| The Smart Marketing |
| The Smart Marketing & Media Group Ltd |Smart Design and Print | SmartUK Smart UK SmartUK Smartuk.net Smart Design and Pring Shrewsbury | Smart UK | H |
| 26th of Jun, 2011 by User906759 |
I am writing this letter tocall to attention everyone out there who is looking for a web designer to
create a website DO NOT USE SMART DESIGN AND PRINT OR The Smart Marketing & Media Group Ltd If you have been searching for a website creator, been quoted a small fortune to create it, been asked for money upfront and promised the earth both in terms of the service and the website content and design and have then been horribly let down by appalling service and well-below-expectations in content and design, then read on I am creating an A business from the UK to South America and have been searching for a website creator to produce my website. I started searching in January and, four months later, feel compelled to w rite this account: My first bad experience took place in January after I provided my first web designer (who asked me for 402.50 upfront as a deposit (about a third of the total price)) with all the details necessary to start building my e-commerce site. As per their own website they offer you the world including 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Nearly four months later, I only had one page sent to me (which was all of my own design anyway!) , let alone have my website delivered to me completed and to my satisfaction. I have requested return of my deposit and am still waiting For this very first occasion I confess that I didnt do my homework, such as contacting some of their clients to ask how they felt about the company that built their website. So I paid a very high price for not doing that. In a desperate urge to make some tangible progress, I made a search on the internet and I found a website called WWDC which web design company be confident in your choice. Hmm. I contacted them; and four web design companies contacted me. After talking to all of them I decided to go for one which, by WWDCs opinion, is a PINK POWER MEMBER (which means they
are great). Smart Design and Print were fantastic over the phone. I asked if I could visit them and the answer was yes. The samples provided seemed like a dream come true for me; and the price was attractive as well but again - with 50% deposit to start the job (so nearly 800). Having been bitten once already, before writing my cheque, I decided - as a last thing to do in order to be 100% sure - to contact ten of their clients just to get their confirmation of how good the company had been. The feedback was devastating: the first call the phone rang and no answer. The second client told me that they would recommend them; however they struggled with the site optimisation (something the company claimed to be their speciality) and there was no support; and calls were not returned. It took ages for the site to be built. Also I was told that, having taken their money, they were constantly phoning to advise that the site needed a boost and that consequently more money was needed. Then on to the third company: this company told me that they would not recommend the web designer at all and warned me of the dangers of getting involved with them [web design company] because of lack of communication, requests for more money and generally not delivering what was pitched before taking the money. So this is a letter to show how horrible it can be and how you should not trust what you read in so-called review sites because you have to understand that these reviews can be made up as well in order to attract and then ensnare clients. The other 10, got no better!!!! The moral?
Be suspicious about paying a large deposit up front. Bona fide companies should not insist on that (e.g. would you expect to pay 50% for the price of a car before you took delivery of it?);
Make sure you get an agreement about how long they will take to build the website and what they require from you in order to do so (remember that you still have to provide the content;
Do your homework. Get a list of clients for which the company has created websites and contact
them direct;
Read the small print and be sure you understand what your money is getting and what it is not getting;
Flashy sites, and grandiose claims are no guarantees of satisfaction;
Above all, please do not take a chance. It is a sure guarantee that you will suffer. Do some extensive research and you will be okay. NAME AND ADDRESS
WITHHELD Stay away from smart
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| Why would you pay smart designer for a website you are smart by the way you write do why are u venting on a weak little bs company, well they took me for three grand but I was buying software that doesn't work for crap, honestly they are a joke hahaha just get somebody good to do your web, smart design from Arizona is a mear stepping stone to really mastering your business most trailer people buy there crap thinking they are gomna make it big... At least u only lost 700, 3 k and thy won't answer my calls they will shut down soon trust me they are done |
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Can only agree with the points raised - just have a look at their terms and conditions and you will understand the kind of company Smart Marketing Group is - the have to protect themselves against YOU in EVERY WAY - why?? because they are exactly as the previous commentator - if you look at all the positive comments - they are for small print jobs or very simple websites you are better getting done for half the price elsewhere. Smart Marketing will end up costing you more - a lot more than you think as they are geared up to putting smoke in your eyes and stringing you along while pushing for 75 pounds an hour extras.
Believe all the bad reviews - they are NOT exaggerating!! RUN AWAY FROM THESE GUYS!! |
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more than two years later you would have thought that they would have cleaned up their act and got some professional people in to work properly. We have never come across a more incompetent bunch of people - right from the developer, the project managers and owners - not trying to nasty but truly incompetent - can be fully substantiated with emails etc - taking months and months to create something which they promised in 6-8 weeks.
Everyone who have been trapped and not received a full refund should join forces to sue them not only for taking our money like wild west cowboys but also for wasting our time - valuable time!! There seem to be a lot of us who have suffered the same fate despite the way they want to portray themselves. Smart Marketing charge 75-95 pounds an hour - that should be our price as well ;o) They will have it coming to them sooner than later with the way they are working! |
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Hi jonesalxander,
I would like to say my wife has just been taken for nearly £8000 by smart marketing group, could you please email us as soon as possible to discuss further and join forces to bring these people to justice. Please anyone else stay well clear of these people as they are totally incompitant at there work. My wife's email is [email protected] we look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks dominic |
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I have now got a law firm on to smart, I have contacted trading standards and they have investigated them and said I need to take them to small claims court as I have a really good case. Since then I have been speaking to a top law firm and they have advised me to take them to court as I have a really good case. Fortunately for me the law firm work for my good friend who owns a multi national company and he has got them on the case for me as a favour so I won't be incurring any costs. I am willing to get together with anyone who is in the same situation as me, with an incomplete website as I think we will have a super case if we all join forces, many people from the review sites have already been in touch with me to join forces
Anyway I wish you luck with smart but personally do not hold out much hope if you have even treated like myself! |
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Do NOT use Smart Marketing in Shewsbury to create your website they are a joke!!
It took them nearly 6 months to build my website when they said 4-6 weeks. It cost over £3000 and it is now unfunctionable!
Take my advise if it is a professional website you want go elsewhere.
I've also heard they have had loads of bad reveiws removed off reveiw sites so customers can only see the good ones. They also ask their customers to write good reviews.
I am having a new site built at the moment costing me a further £3000. This new company are excellent and can't believe the what a mess my old site was and how bad their customer care is.
Seriously take my advise and do Not use them! |
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| WHY DONT WE ALL TAKE THEM COURT? |
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| I went through the same experience, posted my review on review centre website and it was taken down. If you are all serious about taking this further please forward an email address or contact details. Thanks |
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User198356 - Could you let us know who the new company is that you are using to build your website??
Thanks |
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Can anyone who have had issues with Smart Design comment on any recommendations on an alternative company please.
Thank you! |
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Hi All,
I am in court with Smart Marketing as we speak. They took over 6 months to build an incomplete site and i am refusing to pay the final installment of my bill.
They have gd designers but as a team they are really bad. they are aggressive and then say your the one who is aggressive.
My email address is [email protected] |
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HI everyone,
I too am having a lot of trouble with this company. It's been 9 months they still haven't delivered my website after the 4-6 week quotation which is apparently not apart of the contract - they're just estimates apparently and mean nothing when questioned about why I don't have a website. I've just finished speaking to them on the phone and they've just said that I'm the first problem thats gone all the way up to management level which from the post above this, is a lie. They offered a 10% discount on my website but I've refused because its a stupid idea.
I agree with @Nate83, the designers were great but further down the line the real company image starts to show. I've dealt with 5 project managers all of which have left the company without handing any work over to the next manager. One of their employees lied about the delivery date saying it was going live in December 2013; 5 months later and the other developer hadn't even heard about my project and hadn't seen any work that had been done. The company is refusing to comment on anything I ask and are just wanting me to continue with development so they can grab more money from me.
My email address is [email protected]
Please contact me if you're in the same boat! |
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Im also having the same problems and would love some more information on how people are getting on in courts .
Thanks |
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DO NOT GO WITH SMG, THEY ARE FALLING APART, THEY TAKE LONGER THEN PLANNED IN TERMS OF COMPLETION AND KEEP PASSING YOU FROM PILLAR TO POST.
THE DESIGN STAGE WAS GOOD.
THE DEVELOPMENT WAS TERRIBLE. IMCOMPETANT SPRINGS TO MIND. I SPEAK WITH PROOF. |
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Hello all.
Could all those who have had a negative experience with Smart please contact me.
My email address is [email protected]
Thank you. |
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