Whose fault is it, me or the client when doing web site?

Question

Last month my company started work on this person's website which sells awards and trophies. We made a deal with him. It was a $6200 sale for me.

On the contract, he didnt want web hosting with us. Let me back up, he wanted to turn his normal website into a e-Commerce website which requires a dedicated server. We run other client's sites on dedicated servers. He refused saying he has sites all on network solutions website and he doesnt want to change hosts.

We asked him various times if he is running windows 2003 and dedicated server. Network solutions we later found out doesnt run either.

So about a month, we were working on his site which is bs because he didnt

So back and forth we were also trying to figure out his name server because he bought his name server overseas which is stupid. Now I had to keep explaining to him why we cant work on his site because he has to have his name server pointing to us and we need his ftp login information so we can upload files to his site. He is so ignorant of all this.

Today I called him saying we need to move his site over to our server because network solution doesnt allow us to install sitegalaxy onto network solution. Then he got upset and said " just give us all the images your company has done for us", " we are done working with you , it seems that you guys are not capable of doing the work we asked "...etc

I said I will contact him later today.

First off, we did finish his site . We gave him access to his own administrative control panel so he can upload the images and files himself.

What we are trying to do is turn his site online by replacing it with a site he has now.

What we are going to do is trick him by having a redirect routing pointing to our server when he assumes that hes actually going to his server.

So whose fault is this? What have we done wrong?

I keep telling him that Im just the messenger for my boss and dont blame me because I dont want this to be added to my resume when i find another job in the future.

Btw, is market manager worth mentioning in my resume when it has no experience with networking?

Answer 1

both your company's fault and his fault

1) He should have stated clearly what he wanted. If he didn't want a dedicated server, he should have stated that from the beginning, so you GUYS can figure a solution BASED on what he wanted.

2) if your backend can't work with Network Solutions setup, then YOUR company should have looked for alternatives, otherwise, not accept the job because his needs and servers can't meet what you need.

Answer 2

I'm glad I don't do business with you.  There's absolutely no reason why you can't set up secure e commerce through Network Solutions, one of the major hosts for web sites.  If the method you are used to using is not compatible Network Solutions it is not the clients fault.

I suppose you want to host the site yourselves because it gives you more control and fewer surprises, which is reasonable.  It also gives you a steady, if not small, revenue stream and potentially a lock on the client.  Very nasty!.

As far as finding out the which operating system Network Solutions is using, that's your responsibility.

It may not necessarily be sensible to host on an overseas server, but again that is his choice.  Network Solutions has servers in the US (if that's where you are) and I'm sure it can be arranged to transfer to a home based server.

You are supposed to be the professional.  Act like one.  If I ran my business this way I'd soon be bankrupt.

Answer 3

This sounds like a lot of "discovery" was not done on the front end before the sale.  His ignorance is not your fault, though.  

This part really looks bad, and I wouldn't want the customer to see it "What we are going to do is trick him by having a redirect routing pointing to our server when he assumes that hes actually going to his server."

If he doesn't pay, then you have no obligation to provide any work you've done.  Let him know you're have his best interest in mind, but if he wants to do business elsewhere, he'll get his artwork as soon as you are paid in full.