Zikula Community

• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Jun 26, 2009
  • Posts: 178

  Posted: Jun 18, 2005 - 09:18 PM

  I've just had weeks wasted by "Mars" who runs www.portalthemes.com - see http://www.portalthemes.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=3473#3473
  
  Now that I have paid, he did not want to go the full hog and finish it. First problem I have had on the Internet with good/services in 6 years :(
  
  Are there any other theme designers out there who are not so unscrupulous ?

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• denisrf
  
  

  • Rank: Developer
  • Registered: Feb 23, 2005
  • Last visit: May 09, 2010
  • Posts: 399

  Posted: Jun 19, 2005 - 02:21 AM

  ROTFL
  Most of the people who frequent these forums (fora?) would have no idea who ArthurDaley is nor would they recognise the photo, I do.
  Arfa was a lovable old rogue. You seem to be be doing you best to keep the memory of George Coles's alter ego alive by emulating his bumbling ineptitude at every opportunity. Arfa suffered from a terminal case of foot in mouth disease. Fortunatly for him he always had his Minder, Terry, to get him out of the mire. Perhaps you could concider taking on Terry's persona.
  
  I don't appreciate your attack on someone who has done more than most to support PostNuke and who never fails to help people, where he can, on these forums. If you have issues with Mars or anyone else, please deal with them in the appropriate place. The appropiate place is not on these forums.
  
  Denis

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Jun 26, 2009
  • Posts: 178

  Posted: Jun 19, 2005 - 04:02 AM

  Thanks for your response in terms of humour, it raised a smile. Many readers are American so they fail to notice since it was British TV only.
  
  I tried keeping quiet each day but dragged it out much further than I would normally.
  
  Maybe I do need a Terry, I try to be open minded and tried to chill also. But nothing takes away from the fact I only wanted an answer to two simple questions.
  
  All I wanted was WHAT (IE will he fix it) and WHEN (so I can plan). But it did not matter how many emails/PMs I sent, I would not get an answer to these two fundamental questions.
  
  Maybe he is the coolest guy in town, but I simply could not get a what or a when out of him. As such I have been left on a Sunday trying to figure out how to fix the theme, something I totally wished to avoid, and the reason for having him get started.
  
  I am surprised he let it slowly escalate to this level where I am having to look for someone else and leaving a customer unhappy with their theme. It makes no business sense at all. It was so easy to resolve, all I needed was a what and when. I have a few people who regular do odd stuff for me, one will be doing stuff this week, and I have passed him close to $30,000USD of work, so it really blows my mind someone would act like this. I see no basis for it. I can only guess he has got too busy/stressed and this has led to ineffective communications and social dealings.
  
  Also I would not describe this as an "attack". I notice on these forums that if an ISP/Host does the smallest things the criticism is huge, but I seem to get no support if I pay for a theme, offer to pay again in the end to get it finished (since I was getting nowhere) and end up left shafted.
  
  And just to be 100% clear. This is far as I am going with it as I been left with no choice but to decide he is wasting my time. I mean OK I may let others know of my experience but that is as far as I am going with it. I would not think that is over-reactionary?

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• MMaynard
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Mar 15, 2003
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 1221

  Posted: Jun 19, 2005 - 04:56 AM

  I just find it funny that after being bullied by you in PM's on my site, that you then try to make me look bad on my own site and then over here.
  
  I have had over 100,000 downloads of my free themes, a few thousand sales of my donation themes and close to 50 custom themes done.
  
  Never before have I been accused of being a bad designer or of trying to rip someone off.
  So say what you will here, there or anywhere. I will let my reputation stand for me.
  This will be my last reply to you here or on my site.
  
  --
  Zikula Themes

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Freshman
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 80

  Posted: Jun 19, 2005 - 05:47 AM

  denisrf

  
  I don't appreciate your attack on someone who has done more than most to support PostNuke and who never fails to help people, where he can, on these forums. If you have issues with Mars or anyone else, please deal with them in the appropriate place. The appropiate place is not on these forums.
  
  Denis
  

  
  
  I didn't view his post as an attack.
  
  But I do believe that if people use these forums to advertise and solicit their theme businesses, then they should be prepared when a dissatisfied customer voices their displeasure in the same venue. If it's inappropriate for the client to voice their displeasure then it is equally inappropriate for commercial themers to use adverts in their sigs, promote their "products", and continually use these very same forums to push their profit margins.
  
  Zoom

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• AbraCadaver
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Aug 20, 2002
  • Last visit: Jan 12, 2010
  • Posts: 1219

  Posted: Jun 19, 2005 - 05:56 AM

  As mars (mmaynard) states, he is perfectly safe letting his reputation stand for him.
  
  -Shawn
  
  --
  Get the Revolutionary AutoTheme HTML Theme System! Currently for Zikula, PHP-Nuke, CRE Loaded, osCommerce and Wordpress!

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Jun 26, 2009
  • Posts: 178

  Posted: Jun 19, 2005 - 09:00 AM

  Quote

  close to 50 custom themes done.

  
  
  1/50 unhappy if you accept the other 50 were happy, then that is only 2% unhappy. Usually I find people in the beginning do well then things slip later, so lets hope it remains at 2% or less.
  
  As for me, I was not happy as what I wanted in terms of colours was not listened to and no matter how hard I tried, even offering more money, I could not get the theme fixed. From my experience Mars was quick on giving cheek via PM instead of just answering that he would fix it and when. Never a good business policy.
  
  Anyhow I am getting sick of this and do not really have time for it.
  
  The important thing is that hopefully it may make him think next time with the next person as two people complaining sound a lot worse than one.
  
  Also it would be nice to hear of others in the portal theme design game, so people have a choice.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 46

  Posted: Jun 19, 2005 - 09:18 AM

  Im sorry but Im going to have to support Mars on this one. I think he does a great job with his work and I have yet see him let anyone down with what he does. He pulled thru for me when my site was in a pinch and because of that I have a better lookin PN site than I had before and for that I thank him.
  
  Although I do believe everyone has their right to state an opinion on any matters they have in this type of business so I can't say much there. But in all, I think his designs are rather good than some of the others I've seen.

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• HalbrookTech
  
  

  • Rank: Developer
  • Registered: Dec 31, 1969
  • Last visit: Jun 01, 2010
  • Posts: 6859

  Posted: Jun 19, 2005 - 11:25 AM

  Arthur, if you can't find other theme developers here, then you've got issues because there are no less than 6 people who do themes in these forums, but if you didn't like Mars, I doubt the others will be much better for you. I've worked with Mars, Lobos and Warrick at times, they're all good at what they do, but it sounds to me like you won't be satisfied with them either after having read your comments on Mars' site. I could probably do it, but since it's not my full time job either, so I probably couldn't get it done before you started to complain about me either.
  
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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Helper
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 877

  Posted: Jun 19, 2005 - 11:05 PM

  I have to agree with Michael here. I'm guessing that Mars will put up with more crap than me before he closes the door in a rude customer's case. In this case, I know some of the facts and have seen some of the correspondence. Mars is innocent. This customer received the product as originally requested. Shortly thereafter, the customer decided he wanted a completely different color scheme. Instead of being nice about it and respecting the amount of time Mars put into the original theme, the customer made unreasonable demands in a very rude fashion. For those of you who know Mars, I think you can image how rude the emails and PMs must have been for him to post the response that he posted above.
  
  Michael - since this thread is horseshit with a title intended to damage Mars rep, can we delete the thread or at least edit the title to be something innocuous.
  
  As for Mr. Dailey, I know you think you are right and I have at least some sympathy for you, but you've not learned a lesson that many of my customers seem to already know. A bit of sugar goes a long long way. I always surprise how most customers are exceedingly pleasant, understanding and gushing with thanks for good work and good service. Even when I make mistakes, I find that most people are forgiving and perfectly happy customers when then realize that I'm there to make things right. I think they are just smart enough to know that if they are nice and respectful, then they will get great service in response. But every once in awhile, there is a customer that just treats me like a dog. Unreasonable demands, disrespectful attitude, screwing up my work and blaming me, screwing up postnuke and blaming me .... you name it. I spent a full day last week responding to nasty emails from a customer who claimed the xte theme he purchase from me was broken. He hardly even read my emails and wouldn't answer my questions. Come to find nearly 18 hours after it all began, he'd simply uploaded it wrong. He was sorry and we had a good laugh, but he nearly caused my to tell him to go to hell earlier in the day. Anyway, I'm rambling and dunno what my point is anymore other than to say that if you want people to go the extra mile for you, then you have to treat them well ...

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• **unknown user**
  

  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 1097

  Posted: Jun 20, 2005 - 09:50 PM

  mmm It seems a little too easy to only put the reputation in front of the facts...
  
  

  Quote

  
  ... he is perfectly safe letting his reputation stand for him.
  

  
  
  ... nope... not safe... both for Mars and others as that could make someone reject the responsability the person has in the affair only because others will say he was good for them.
  
  I don't know both of them, never worked with them, etc... so I think I can say this with objectivity.
  
  Maybe both of them screwed up a little and having a good reputation will never change that. One unhappy customer is still one unhappy customer wether there is 50 happy ones.
  
  My suggestion would be to take a big breath and try to see what really went wrong (in communication or in other areas) and try to fix that.
  
  As Warrick said, in the end, the issue might be good for both.
  
  
  (I do not say Mars has the responsability - I don't know the full thing - But rejecting it because of a good reputation is not the solution).
  
  Was my 2c.

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• Lobos
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Dec 02, 2002
  • Last visit: Apr 30, 2010
  • Posts: 1474

  Posted: Jun 21, 2005 - 01:49 AM

  Arthur,
  
  You state that you have been purchasing internet services for over 6 years now so you should know to explicitly state your requirements from the onset. I have only browsed the forum post here and at portalthemes.com but it seems to me that you commissioned a theme conversion without also stating your additional requirements - I also perform theme related service, including theme conversions. When making a converting an exisitng design to a postnuke theme I make the postnuke theme identical to the original design unless otherwise instructed by my client. I also advise my clients that any further modifications required after payment is made may incur further costs or I may choose not do them at all. In my opinion it is the clients responsibility to state all their requirements up front.
  
  BAsically what I am saying is; if you did not specifically agree with the service vendor that color / further modifications would be required after the theme was delivered then there is no real requirement for the service vendor to deal with you anymore. The best thing you could have done is gone looking for another designer instead of venting publicly.
  
  
  
  -Lobos
  
  --
  -Lobos
  Professional PHP Framework Services: Concept, Development and Deployment

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Helper
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 877

  Posted: Jun 22, 2005 - 11:31 PM

  Can one of the moderators change the title of this thread? I really don't think it is appropriate.

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• **unknown user**
  

  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 1097

  Posted: Jun 22, 2005 - 11:39 PM

  +1

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