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Hit Web Design review: bad business to work with/for! abc4 news utah will expose! 528

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12:14 pm EDT
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As an ex-employee I can say that HIT Web Design, formerly known as Heritage Web Solutions, was once a great company to work for. Unfortunately this is no longer the case.

I had worked there for 2 and a half years and in the past year, HIT (who changed their name to run away from their bad reputation) has seriously gone down hill. It supposedly all started when customers began charging back on their credit cards due to a flurry of bad complaints in a scared economy (which actually never happened, they are just very greedy).

Needless to say the company is ran very unprofessionally. They were once the leaders in custom website design but have now abandoned their business model...

When you treat your employees so poorly they will not give the customers the kind of help they need. That is why there are so many customer and employee complaints.

This all has now come to a head as Utah's ABC4 News will soon be airing an investigative report on how HIT Web Design has lied and cheated their customers. The ABC4 News crew showed up Friday October 16th to interview employees on what has been going on.

The air date has yet to be released so please contact Annie Cutler of ABC4 News to express your disgust with HIT Web Design/ Heritage Web Solutions at [protected]@abc4.com

Let's make sure HIT Web Design will not continue doing this to customers!

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 20, 2009 1:04 pm EDT

i am also an ex-employee this as all true! i believe that the ABC 4 news story will air later this week.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 21, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

HIT Web Design will do whatever they need to in order to safe face and the company as a whole. No matter what, we all know their business is going down the toilet when all they do is ask for more and more from their customers and employees and give nothing in return.

Dave Aitken, CEO at HIT, is ignorant to think that just because employees make good money (or atleast used to), that it is considered treating them fairly. Is that fair? NO!

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 21, 2009 5:51 pm EDT

Well said. HIT's customers have no idea how bad it really is there and its disgusting how HIT management are such cowards as to deny the truth that has mounted up before them.

They should just "man up", "dial the phone" and admit they are the ### we all know they are!

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 21, 2009 6:08 pm EDT

WOW! Things are worse than I thought...

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 23, 2009 12:07 am EDT

Someone who knows, it seems you have some great perspective on this. I do not apologize for anything that I've said but I should not have called Dave and Jeremy "uneducated idiots". It is not easy to create a business as successful as HIT once was.

It is disappointing that they have abused their power and have got so greedy over time.

Someone who knows, thank you for your words, integrity and honesty.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 23, 2009 12:41 pm EDT

What a good way to discredit everything, "grow up please". But it all ties into speech patterns, which, by nature, cannot be manipulated. all the postings have very distinct, and different, speech patterns. you know that "grow up please" is Dave Aitken..

Now Dave, you know you can not speak out of both sides of your mouth, even though we know you try! You would send emails stating that our compensation was so good we couldn't find work anywhere else to make the money we needed to support our families. That was EXTREMLEY intimidating and the money was the only thing that kept us there. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE WERE NOT WALKING OUT!

You would also tell us that there was no where to go and it was a dead job market but we are welcome to leave if we were unhappy. WHAT A MIND GAME! HOW DECEPTIVE!

I was told by a manager that they "only need one more paycheck and im out of here!"

Now Dave, dont do what everyone thinks you are going to do and flip out. I would sit down with your managers, suck up to them and let them know how much you appreciate them.

Or, maybe you could send one of your oh-so-powerful threatening emails. This is your choice...

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 23, 2009 1:09 pm EDT

Just to reitterate, "donebeingbullied" is referring to Dave Aitken's, aka "GrowUpPlease", threat to Bryce Turpin.

Dave was assumptive, as usual, in stating that Bryce is posting while he is at work.

I am paraphrasing as this thread is becoming VERY long...

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 25, 2009 12:38 am EDT

Ryan, you are a smart guy and have been nothing but helpful to employees who asked you for help at anytime. I am sorry that they stuck you in the middle of this.

By your understanding you know HIT management to be reasonable and sensitive. You have never (for atleast the 2 and a half years i worked there) had close association with the sales team and how it was ran.

Please don't put yourself out there saying that HIT management is reasonable and sensitive. You dont have the capabilities to make a blanket statement like that. You have no idea what hell everyone on the sales team went through to bring in the money to support their families! There was even a sales manager who was constantly humiliated just to "motivate" the sales team. How sad is that?! This same sales manager was very sick one day and was forced to come in. He puked in front of everyone! How embarrassing!

THAT IS NOT SENSITIVE OR FAIR AND THIS ALL HAPPENED ALL THE TIME!

I know you have a nice family to support and need to protect the place you work at but please dont make blanket statements when crap like that is happening.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 25, 2009 12:46 am EDT

Also, why would HIT need to be told to be more sensitive or aware of family emergencies? That is basic business ethics.

The mere psychology of your post lets us all know that you are somewhat siding with us subconsciously, most likely due to the lack of training management/supervisors are given.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 25, 2009 6:01 pm EDT

Every single person at HIT is encouraged to sell.

Just in the past week there has been a major change. There is no sales team!

The sales team has been absolved and lumped in to the account managers department.

Does this sound like a company that may have a problem here or there and may "stub their toe" once in a while? NO!

This all just makes the comments by HIT management all that more laughable.

It just goes to show that HIT is in a state of disrepair.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 26, 2009 10:28 am EDT

This is all very sad and I don't think that anything is going to change until we take this a step further...

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 26, 2009 7:50 pm EDT

You can contact Annie at ABC 4 at the email address annie@abc4.com...

The rest of the contact info is on my original complaint.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 27, 2009 1:10 pm EDT

This is just like Dave... he loves to butter people up and make them feel good so he can use that as leverage at their most crucial moments.

Trust me, Dave is not this altruistic.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 28, 2009 2:04 pm EDT

Not sure if Greg is unemployed by HIT - or if he's just working from home to save face for the company... Why would a company with this much greed ever actually get rid of someone who can manipulate an old lady with a severance check to use her social security check to line their pockets? ... hmmm... perhaps someone should try calling their sales line and ask for him, you might be surprised at the results.. unless you are familiar with the company. Then you wouldn't be surprised at all when they get him on the phone.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 28, 2009 7:56 pm EDT

Yes and its a bunch of crap... just disregard it with a laugh and ignore it. There is nothing they can do to you. There is so much evidence that they are horrible, unethical business owners that would be foolish to even think about pursuing "legal action" against you.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 28, 2009 11:15 pm EDT

Before I left on my own free will, months actually, HIT was hitting $30-40, 000 in revenue daily! This was expected and it was quite dreadful to management when we fell below this norm.

Now the latest from the HIT sales team... 3 days in a row at $12000 in revenue or less!

Having worked there 2 and a half years, 3 horrible days is deffinitley hurting their business. I've even got word from some employees that customers are sending links to reps from specific complaints done right here on complaintsboard.com.

These customers are demanding their accounts be cancelled! Let's hope this trend continues...

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 28, 2009 11:20 pm EDT

Actually they are failing miserably.

Plus, why would anyone take a stand for a company they have no relation to?

Thanks for trying though.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 29, 2009 12:35 am EDT

idiotswillalwayscomplain,

im sorry you are stuck at HIT. Obviously you have no where else to go. I'm sorry if we are harming the place you work at and we all would be mad if we were still there too because it would be hurting our paycheck.

The truth is, I have great friends that work there and they are amazing salespeople. Heck, I might even know you! We are not here to destroy your paycheck, in fact HIT is already doing that to you. We do not want you to fail but we do want HIT to change their ways. At HIT we had no voice! This is the only voice we have for the time being. Hopefully all of our collective complaints have been heard through out the state and government agencies we have made them to. There is only one way to fix HIT and hopefully bring it back to the positioning it was once in...

The Aitkens must go. I don't even think that is possible since they own a majority of the company from my understanding, but it is the only way. They once had HIT in a great position and it was the best place to work, now they have ran it in to the ground.

I really wish you the best of luck. There are many options for employment, employment that will pay you and treat well for the effort you put in.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 29, 2009 12:50 am EDT

wow "culture of fear" describes HIT perfectly.

By the way, Mark Strong and other HIT management have told their sales reps to say the same things to clients as Mark presented in the interview.

Its all fluff to make people feel good. The customer does not buy it in the end.

It may have worked for Mark because he is a nice, stately man who was speaking face to face with the news anchor. This is also why it hasn't aired.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 29, 2009 12:30 pm EDT

I QUIT after the let one of the top consistant performers on the sales team go. This guy was awesome. He was always in the top 3 sales people pay period after pay period. Great guy with a nice wife and a few kids.

He was let go as an example that we were all expendable!

How sick is that! I was near tears to see him walk out, knowing he was going to have to go home, tell his wife he was fired and then hunt for a new job when he had kids to feed. I could not work for people that are vendictive as they are.

If you go to HIT management and try to talk about making $600 on a paycheck when you have earned them $20, 000 in a pay period is unfair they will say "So what?! We have kids to feed too!" (direct words from Jeremy Aitken). Keep in mind a pay period that productive would yeild a sales person atleast a check between $[protected] before management got greedy.

HIT sure is GREAT!

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 29, 2009 5:04 pm EDT

Now that is just greed... why would they fire someone and then say "oh you can work from home for us!"

Once again, they have no business sense at all.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 29, 2009 11:26 pm EDT

awesome-company,

we all know you are not this altruistic.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 30, 2009 11:38 am EDT

In this case I think HIT was duped and was embarrassed to tell their employees that it really wasnt "national news".

It was deceitful as all employees thought that it was going to be a big break for HIT.

Update by stopthegreed
Oct 30, 2009 12:00 pm EDT

My_Compaint,

The reason they haven't been able to push our comments away is because they no next to nothing in regards to search engine optimization.

They follow antiquated SEO principles. They still think that meta keywords are KING! HIT tells their sales people to tell the customer that only custom sites can be optimized but templates easily can.

That will soon change as they are switching to template sites starting January 1, 2010.

Update by stopthegreed
Nov 01, 2009 5:34 pm EST

TO MEDICINE AND ALL OTHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO DEFEND HIT...

It doesn't matter what you say or do at this point. You came in to this thread to late in the ball game!

This thread has been optimized for many phrases that are being searched when family, friends, ex-employees, customer, ex-customers and current employees search for "hit web design abc4". Just Google it.

Now if we do a quick search for "bad business abc4" (as we all know ABC4 is known for their investigative reports and consumer call to action stories) we pull HIT Web Design up in the number 2 spot. Ouch.

And YIKES! When we search for our favorite web design company under their new name "HIT Web Design" we find complaints immediatley under their own site. Bummer.

Sorry guys, try as you might but you are screwed.

Your business is failing and you are watching the ruins crumble.

Try doing something legitimate about it. You guys must be in real bad shape if you need to get on this board and monitor every little thing people are saying about you.

I wonder if the CEO of Wal-Mart does this?

Update by stopthegreed
Nov 01, 2009 5:57 pm EST

Geez, you are right! What was I thinking?!

They know how huge they are, they don't need to stroke their own egos to prove it.

Update by stopthegreed
Nov 03, 2009 10:03 pm EST

You know what I think is neat? If someone were to do a google image search for "Design by HWS" a TON of Heritage/HIT's websites come up. There usually is some contact info on the sites.

What could be done with that info?

Update by stopthegreed
Nov 04, 2009 1:59 pm EST

Ryan, what about the grievances? I know for a fact Turpin's grievance is 100% legit as I was there.

Please address this. Thank you.

Update by stopthegreed
Nov 04, 2009 3:08 pm EST

Ethicalhit,

If that is the correct link, it looks like he took it down.

What's there to be ashamed of Ryan?

Update by stopthegreed
Nov 05, 2009 11:18 pm EST

This must be quite a bit for Ryan to take in. Notice he isnt saying anything...

By the way, accoridng to a source who is still at HIT Web Design, at te begginning of the year they had 400 employees and now they have about a tenth of that left!

January first there were 25 sales representative on the "sales team" now there are 7.

What a wonderful company! I'm glad to see they are doing so well.

Resolved

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528 comments
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How are they still in biz?
, US
Nov 05, 2009 11:32 am EST

ethicalhit,

Ryan Nelson is the prime example of upper management at HIT web design/ heritage web solutions/ heritage web design. They don't solve every problem. They cherry pick the ones they can tackle in a three second sentence and leave the others to dissolve. You're not going to get Ryan Nelson to answer the tough questions because nobody in management would know how to answer them.

We need to stop calling out Ryan Nelson and focus our efforts on HIT web design/ heritage web solutions/ heritage web design. Ryan is a nobody - he's a pawn in their game and is only doing as he's told which I feel is as you said, to get our identities so they again have someone to blame. Dave Aitken would never be the one to blame for the monstrous failure they are enjoying. Jeremy's tyrant fist would have nothing to do with it either. It's all of us current and former entry level people that just did what we were told and didn't do it with enough energy, enthusiasm and dials.

So let's leave Ryan alone - chances are he'll be laid off soon anyway and will be venting on this board under a different username.

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Customer2010
Manhattan, US
Nov 05, 2009 10:54 am EST

Why only Mr Nelson is presenting Upper Management here. Don't they know what happens here? Don't they see the negative influence this discussion has ? Why don't they come here, accept their mistakes and try to explain their point of view, try to establish positive connection and recover the situation.

I am watching the topic and see that there is a way to get things back to a normal way. People are not interested in destroying HIT they simply want it to change.

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ethicalhit
Provo, US
Nov 05, 2009 9:43 am EST

Today again while I was on my way to work, I started thinking about how selective Ryan Nelson has been. Have you noticed that he has only responded to complaints or questions that deal with people's specific situations, trying to draw them out. Ryan Nelson is only trying to get people to identify themselves so that Hit Web Design can send them some letters!

Ryan Nelson on the other had has NOT responded to any questions about the amount of complaints that Heritage Web Solutions has! I did some nice homework compared Hit Web Design next to companies like Mozy, Omniture, Novell, etc and yet that goes unnoticed.

My guess is that the upper management is focusing all of their attention on threads like this, and that they are trying uncover the identities of all the parties discussing on this board so that they can then blame us for their incompetence and failure. Who knows maybe Ryan Nelson's job is hanging by a thread and he is desperate to show some movement, and the only way he can save his job is by identifying parties on here. Who knows that is purely speculation.

But Mr. Nelson, please honestly address ALL questions.

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sickofhit
, US
Nov 05, 2009 2:31 am EST

http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=heritage+web&everything=Everything

http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=hit+web&everything=Everything

Ryan,

open those and see. All these people are wrong? and Hit is right ?

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sickofhit
, US
Nov 05, 2009 2:21 am EST

some of the complaints threads found on this forum alone.

HIT Web Design - Terrible service
HIT Web Design - Worst Business Experience
HIT Web Design - Took my money, 4 weeks behind orginal completion date, site is a template, not custom.
HIT Web Design - bitter sweet
HIT Web Design - customer service
HIT Web Design - will not complete web site
HIT Web Design - Sold a Product they do not know
HIT Web Design - Bait and switch
HIT Web Design - Crappy company
HIT Web Design - Hi is it HIT now? Still Scamming Customers?!

so many people can be wrong ?

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sickofhit
, US
Nov 05, 2009 2:16 am EST

Advice to those customers who want to do a charge back -

MENTION CLEARLY THAT YOU WERE SOLD WRONG (IF YOU WERE), LIED AND THAT BASICALLY SERVICES WERE NOT AS DESCRIBED. IF YOU CLAIM SERVICES WERE CANCELED OR NOT RENDERED ETC, YOU WILL NEVER WIN CHARGE-BACKS.

__________________________________________________________________________________

WHEN YOU CONTACT HIT FOR A REFUND, LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WILL USE YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION EVERYWHERE ON THE INTERNET AND DESCRIBE YOUR HIT WEB DESIGN HORROR STORIES IN DETAIL. LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WILL ALSO COMPLAINT TO BBB, DO A CHARGE-BACK, FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FTC AND ATTORNEY GENERAL. GIVE THEM 3 DAYS IF THEY DON'T REFUND YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY, START TAKING THE ABOVE STEPS 1 BY 1. MAKE THEM WORK TO SCAM YOU OUTTA YOUR MONEY.

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sickofhit
, US
Nov 05, 2009 2:15 am EST

RYAN,

You also sell templated free Zen Cart shopping carts which your sales claims as HIT proprietary and the only reason you can offer it at a low price, is because you do economies of scales on the development. Why do they lie ? and cheat poor and unsuspecting customers. Instead of wasting time and monitoring this forum, you should go and improve your services and build the fence.

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sickofhit
, US
Nov 05, 2009 1:54 am EST

Ryan,

why does HIT web design/ heritage web solutions/ heritage web design, register domain names of client on their own name? Why are clients not told or advice about such an action? Is it not true that one of the most common complaint HIT web design/ heritage web solutions/ heritage web design has is about domain hostage? You register the domain for free, but you don't tell the client that they don't own the domain and that they are screwed if they want to move without your permission. Is this ethical ?

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rnelson
Provo, US
Nov 05, 2009 12:34 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

sickofhit-

My admittedly crappy website is of my own making. HIT was not involved in any way in the design, building, hosting, etc. I never claimed to be a designer and, yes, it was a dreamweaver template.

RN

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How are they still in biz?
, US
Nov 05, 2009 12:34 am EST

I would like it made known I didn't post any information about Ryan or his family :)

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EthicsCommitee
Boulder, US
Nov 05, 2009 12:21 am EST

Ryan.

I maintain firm in my opinion that HIT, while not perfect, is an ethical company and diligently tries to meet the needs of its customers and employees. Not everyone agrees with me and I recognize that they are entitled to their opinion.

I for one have a hard time with this. I don't know you personally, but you really do seem like a really nice guy. I just have a hard time believing you though. How is it that I know more than you about what is going on than you do? You had to see some pretty shady stuff going on, if you have 1 conversation with Jeremy you know it's not on the up and up. There is no way you could not see everything going on. I don't mean to be rude, but to truly have such a strong opinion as you do, Where you asleep all day? Where you ever there? Did you get high before coming into work? Did you have an Ipod plugged into your skull and just not hear it?

I can't wrap my head around it, YOU HAD TO SEE IT, HEAR IT, SMELL IT, TOUCH IT, TASTE IT...It doesn't add up, it can't add up.

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sickofhit
, US
Nov 05, 2009 12:21 am EST

Looks like Ryan got this crappy website http://www.ryannelson.net/ designed by HIT?

Ryan it doesn't matter what you think about HIT. The 2000+ complaints about HIT all over the internet and BBB, speak for itself.

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all4money
Provo, US
Nov 05, 2009 12:01 am EST

Ryan,

I knew you to be a very down to earth guy that really did listen. So if you really want to get down to why alot of us are very hurt by the heartless management go through the papers that we filled out when we chose to leave hit and read the reasoning. You will be surprised what HELL we went through!

In my exit interview HR was shocked to hear what was going on and still did nothing. She told me what we wrote down would be shown to upper management to look into and try to improve. I kind of laughed because we as a team and individually met with both Jeremy and Dave and expressed our concern and were told we have to do what we have to do to keep the doors open and if you don't like it leave. Employee's can only take it for so long.

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rnelson
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 11:46 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Aside from making people angry, what are you guys honestly accomplishing with this forum? How many former HIT customers or employees have you actually "helped" with this forum? How will telling the world that I enjoy scuba make a bit of difference in the lives of those that you allege have been harmed?

I am committed to making a difference every day at HIT and I feel that I do. People may not always agree with me, but I try to be fair and do what I think is the right thing.

I maintain firm in my opinion that HIT, while not perfect, is an ethical company and diligently tries to meet the needs of its customers and employees. Not everyone agrees with me and I recognize that they are entitled to their opinion.

As always, if you want to discuss particular concerns or have suggestions that you would like to offer, I welcome your email at rnelson@hwsinet.com.

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ethicalhit
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 9:18 pm EST

If anyone on here is serious about taking action please e-mail me at ethicalhit@yahoo.com

I will tell you there what the next step is.

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idontcryanymore
ut co, US
Nov 04, 2009 9:10 pm EST

Ethicalhit,

ok so help us all out here, what is the next step? where do we go from here the Labor Board? ..or do we just hope and pray Hit web design will someday get it together...My reason posting here is NOT to beat up management, but to tell my story and to help the employees who are still there who has not left because of fear and the unknown?
everyone has a story and every one is different some who are trying to rightfully collect DESERVED unemployment, some who are bitter, some who are needing justice, some who had the corrage to leave because of all the brow beating, lying, cheating, misleading customers, poor managemant,

I LOVE my new job, to see what a healthy company feels like is so unreal i feel some days im dreaming ..I can honestly say it is like being out of jail...

but I still every day HURT for the ones still there at hit web design taking all the abuse, it is like i want to help the ones left behind...

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? we can sit and leave comments on this complaint board all day long.

Ryan and Management,
assure us, tell us hit web design is on the road to recovery.
managemant tell us you are making an effort to treat your employees with RESPECT.
bitting the hand that feeds you is a clear example of what managemant did.

I made Hit web design MILLIONS in the time i was there and any money problems im having now will never compare to the gut renching 8 hrs a day sitting at my desk..

BOTTOM LINE..where do we go from here...? what are we doing? just ### or doing something about it!

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ethicalhit
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 7:18 pm EST

Ryan Nelson,

I am not personally connected to Heritage Web Solutions, so there is no reason why I would open myself up for personal attacks from Hit Web Design. I will maintain my place as an individual who is simply trying to make sure that the little person is looked after. I want to make sure that employees and customers know of the proper channels to resolve their concerns with your business, since your business seems to only resolve concerns that best benefit itself.

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EthicsCommitee
Boulder, US
Nov 04, 2009 6:22 pm EST

Ryan

You are so right, I do apologize. Just Like Hit Web Design didn't give a ### about our personal lives

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rnelson
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 6:08 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

EthicsCommittee - I pulled it down because my personal life is none of your business. This is supposedly a discussion about HIT and its allegedly unethical business practices.

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EthicsCommitee
Boulder, US
Nov 04, 2009 5:12 pm EST

rnelson

So you pulled it down why?

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rnelson
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 5:03 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

You guys are skating on a thin line if you are implying that by simply having a linked in account I must necessarily be looking for a new job. Linkedin.com isn't just for job hunting; it's for networking.

And, regardless of ethicalhit's justifications, it was still a cheap shot coming from a user whose real name remains undisclosed.

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stupidco
American Fork, US
Nov 04, 2009 4:14 pm EST

turpin, i cant say that. but isnt there a diference between an entry leveler like me and the hed of legal?

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Customer2010
Manhattan, US
Nov 04, 2009 3:58 pm EST

I've spent almost two hours reading all comments here. Being in web development business I always wanted to understand how companies like HIT can deliver websites for $199 especially custom designed. Even if you outsource it completely to India you won't reach that price level. If you use templates from website like www.templatemonster.com you can decrease costs of design by reaching prime cost of design of $50, but then you have to complete all the changes for $140 and still mae profit. It was so unrealistic to me.

Now, I am getting the idea. Promise something for unbeatable price, put huge dollars in advertising, get leads, upsell like crazy, get long term commitment, put early termination fees inside the contract and you are in Inc 500 list.
I've seen the same thing happened with Websitepros.com before they've got acquired by Web.com. Now they charge you $99/year with no long term commitment, which sounds better but still high.
www.site2you.com charges $49/month and does not charge you setup fee. Looks promising.
www.homestead.com sells really outdated designs but for $4, 95/month they also find their audience.

There are so many niches still available on this market. I hope HIT can restructure their business and switch to a new business model focusing more on customer satisfaction than on reaching unrealistic sales goals.

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ethicalhit
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 3:29 pm EST

The difference Ryan, and the KEY difference is that posting personal information from people who are not openly interacting and engaging is unethical.

Posting a profile that you yourself have PERSONALLY made PUBLIC to the world to show is in no way unethical especially when you are engaging with people here on this board.

So no I am not a hypocrite, but I do enjoy the name calling from the person decrying name calling. Kudos!

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rnelson
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 3:25 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

ethicalhit- Didn't you just state this the other day?

"I agree with everyone, that we must be ethical in our postings, and revealing persona family information is not ethical! We need to walk the higher road!"

Yeah, you're a real role model of ethical behavior. Hypocrite.

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stupidco
American Fork, US
Nov 04, 2009 3:14 pm EST

*chukle chukle* uh oh..

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stupidco
American Fork, US
Nov 04, 2009 3:10 pm EST

that WAS the correct link, i was looking at it! what hapened ryan?

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ethicalhit
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 2:33 pm EST

If you would like to view Ryan Nelson's work history it is available on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanwnelson

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ethicalhit
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 2:31 pm EST

Ryan,

I suggest that you start looking into people's exit interviews. Start calling former Account Managers, and other people who have been below Tanner Wolsey and ask for their honest opinion.

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ethicalhit
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 2:30 pm EST

Ryan,

I agree with "someonewhoknows" as the fact that MOST complaints I get are about Tanner Wolsey and nepotism. According to a phone list that was sent to me, you are just a paralegal, a paper pusher for Hit Web Design, if this is incorrect please state what your actual position is. Because from where I sit it seems like you are pretty powerless, you pretty much decide who to send legal threats to, and that is about it.

I have talked to numerous former employees who talk about how Tanner intimidated them, shamed them, openly disciplined them, and used scare tactics.

One quote from Tanner that I have been sent is as follows (mind you this is hearsay):
I don't want anyone taking any inbound calls!
Don't give your customer the opportunity to say no! Hang up the phone before they say no!

There are a lot more along this line.

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rnelson
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:59 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Someone who knows- Then remain anonymous, but at least give some detail. I can't guarantee change, but I'm not totally powerless around here either. Alleging things like "current inept and outrageously unethical management" doesn't mean anything of value to anybody and isn't going to promote any change or awareness.

-RN

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How are they still in biz?
, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:55 pm EST

Is it just me or did upper management of HIT FINALLY reach out and ask for advice on how to run their business?

Take a deep breath rnelson, that was a big step.

p.s. - for ideas on fence building, read any of the previous statements on changes that NEED to occur

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rnelson
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:53 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

ethicalhit -- if legal complaints come, we deal with them.

How are they still in biz?-- What "fence" would you propose? Yet another unhelpful, vague, generalized comment. I need specifics and I'm willing to listen. You have my contact info.

-RN

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How are they still in biz?
, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:50 pm EST

I was only there for 18 months, but I think I took 3 breaks while I was there so...

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How are they still in biz?
, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:43 pm EST

If there is a large cliff where everyone keeps driving off - does it make sense to only put an ambulance down in the valley? Or would it make more sense to put a fence at the top? What you're doing here Ryan is saying that an ambulance is sufficient. If HIT truly wants to do something, follow Turpin's advice! Do it now, and fix the wrong rather than nurse the hurt. You can't. The problem is not going to end by you simply spending an entire work day on here (Does Dave know you're spending that much time online and not in the green?).

Or let me guess - you don't have to stay in the green. You are free to do what you want. Thus, rendering your knowledge of what we're even talking about on here pointless. You don't see what is being done to employees and your grievance policy is just a way of weeding out those that are too smart to put up with the crap that the Aitken's say is simply "in the job description."

Put a fence at the top of the cliff - if you're really wanting to help those that have been wronged, inform H.R. that they are there for the employee, and by law have more power than Dave Aitken! Not the other way around. Let current employees actually be able to file a grievance w/o a threat of termination for some bogus reason! Let employees know that management has led the ship into the iceberg and that it wasn't the way the employees were paddling. Management has a HUGE responsibility here Ryan and you have the perfect opportunity to do the right thing! Stand up for injustice and don't let the Aitken's pad their pockets at the expense of your own integrity!

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ethicalhit
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:43 pm EST

RNelson,

AS you so beautifully stated in an earlier post and I quote

"...it's better to have all their ducks in a row first"

Hit Web Design might not be the only party looking at legal action.

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rnelson
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:39 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Yes, I misspelled deceit in my last post (deceipt). In case one of you want to make an issue of that. It's not really that important though.

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rnelson
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:31 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

someonewhoknows- I never once said I know who all of these people are. I said we know who some are, which is true.

As far as my personal knowledge goes: I am not personally aware that HIT mistreats its employees or customers other than through allegations being made by anonymous posters online. The allegations I am seeing of lies and deceipt and fraud and mistreatment are coming from anonymous sources online with the exception of Bryce Turpin who should be commended for having enough integrity to identify himself.

In my experience, all of the customer complaints that have come across my desk in my connection with HIT management have been dealt with appropriately and fairly. HIT regularly issues refunds when warranted, regularly tries to mediate matters through the BBB and its own efforts, and respects the decisions of neutral third party arbitrators and judges (which notably do side with HIT frequently when rendering decisions).

Employee matters are another matter that I am personally not too involved with or privy to at HIT. I do know that many companies do layoffs for different reasons. Without knowing the particular reasons, I would have to say that HIT's layoffs are not necessarily different from those of other companies and are not necessarily unethical, but likely based on a business decision that management determined was in the company's best interest or necessary. In any case, I wish the best to those who are no longer employed at HIT.

If you want to provide me with details of specific instances of wrongdoing, I invite you to personally send me an email at rnelson@hwsinet.com and I will see what we can do to resolve them.

For your information, one person contacted me through this means this week as a result of my previous posting and I followed up and resolved that person's concern.

But, generalized, baseless, and anonymous allegations of seemingly egregious conduct by HIT simply cannot be addressed or be believed for that matter. If you go to court, for example, the parties have to be identified, the issues have to be disclosed, the specifics have to be stated. You can't go to court or the police and simply state "that company sucks" and expect anything to be done about it.

If you have actually been wronged, tell me about it and I'll look into it. But, there's simply no way to address anonymous allegations of the nature of those found in this thread.

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ethicalhit
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:25 pm EST

Monica,

If you are still a hit customer I suggest that you call your bank or credit card right now and you do a charge back and refuse any future charges from Hit Web Design!

Also please file a formal complaint with the BBB and the Utah Attorney General's Office. Also please let us know if we can be of any assistance!

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Cold_567
Provo, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:25 pm EST

As one of the ~30 people laid off the other day I must say i was extremely taken by surprise. I didn't love the job or anything like that, but it was a decent paycheck. as far as i know i was laid off for no reason. I always hit my pay period goal and scored well with QC. Oh well, time to job hunt.

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