DannySmith - 8:55 pm on Feb 12, 2004 (gmt 0)

How about this? We offer a 100% no-questions-asked guarantee that will kick in if we deliver the site late or not in accordance with the design brief which is signed off by the custy.

If the client delivers their deliverables such as copy or images, later than scheduled, the guarantee is voided by them.

It is very hard for custy to claim on this guarantee if you are well organised and always deliver on time.

If they signed off the spec themselves and you show them what you're developing and allow them to make modifications (within the scope of the design brief) then effectively they have designed the site themselves and so cannot claim that it is wrong.

We also use the 2 rounds of modifications system to place a cap on the amount of changes a customer is allowed to have. Otherwise changes and tiny mods can spiral out of control and cause the project to never finish. Getting to the finish line in any web dev project, and getting there on time (not one month late, 6 months late, 1 year late) is the golden chalice.

This system works very well for us. We haven't had to refund and money so far because it forces us to deliver on time and to spec. It also forces us to work very closely with the client to find out their needs. It also forces custy to deliver their copy, images etc on time. Late delivery by client is the bane of most web designers lives and makes it nearly impossible for us to plan and co-ordinate multiple projects. So it's a win-win situation.

I am sure one day someone will claim on the guarantee. We are committed to using that event as a learning tool.