Quote Originally Posted by thatguy View Post
You can try, but it usually goes sideways real fast.
I had a less than satisfactory experience with a well known, very respected guru a while back.
In my communications with him it was hinted that the problem was my doing.

I NEVER posted the guys name except in PM's, and was more concerned about fixing the issue.

Still, just the suggestion that he had not performed to his reputation drew a lot of judgement against me.

Maybe I was just the lucky one in a hundred that got what I consider bad service, but I think my stuff just wasn't important enough, and maybe not high profile enough to get his best. Even though I paid everything asked of me with zero dickering.

If I told exactly what was done, at exactly what price, the defenders would not believe me.
It really does no good because the power of the Internet is not always balanced.

So many times I have wanted to warn people that an online reputation may be onesided, but it would really just get me ostracized from help and advice.
So my advice is to maybe make a short list from what you read, then GO CHECK THEM OUT before agreeing to have work done.
These types of deals are tough for both parties. In a business when you're providing a service you're only as good as your last fuck-up.
When you deal with regular customers on a daily basis it's not so bad because you have a history of quality with them. However when you deal with new customers all the time it's difficult when that once a year fuck-up happens. A good business owner will make it right when this happens. But he will get a beating on his reputation in the meantime which sometimes isn't fair.