Two Cheers For {Sweet Simplicity Designs}

First, I would like to say that I am beyond in L-O-V-E with my new blog design. Lindsey of Sweet Simplicity Designs knocked it out of the park with her creativity and was so in tune to my millions of ideas.

I randomly found Lindsey through my stat counter in a round about sort of way. I saw that someone had arrived at my blog by way of Second Street East, I then clicked through to see SSE, and I was immediately smitten with her design. Right then and there I did some sleuthing and I found out that Lindsey was the designer behind it and immediately emailed her because her prices were so unbelievably reasonable and her work {see examples here and here}...outstanding! I mean, we're talking high end design for thrift store prices, people!

Lindsey started my blog {almost immediately} in one weekend and finished it 6 days later! What? I know, I was giddy too! I was so impressed because she worked with me every step of the way to hear my ideas but also acted as a great designer and came up with her own options to help me choose. She was easily approachable, friendly, and fast to respond to my emails. I am over 100% impressed with her and I hope those of you in search of a great and super affordable designer will head her way. She will NOT disappoint you.

That was the good news. I debated about whether or not posting my experience with another designer and even consulted my hubby about how to go about informing people of my experience with a different blog designer before Lindsey. Dave gave some good advice and said that I should go ahead and air my frustrations here since it is my blog and I might be helping someone else before they fall into the same trap as me.

So...here goes nothing! I had originally fallen in love with a different designer's work, we'll call her "Betty". I decided to put down a $25 deposit for "Betty" to design my blog on April 3rd, 2010. At that time, after reading her terms of design, it said that the wait time was "8-10" weeks. I understood that it could take longer, but had no idea it would take as long as it did {or rather, didn't ever even take that long because I backed out}.

Fast forward to about August 6th, almost 18 weeks later, and I had not heard from "Betty" and I knew there were 60 people still ahead of me on the wait list! I did however, receive emails from two other dissatisfied wait listers, like myself, who had been promised a similar turnaround and unfortunately it had been over 6 months and still NOTHING for them! I took those emails to heart and I knew that my wait time would most likely end up taking til the end of the year. I had to get out the lineup with "Betty" and sent her an email stating that I had found someone else to do my blog and advised her in a very nice way that as a common courtesy, it would be nice to be more forthcoming and realistic with wait-times for future clients. After all, I would have never put down that deposit had I known that the wait time would have been as long as it was getting.

I knew when I paid the deposit that it could take longer, but almost double the estimated time + inevitably more time? That seems a little insane to me. And, when I signed up in April, there was wording to the effect of "the wait list will probably move faster through the summer"---yeaaah, um no. That did NOT happen. So right as I'm getting ready to cancel, I received an email from "Betty" asking for the rest of my $130 design fee before she was even ready to start on the design...remember we're talking there were still 6o people ahead of me!!!!

At this time I politely bowed out, asked for even a partial refund {not expecting one}, and I have never heard from her since. Nothing.nada.diddly squat. I expected maybe an explanation or an "I'm sorry but your deposit's not refundable" but again, absolutely no response.

I'm taking her silence as a big virtual middle finger to me and am letting myself "live and learn." Even with my lost $25 deposit on "Betty's" design services, + Lindsey's total of $45 for her services, I still came out way ahead of what I would've ended up paying for "Betty's" services: $155!

So word to the wise: shop around, ask for referrals, check up on wait lists {they may appear all fine and dandy...} and go with your gut when you know something is just NOT right.

I sincerely hope that helps someone and ultimately, I definitely got the better end of the deal and could not sing Lindsey's praises any louder.

As always, if you have any questions...you know where to reach me! ; )

NuestraVidaDulce@gmail.com

xoxo