Please note that this is a very long explanation, rant, and review of Danie Lyn The Brand, a Shopify Expert. If you have the time, please read it all and let me know what you think. There is a TL;DR at the bottom if you like.
Since I could not seem to find an option to leave a review of my experience with this Shopify 'Expert'...I decided that I would write it here - if this belongs in another section of the forums, please let me know; it is not my intention to spam.
Back in October, I was searching for a website designer to achieve the look I wanted for my website. I came across Danie Lyn The Brand and decided to send a message about my website and what I was looking for exactly. Danielle Taylor contacted me back very quickly, more than willing to help. She asked about my budget and was more than willing to be flexible to fit my needs. Once that had been decided on, she stated that she does 2 template designs (markups) and lets the client choose which one he or she wants. Danielle also claims to provide a month of free maintenance; I agreed on 2 weeks of free maintenance in exchange for my lowered budget.
To begin the project, she sent me an invoice and a contract to look at. Everything seemed okay, so I electronically signed the contract and sent the deposit. This was on October 24, and she said that the "themes will be done by Sunday [October 27], Monday [October 28] the latest."
Great! Sounds like quick service! I could not have been more incorrect.
On Sunday I receive an email stating that due to a high volume of sites they are receiving, my completed site will be done by Wednesday [October 30].
On October 30th, she offers to remove the remaining $20 that I owe her if I give her until Saturday [November 3].
November 4th rolls around and Danielle says she will be finishing my site up today. Great, finally (albeit a day late from the last promised date)! She requests the specifications that I desire, and I email the short (easy) list back to her. THAT AFTERNOON, she now says that she wants to have both my markups done by Friday [November 8]. Wait, did you not just say that you were going to have it done TODAY? She offers to remove the remaining balance that I have to pay her; wait, did you not remove the remaining balance when I gave you until Saturday [November 3] to finish it? Whatever, I let it slide.
On November 10th, 2 days late from the most recent due date, she states that my updates (2 markups) have been made. I go ahead and look at the 2 markups, and my specifications have not been met at all. Before I can say anything, she states that I could purchase a theme from themeforest (about $50), and she would upload and set it up for free because she was so delayed. That sounded like a much better option than moving forward with those mediocre markups.
I choose a theme and Danielle informs me that she wants to email the theme developer to make sure all my Shopify Apps are compatible. She emails them, and 2 days later claims to have not yet received a reply, except for an automated email saying that they will get back to her. Keep this in mind...
On November 16, I purchase the theme and inform her that I have purchased and uploaded it. She replies on November 17, stating that Wednesday [November 20] would be a good time for her to work on it. On November 20th, the theme has not been touched. On November 21st, she states that she cannot begin design until Saturday evening [November 23]. That does not really make sense, considering that she said she would work on it on November 20th, the day before.
On November 23rd (the day that work should once again begin), I email her stating that I cannot wait for the new theme to come into action. She replies saying, "Yes! I'll do it over the weekend." You did say Saturday, but okay, the weekend as a whole works. Come Monday [November 25], nothing has been done. I send over an email explaining that I am extremely frustrated that nothing has been done, and I receive a reply saying: "Awwww. My apologies...It just seems like I can't find any reliable developers to hire." Really? REALLY? What an awful excuse.
About 1 thing gets done to the theme, but nothing notable. She CC's me in on an email to the "developer" requesting more information on how to customize some of the features. After a few days, I decide to research the developer myself and notice that she sent the email to a similar but incorrect email address. The email address she sent it to probably does not even exist, and she claims to have received an automated response from them before? Lies. No wonder she never heard back from them; perhaps a clever ploy to stall some more? She resends the email to the correct email, at my request, and the developers reply.
DECEMBER 6TH comes, and nothing new has been done to the theme. On December 7th, she says that more changes would be made on Wednesday [December 11]. On December 11 I receive an email from her: "Has my developer gotten in touch with you?" No, I have not heard from anyone. She does not respond anymore so I send her a text stating that I have not heard from her developer. She claims to be "about to call him" and "everything should be squared away tonight." TWO more days pass, and I have not heard from anyone and nothing has been done to the theme.
I text her stating: "It doesn't look like anything has been done on the theme, I'm extremely sick of deadline after deadline passing and nothing getting done. Can you just refund my money?"
Her reply: "You signed a contract & I designed both of your themes [markups] that were listed in it. You decided to purchase another one. I gave him your info. I can't refund anything because I designed your first 2 themes already"
Excuse me? You designed two crappy markups that did not even meet my specifications. I did not say this, but I requested that the theme I purchased get completed. She says, "It should've been done."
At this point she has stopped responding to any texts that I send her and I have removed her from my Shopify admin as she cannot be trusted. I believe that the contract states that you will provide (in addition to many other things):
"1. Selection and uploading of free or paid Shopify theme of your choice with (2) theme markups...7. Any content loading for pages that will be used for Shopify store...8. Evaluation of products, their photos, SKU's after products have been loaded into the site, store search engine optimization, store product testing...9. Redesign of (2) Shopify themes of client's choice"
Additionally, it states: "There are no refunds once the design has been accepted and we have begun work...There are no refunds on any completed work. Work in progress may be cancelled, but payment will be due for work completed at that time."
No work has been done. You have not completed anything. I did not accept or approve any designs. I want my money back.
TL;DR - Hired Danielle from Shopify Experts to redesign. Danielle made excuse after excuse after excuse, delaying the project over 2 months. At this time it is still not completed and she has ceased responding to me. I was expecting new website design to be completed by the end of October, but it is now almost the end of the year, and I have nothing.
Kind regards.