Website Woes – I am sorry this has not worked out as planned

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From client Steve
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Hi Murray,

I’m feeling rather depressed.

I started to list issues which need attention, but have given that a miss.

Basically, the purpose of the site as we’ve discussed in detail, is to browse a list of hotels in a selected location, view hotel information including specifics of suitability for wheelchair travellers, select the hotel, and make a booking with confirmation that an accessible room will be secured.

Unfortunately, after $3000 spent, more than 8 weeks elapsed since commencement, many hours of work by yourself, the website as of today, does not meet any of the required objectives.

I sent teaser emails to a myriad of potential customers, at your suggestion, to advise them of the impending launch, but am now very embarrassed as I feel this is just not going to happen.

If you feel that you have bitten off more than you can chew with this project, and cannot complete it as agreed, then I will need to pursue alternative arrangements.

Please let me know your thoughts.

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From developer Murray (me)
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Hey Steve

I am sorry this has not worked out as planned.

This is my situation, and I have no other reason to blame anyone else but my self.

I live in the crappies house in my suburb with three other guys who are stoners- hard to believe but I’m clean; a non-smoker; non-drug user and hardly ever drink. My income since moving to Perth in January has been $7000, so life for me is pretty slim pickings. I seriously want to be like everyone else and live a normal life, have a family, a job with a good boss and even a car would be helpful.

The past month I’ve cut back on my anti-depressants, it is amazing how much addiction plays in part of our lives, but the old paraphrase of ‘how do you eat an elephant’ comes into play.. ‘one bite at a time’, and I am hoping this will work for me this time. Meetup.com has been very helpful, I’ve been to heaps of events like climbing, photography, brain-storming for web applications, and even taught a WordPress lesson. Without them Perth would be lonely city.

My proposal, and the choice is totally yours.

For the month of July I am going to focus on working and make my life mentally and economically stable. From the 1st – 14th August I will work on your site and launch it by the 14th, with help from yourself and others. The site you currently have might not look much from the front, but is very powerful and needs refining on what will really help people in wheelchairs. By all means please don’t start from square one even if you find another developer.

I’ve asked 20 people who use wheelchairs around the city (thanks to public transport) two main questions.

What gives you the shits about finding accommodation?
What would help you book accommodation?

The main answers were- I don’t stay in hotels, I usually stay with friends, and photographs with measurements would help a great deal as every person has their own unique needs.

Writing these paragraphs are really helping me focus on what direction I need to take personally, and sort out my life.

Murray

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Next step, ask for help
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I’m feeling pretty sorry for Steve’s situation, and I’m sure he’s not the first to hire a contractor who’s not finished the job as promised, and left the client stranded. As from above you can see my position isn’t in the greatest state, and financially I’ve already spent $800 on development.

Sorry to say, but I am asking for help. Help to finish this website, and to help Steve and others like him who use wheelchairs as a form of transport make life easier.

Wheelie Good Hotels, Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation
http://www.wheeliegoodhotels.com

Thanks in advance, Murray