Like you, I dropped the shoe.

He, too, came on the recommendation of a friend.

Hey Gabriel! Nice set of tips you got there. You’re right about all of them. I’ll be sure to go through a freelance site next time I hire a programmer.

Ah, have I learned a few lessons about outsourcing
to programmers.

#1. I ALWAYS use freelance sites and hire programmers
who have a good amount of projects completed and almost a perfect feedback score.

These programmers value their feedback and know that
if they don’t deliver, you can ruin it for them, so
they’ll try their best to keep you happy.

#2. NEVER leave your feedback until you are 100% sure
u r satisfied with the project.

#3. Even after I trust the programmers (because they
have successfully completed projects for me)… I still
hire them thru the freelance site)

–> If he starts giving excuses, you can almost always
cancel the project and get your money back. (I never
give any money up front)

#4. If you don’t like how a programmer is working
out for you, fire him and leave an honest feedback.
(You’ll save the next guy who tries to hire
him a few headaches)

Hope this helps.

-Gabriel

1. Never give a huge project to someone you have no experience with. Give several small jobs first (even if you do need it but just to test their skill level)
2. Only pay for work done and delivered.
3. Have a non-disclosure contract that clearly states that all work done belongs to you exclusively
4. Don’t be shy about having a quick trigger finger to fire if work is not being done correctly.
5. If one is fired take their work (if salvageable) and give it to the next guy you hire and tell them what is wrong and to move forward. Rinse, Lather, Repeat if needed.
6. If work is some type of repeatable process. Do it yourself first and document your every move. Then give the person you hire the procedure along with what the finished process should look like.

It’s good to see there are some programmers sharing their own experience in their perspective.

I did try to communicate with the programmer via email and messenger but they did not respond.

I was getting curious Paul Thought I could hire you.

Thanks for your encouragement Rangarajan.

Hey Dirk! Yes, I know you’ve had experience with programmers before. Believe me, I’ve wasted a lot of money on several programmers who did not deliver. You’re right about the ideas going to waste. I would’ve had a working software by now.

I know best how you feel. At the moment I have 3 programmers running on open projects which should be finished as they said after latest 2 months but for one of them I wait since February 2007, another one since April 2007 and the last one since February 2008.

The worst thing was that I apid 50% upfront so I always hoped that they could go on with the projects even if it takes more time.

One of them I even offered a few hundreds dollar as bonus since he stated that the project became much bigger than epected but still no results I can see what they are doing.

It creates much headache to search for a good programmer and all the ideas you have in your mind will become worthless as soon as others launch a similar product.

Kind regards,

Dirk

It must have been very frustrating. But the way you have come out of the misery, with renewed determination, to device methods to prevent future mishaps is truly a good lesson to all marketers.Thanks for sharing your experience.