his ***.

One thing you learn really quick from working primarily online is you don't make money by putting up with bullshit.

They have: 447 posts

Joined: Oct 1999

heheh, on a side note its pretty amusing that i can't say *** but i can say bullshit, especially considering *** is a legitimate english word while bullshit is slang curse.

Jack Michaelson's picture

He has: 1,733 posts

Joined: Dec 1999

Quote: Originally posted by shootingstar67

Plus this guy is asking for his credit card information, when his credit card company tells him the webMaster does not need the credit card to build a shopping cart.

says it all. Don't do it.

Shakespeare: onclick || !(onclick)

JeevesBond's picture

He has: 3,956 posts

Joined: Jun 2002

Yeah, count your losses and forget he ever existed. By the way...PHP is really easy to install if you don't already have it on your server...Presuming you have that kind of access!

Have to admit that *** is far less offensive than bullshit, reckon the filtering on this needs to be sorted!

a Padded Cell our articles site!

DaveyBoy's picture

They have: 453 posts

Joined: Feb 2003

what was it, áss? yeah thats not that offensive really,

i'm making a site right now with Báss in the title, when i put it up for critique, its gonna say B*** hehe Wink

All i can recommend is what everyone else says, ask why he needs your credit card number and then give him his marching orders!

They have: 21 posts

Joined: Apr 2003

dude,

take your credit card and run

They have: 19 posts

Joined: Apr 2003

sounds like a very similar situation I'm in. Do you mean they are trying to say that in order to run the shopping cart script, there has to be a credit card? that's no way. a merchant gateway maybe, but no credit card

DaveyBoy's picture

They have: 453 posts

Joined: Feb 2003

no i think they are meaning that the geezer creating it is requesting the client's credit card info to 'set up' the shopping cart, when really he's likely to steal money from it.

They have: 11 posts

Joined: May 2003

If I were building an ecommerce site and said to my client "I need your credit card information" I would actually be asking him "I need your merchant account information"

You see, in a simple twist of context, one could be asking the right question in the wrong context. Of course he needs merchant account details to setup the link between the website and the card processing software.

However if in fact he was asking for CC #, name, expiration etc, thats bogus and buyer beware.

More onto another topic that you have hinted on.

I have ran in to the case where a "friend" gets another "friend" to build his website. The webmaster gets in way over his head, cannot finish the site, and the first friend (client) gets mad. More and more this ends up pissing both friends off, and a friendship is a terrible thing to waste. The client should never be mislead by a webmaster on capabilities, expectations, etc. You do your friend a sincere diservice by saying "Yes" too much.

I am in this exact scenario right now. A friend has been crying on my shoulder about her business website which her webmaster "friend" is incapable of finishing (a project in the 9th month). Its not even rocket science though. Her email to her domain regularly bounces back undeliverable (what does her customers think?) I tell her she needs to get it together because this is costing her business. She doesnt want to hurt her friend's feelings...

So, everyone reading this, should take it to heart that:

1) Never oversell yourself
2) Always communicate clear expectations
3) Say no more often then you say yes. A yes man is a terrible thing Wink
4) Always have your expectations, project goals, etc in writing.
5) Most importantly, leave your ego and pride at home, ask for help when you need it, and dont be ashamed that something is "over your head"

Regards,
Mark W.

Jimmy Changa's picture

They have: 220 posts

Joined: Mar 2003

^^great advice

One thing that concerned me about the original post is that this webmaster insists the site be hosted on his own server. It would not take much to store CC info from anyone ordering through the site. I may be overly suspicious, but it's something to wonder about.

They have: 18 posts

Joined: Feb 2002

If he host your site on his server, he can update it more easily and he can easily spot some errors, but when the site is finished I think he should publish it on the server you choose.

He doesn't need CC to build web store.

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