I contracted with Shark Communications to create a banner ad to be used with Google Adwords.
I had an initial conversation with the company founder and president, Peter Jacobs. He blew more sunshine up my butt, than a politician. He stated he could see inserts in magazines like Playboy, Mens Health, and Esquire like AOL does. I told him I did not have the budget for this. I simply wanted a banner ad for Google Adwords. He continually tried to push me toward a big budget ad campaign.
The Shark team went to work on my banner ad. I did not hear from for a couple of weeks. I was expecting to hear back from them sooner, with a couple of treatments for the ad.
When I did hear back from them, their account manager sent me a finshed schockwave ad that was in poor taste, but clever. I didn't want clever, I wanted an information banner ad.
I asked for a second alternative and was told me it would cost me $4,000 for a second concept. I cut them a check for what I though there ad was worth and kept moving.
They subsequently sued me in small claims for $1,500. I was outraged!
The court date arrived and Peter, with an ego the size of Peru, showed up at court two hours late. This "creative" guru felt he was bigger and better than a trivial hearing in a court of law. The judge went right at Peter Jacobs regarding not giving me a couple of design treatments. He tried to defend his company and his practices, but the judge would have none of it.
The judge did side with Shark, because I had signed a contract with them... She cited a legal argument that bound her to this decision, but it was clear she sided with me on the issue of design choices.
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