anyone use rentacoder.com

[edprush]

Do your coders start adding costs once the project is started?

 

[edprush]

^

 

[daveymark]

If your plan/idea isn't well thought out, then the coders will rigthfully so add costs. You can't just say "code this for me"

see dilbert comics for more info

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

See if someone you know has used someone or company that they can recommend, that's how I would go about it. List *exactly* what you want it to do and think through this very well, it will take a bit of time to plan but do it right. After that, submit it to each one and get some estimates on what price they'll charge.

Exchange a few emails with each one and then have a phone call with each one. The last step will be picking one and working on the price.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: daveymark
If your plan/idea isn't well thought out, then the coders will rigthfully so add costs. You can't just say "code this for me"

see dilbert comics for more info

QFT. I've used rentacoder for 2 projects now and both have come through very efficiently. They will usually ask you enough questions at first to make it so they wont need to charge you extra but if your not forthcoming with enough info from the get-go its only fair they ask for more or they can take you to arbitration or whatever the rentacoder equivalent is.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: daveymark
If your plan/idea isn't well thought out, then the coders will rigthfully so add costs. You can't just say "code this for me"

see dilbert comics for more info

If the project isn't well thought out how can they bid on it?

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
See if someone you know has used someone or company that they can recommend, that's how I would go about it. List *exactly* what you want it to do and think through this very well, it will take a bit of time to plan but do it right. After that, submit it to each one and get some estimates on what price they'll charge.

Exchange a few emails with each one and then have a phone call with each one. The last step will be picking one and working on the price.

So you don't use online coder-for-hire sites?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: daveymark
If your plan/idea isn't well thought out, then the coders will rigthfully so add costs. You can't just say "code this for me"

see dilbert comics for more info

If the project isn't well thought out how can they bid on it?

Some projects will always have the bid change. I hired someone to do about 45 different changes/additions to an existing piece of software. Without the person examining the code, there was no good way for them to know the work required. At the same time, I added a bunch of things on to the list (mutually agreed on), so I was not surprised to end up paying about 2.5x what was originally estimated.

FWIW, I would take RAC over hiring someone off of forums or whatnot any day of the week. I have run into so many problems with individuals. At least with RAC you know they are serious.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: daveymark
If your plan/idea isn't well thought out, then the coders will rigthfully so add costs. You can't just say "code this for me"

see dilbert comics for more info

QFT. I've used rentacoder for 2 projects now and both have come through very efficiently. They will usually ask you enough questions at first to make it so they wont need to charge you extra but if your not forthcoming with enough info from the get-go its only fair they ask for more or they can take you to arbitration or whatever the rentacoder equivalent is.

My project went from $499 to $3000.

I don't think it's fair they ask for more. They should code it the way I originally asked. If it doesn't work then I (not them) should say what needs to be changed.

 

[iroast]

It's probably best to be as explicit as possible when it comes to describing what you need and then state that your limit. Of course, they'll probably start bidding near your limit, but at least you're set.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: daveymark
If your plan/idea isn't well thought out, then the coders will rigthfully so add costs. You can't just say "code this for me"

see dilbert comics for more info

QFT. I've used rentacoder for 2 projects now and both have come through very efficiently. They will usually ask you enough questions at first to make it so they wont need to charge you extra but if your not forthcoming with enough info from the get-go its only fair they ask for more or they can take you to arbitration or whatever the rentacoder equivalent is.

My project went from $499 to $3000.

I don't think it's fair they ask for more. They should code it the way I originally asked. If it doesn't work then I (not them) should say what needs to be changed.

its obvious your not giving us the full story of what happend. For a project to cost 6x as much as originally bid on is a quiet a bit of a jump.
Either you royally screwed up in saying what you wanted or they are trying to rip you off. i'd be more inclined to say the former because as a programmer I've found it more often than not to be the case where the customer says they want something not realizing what it will truely take.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: DrakkonEither you royally screwed up in saying what you wanted or they are trying to rip you off. i'd be more inclined to say the former because as a programmer I've found it more often than not to be the case where the customer says they want something not realizing what it will truely take.

I'd say it's the latter. I had 35 bids for the project. 6 of them told me that after I accept their bid they would tell me how to improve the project.

That is a definite red flag that the price will go up. The bidder I chose didn't say that but they did up the price. I can guarantee that my original bid request (15 pages) was much more than many other buyers put together.