Problem with Logo Designer

[clallen03]

I want to ask you guys and gals a question.

I went to a local graphic designer about month ago. We came to an agreement that I would have them design my logo for $125, 50% deposit. I would get three different designs and I would have unlimited revisions to the one I want. I was so confident I would love there work I gave them a $80 deposit because there portfolio was excellent.

Know here the kicker. When I got my designs all it was was my company names in different fonts with a tree in a different place on all three. I was truly disappointed but I didn't get upset. What I said I would do is just make several revisions to the best of the three evils to get it the way I want it.

So far I have made three different revisions and know they are acting like Im getting on their nerves. Im never rude, even though Im not satisfied with their work, I respond the same day they come back with the revisions, and Im always polite about anything I dont like.

My questions is this - Should I let them know Im not satisfied with there work and let them keep the $80 deposit and walk away?

Or

Should I stick it out and have a sub par logo that Im going to hate until I get a new one.

This sound like a no brainer, but what Im really asking is what are some other options? What should I do?

Help me please.

[ha305]

Go somewhere else. It does not seem that they have put any effort into your logo. I would find someone else

[cgland]

I would explain that you are not happy with the work. My only question to you is "Did you give them any direction as to what you are looking for?" If so, I would tell them that what they gave you was not what you had discussed.

Chris

[PlantSolutions]

One problem you are facing is the cost. You get what you pay for and unfortunately they are not spending any time on you. I had a similar problem with an online logo company and after 5 months they finally got it. I would talk with them and let them know you are not happy with the originals. When they say 3 different designs, they need to be 3 completely different designs. I had 6 done for me. After picking 1, I had problems with them understanding only 2 PMS colors. If their work is guaranteed, I would ask for the money back; otherwise, play nicey nice and explain exactly what you are looking for and what they are and aren't doing correctly.
Good Luck!!

[drsogr]

I hate to tell you, but you get what you paid for. What do you expect for $125? If you didn't give them any direction to start off with, you are at their mercy. If you gave them some direction and they didn't follow your lead, I would get on to them. Most designers charge $50-$60 an hour..if they gave you 3 designs...and you had them make 3 different revisions I would be mad too.

When I went to designoutpost.com I spent $150 I found examples of things I liked...told them what look I was going for, and told them to have at it. I set the parameters, they followed directions. If you didn't know what you wanted...how were they supposed to design towards it?

[clallen03]

Well, I gave them guidelines to work with but nothing specific. Things like modern, professional, and something that stands out from the rest. I didn't want to limit the designers creativity since I had unlimited revisions. But all I got was my name in different fonts and a tree on all 3 designs, I was beyond heated.

How do you think I should tell them that Im not satisfied, artist are very particular about their work and I reall dont want to offend them, they seem to be nice people? I dont think satisfaction guaranteed, well its not stated.

Help me out here.

[Grass Cake]

Here's a simple one....btw...I PM'ed you.

Grass Cake

[K.Carothers]

The big red flag is when they told you unlimited revisions. That does not happen with any professional designer. Each revision is money. At best you would get 3 revisions at double that cost.

kc

[teewolf]

The big red flag is when they told you unlimited revisions. That does not happen with any professional designer. Each revision is money. At best you would get 3 revisions at double that cost.

kc
On the contrary some professional designers do offer unlimited revsions and the variety of styles is paramount.It is not always the fact to assume that they are all looking for more money in the process. from A professional Designer

[drsogr]

Here's a simple one....btw...I PM'ed you.

Grass Cake

That logo scares me! Can you imagine some little kid seeing that on the size of a truck!

[drsogr]

Well, I gave them guidelines to work with but nothing specific. Things like modern, professional, and something that stands out from the rest. I didn't want to limit the designers creativity since I had unlimited revisions. But all I got was my name in different fonts and a tree on all 3 designs, I was beyond heated.

How do you think I should tell them that Im not satisfied, artist are very particular about their work and I reall dont want to offend them, they seem to be nice people? I dont think satisfaction guaranteed, well its not stated.

Help me out here.

Can you post the logos? I am curious as to what they look like. I think if you were going to ask for a refund the time has passed. When you saw the 3 logos that were all the same as you say, that would have been the time to speak up. You say that you keep going back for revisions....well how many times does it take to tell them what you want?

I think you would be pretty upset if the same thing had happened to you. You put out a product, you thought was good. Not your best work, but good work. Then the customers ask to fix it. You understand. Then they come back a couple more times to revise it. Now you just want the customer to go away!

Sit down, figure out how you want the logo to look. Go in an talk to them about it, do what ever you have to do. If you need a whole new logo, I think you would be better off cutting your losses.

[cgland]

try www.gophergraphics.com You can post a contest and have 5 or 6 designers posting logos for you and there you will have unlimited changes, plus you get many different perspectives. We had our logo done there and it cost me $75.

Chris

[Grass Cake]

That logo scares me! Can you imagine some little kid seeing that on the size of a truck!

I can't imagine posting anything you'd approve of.

Kansas "is" a scary place tho.

Grass Cake

[drsogr]

Oh I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I am sorry I was just offering an opinion. Thats what people do on forums. It was not a personal attack. Next time I will pm him personally as to not to offend you and your work.

What the heck is the attack on kansas? We weren't even talking about KS?Have you been to Kansas? Kansas is far from scary...boring yes...scary no.

[K.Carothers]

On the contrary some professional designers do offer unlimited revsions and the variety of styles is paramount.It is not always the fact to assume that they are all looking for more money in the process. from A professional Designer

I do not know 1 professional designer that offers "unlimited" revisions.

kc

[Grass Cake]

Oh I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I am sorry I was just offering an opinion. Thats what people do on forums. It was not a personal attack. Next time I will pm him personally as to not to offend you and your work.

What the heck is the attack on kansas? We weren't even talking about KS?Have you been to Kansas? Kansas is far from scary...boring yes...scary no.

You don't hurt my feelings......If i offer to help 100 members with a logo for free....and only one likes/uses the logo....I have contributed to the site.

I've pointed out to you in previous post...I AM NOT A PROFFESIONAL/PAID DESIGNER!

I briefly passed one of your earlier post remarking on the price paid($125 i think) someone had paid for a logo.Your reply was to the effect of "What did you expect for $125"
Would you mind sharing what you paid at designoutpost.com for your logo?

edit...never mind....you basically contradict your own logic in the same post......$125 is not far away from the $150 you paid.

[bullethead]

You paid them $80 for their idea. Big deal. If you don't think they will move in the direction you were hoping for, move on. It's not a big investment in the scheme of things. Personally,I have always thought logos were important and never minded paying a couple of different people for their time to bring me some ideas.

[dsmrolla06]

You can buy my logo and name if youd like... Im going to be going under a different name and logo anyhow, so theres not much i can do with it.

[Grass Cake]

More ammunition for Drsogr

Ignore the font.....that's easily changed

Grass Cake

[clallen03]

Can you post the logos? I am curious as to what they look like. I think if you were going to ask for a refund the time has passed. When you saw the 3 logos that were all the same as you say, that would have been the time to speak up. You say that you keep going back for revisions....well how many times does it take to tell them what you want?

I think you would be pretty upset if the same thing had happened to you. You put out a product, you thought was good. Not your best work, but good work. Then the customers ask to fix it. You understand. Then they come back a couple more times to revise it. Now you just want the customer to go away!

Sit down, figure out how you want the logo to look. Go in an talk to them about it, do what ever you have to do. If you need a whole new logo, I think you would be better off cutting your losses.

I know, I should have ask for a refund then. OK, now I have to work with what is in front of me, not what I should have done. I would not be upset at all if this happened to me because I give my best work every time I go out and I don't set a price that will only allow me to do sub par work. If I have a client that is not happy with my work I make the adjustments so they are happy, as long as its within the description of the work, and my revision are well within the descriptions.

I communicate with this designer only through emails so I tell them what I want and they make the adjustments and email them back. With this type of system I don't feel like three revisions are alot. I might say make this smaller, then they make it too small, so I have to make another revision. I have not got to the finish product because what they send back is not the way I want it.

I have made up in my mind that I'm going to cut my losses and move on. Thanks for everyones replies.

[clallen03]

I like your creativity. I like the play on the name "Cutting" Egde with the knife. That is what I was looking for. I also like the two tone logo also, lets see it in another font. Im sure it going to look great. What other ideas do you have like knife?

[Team Gopher]

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Hi clallen03,

I am sorry about that happening. If you get too frustrated with them and decide to make your own, remember we have hundreds of free logo templates you can download and use.

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[teewolf]

Here's an idea for you.
Hi there K Carothers, here's one Professional Landscape Artist and Designer who does offer Unlimited revisions, so you know one at least lol

[drsogr]

You don't hurt my feelings......If i offer to help 100 members with a logo for free....and only one likes/uses the logo....I have contributed to the site.

I've pointed out to you in previous post...I AM NOT A PROFFESIONAL/PAID DESIGNER!

I briefly passed one of your earlier post remarking on the price paid($125 i think) someone had paid for a logo.Your reply was to the effect of "What did you expect for $125"
Would you mind sharing what you paid at designoutpost.com for your logo?

edit...never mind....you basically contradict your own logic in the same post......$125 is not far away from the $150 you paid.

I never said that you were a designer ...I am telling both of you what I don't like about it. If you were a designer I would criticize you on the quality of your work, instead of the content of your work. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD! If you can't take a little critiscim about your work, than don't put it out on a thread. Send it to him through a PM.

Yes I paid $150.00, and I was happy with what I paid for. You can spend the same money at 2 different places and get 2 different results. I also made it specifically clear what I wanted to help increase my odds.

[drsogr]

More ammunition for Drsogr

Ignore the font.....that's easily changed

Grass Cake

LOL you kill me. I actually like this one. Simple...easy to read...no big knifes.

[drsogr]

Here's an idea for you.
Hi there K Carothers, here's one Professional Landscape Artist and Designer who does offer Unlimited revisions, so you know one at least lol

This is some of your best work yet teewolf. I really like this design. I would be extremely happy to have something like this for my logo if I didn't already have one.

[teewolf]

This is some of your best work yet teewolf. I really like this design. I would be extremely happy to have something like this for my logo if I didn't already have one.

thanks drsogr...i am designing landscape logos all this week so the ideas are a flowing.......

[K.Carothers]

Here's an idea for you.
Hi there K Carothers, here's one Professional Landscape Artist and Designer who does offer Unlimited revisions, so you know one at least lol

I stand to be corrected. You do good work.
What do you charge for a logo design?

kc

[clallen03]

WOW!!! That is a great logo teewolf. I would love to make some revisions, what do I need to do?

[Grass Cake]

Drsogr

Scary blades

Grass Cake

[drsogr]

Drsogr

Scary blades

Grass Cake

I guess its just too much fun to scare me. Why don't you change your avatar's to a big knife....that would get me good.

[teewolf]

Thanks for the comments guys. CAllen I have pmed you.

[dcplace2004]

and get their attention...also, pay a homeless person a six pack of beer to walk in front of their business on the public sidewalk with an a-frame sign stating their poor service...call, the owner of the business...there are some ways to get their attention...