I haven’t been able to make up my mind about it. I like a few things about it though, I’ve even been considering taking part in it and offering Flash for sale.

I kind of think that there will always be people who can’t/don’t want to spend the right amount to get some quality work, and those who do. Those who do will always go for quality work specifically created for them, those who don’t have the option to go buy somoething for cheap knowing that there are likely hundreds or thousands of other sites using the same thing as them.

This is now July 2007, and I believe I was treated unfairly by MonsterTemplate. I bought a template that was supposed to be compatible with Dreamweaver and when I realized it wasn’t and wanted a refund, they refused. It was within one day of buying the template. Their chat line was totallly COLD and UNCARING! I don’t understand how they keep their business going. There is no way to talk to them live, just via chat.

When I tried to ask them questions, SEAN of template monster would answer half of the question then disconnect without telling me. When I tried to get back on the chat line, they said there were no operators available (even though then advertise 24/7 support). I felt they were purposely doing that because they didn’t want to talk with me, I went in anonymously through another way to their chat line and suddenly SEAN answered. When I asked the question again, he again half answered it.

When I asked for the refund, Paul Krokowsky refused it.

I will never deal with this company again!!!

[url]www.no-spec.com[/url]

’nuff said.

As for the suggestion of contests that vendors (designers / photographers etc) would do some work on / submit and then a winner chosen, I do not believe would be the best path - this would turn into another of those “nah, didn’t find anything thanks” and before you know it we have websites popping up based “closely” on designs submitted by people not getting paid - it’s happened before!

Being expected to create free work, however small, is never a thing I would not sign-up for. I wouldn’t expect to drive my car to the mechanic and ask him to fix the exhaust for free so that I can see how good he is before I let him change the alternator….. It’s all about previous work, a strong client base and healthy portfolio.

The only issue of the jobs board where vendors subscribe to look at the boards or bid for jobs is exactly as someone mentioned earlier - that’s Elance (and about 50 other sites) - then we have the multitude of current job posting sites where the advertiser pays and the designers (or whatever your flava of skills may be) look and apply for free - again this is a well saturated idea.

Whatever way you guys move forward I know that you gained my trust, respect and my first 2 posts!

1. I get a lot of job from existing TM customers. TM does VERY GOOD JOB by attracting large quantity of small businesses and individuals to the Web. They have great marketing staff and they bring a lot of fresh meat to the industry. After some time, people who bought their templates understand the fact - that they need an unique identity and start to look for a freelancer. I myself completed around 70 jobs for $800-$1700 to create a professional look and feel for those clients.
2. There is good opportunity for freelancers to use TM as a basis to identify customer’s needs. I know a guy from Boston, who had printed TM’s catalog divided into different categories and walks to the potential client’s offices and shows them these templates as premade solutions, explains that this way they can save a lot of money on the whole project and completes websites for $750 in 3 days. I think the idea is brilliant and I’m gonna try to do the same in my place.
3. TM raised the average quality of web design worldwide. People started to know what is a good design and what is bad. This way - they have kicked low quality amateur “designers” from the market and opened the space for real professionals.

These are my 3 cents to the topic. I don’t think FS had done the right step. The competition in FS business it very strong and to win the competition FS should work to provide the customers the choice of only talented professional freelancers, who are not afraid of competition in low-budget sector. If there will be a bunch of students here charging $300 per site with much lower quality than TM provides for $60 - then FS is going to be just another Elance clone and this is not, what I wish to be happen.

Subsequently, I’ve found someone great to work with. If I had to do it again, I’d definitely pay good money for a listing.

Here’s mine: I, for one, think this site is destined to grow by leaps and bounds over the next coming months/years, thus attracting more individuals and companies *looking* for freelancers. Why not charge a *small* subscription fee to access the freelance job boards?

Personally, I would not mind paying to tap into what I think would be a vast well of clients that already have an idea of a good working relationship (just by reading the blog).

If you don’t want to pay, don’t. Enjoy the site as you always have.

I don’t see many other sites actively focused on the Freelance Artists/Writers/Photographers etc. and I’d like to help one of the few that are.