I searched for a while for a company that could meet my needs and create a great website for me at low cost. I came across the Thomas Group's website and saw a really nice example of a flash site... It was only $499! That drew me in and so I sent a request in for services.
I was contacted right away by Blair Strasser and we had a great conversation... He told me the site i saw was his ex-girlfriends site he did for her... I asked if he could mirror the quality for my site and was what I saw reflective of the service he could provide. Blair assured me that not only could his comapny build me the site, for another $100 he would give me access to the content management system so that I could update the site myself after it was complete in 2 weeks. I paid $600 the next day to the Thomas Group.
I sent A LOT of text and copy for the website within a day after I paid.in addition I sent numerous pictures... Plenty to get started.
First, I was given a 'project manager' Gabe who never returned my calls or emails. It was over 2 weeks until I was even able to see a template. I then received an email saying Gabe was no longer with the Thomas Group and they gave me another 'project manager' Toby. Toby would return my emails and calls in the beginning, then he too stopped calling or emailing with updated. They would keep telling me - by this Monday, by Friday... When I did see it, my direction was not followed and it was clear NO WORK was done at all... They purchased some template and put my company name on it.
I got Blair involved with the miscommunciation and unprofessionalism of his staff early on and he did send an email saying sorry, he will give me some money off of hosting. Whatever, the worst hasn't even begun.
Finally we started making progress (over 1.5 months into the project) with a new designer. At one point, Blair got me on a conference call and told me they were done with the project and could not spend anymore time on it. He was telling me they couldnt keep making changes, but they would not follow my direction to begin with! There were elementary mistakes on the website like spelling, etc... It's just looked terrible.
He tried to get me to purchase more from him, like monthy charges to keep working, when he didnt even finish the job he started. He then told me because it's a flash site, I can't have the Content Management system to update it myself! I PAID for a Flash Site and the Content Management System up front!!!
Bottom line is this... They won't reply to my emails, the website is not completed. I just received an email from Blair saying they couldnt make the final changes (EASY LITTLE TWEAKS) because the Thomas Group was going out of business.
I got screwed by this CROOK, a great salesman but really a RIP-OFF ARTIST.
Be careful of the professional image The Thomas Group and Blair Strasser. It is NOT reflective of their work.
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