Sorry guys, but this is going to be a RANT!
I was recently on a forum (nothing to do with web design) where a discussion thread came along about getting a website done for some guy's business.
He said that he had been quoted £300 from a newish, but very talented, designer to create a full flash website complete with some clever page transitions, and nice little effects.
I know we all have views about whether flash sites are good or not, but that isnt what I'm getting at here. The other people in that discussion thread then went on about how supremely expensive that was!! THREE HUNDRED QUID!
One idiot said that the designer was taking him for a fool and that was "way overpriced" and that "you can get a great site for less than £50"
Now this really REALLY got my goat. Why is it that the public don't value our work and are generally reluctant to pay for it? And more to the point, why are some web designers keen to destroy the industry by offering their services for free or for mega cheap?!!?!? (Surely doing that is only going to further encourage the view that web design is not all that hard or clever because people will do it for free if you ask them. And therefore good website design shouldnt cost much)
MEGA annoyed.
What are your thoughts?