Design, citizenship and the city
11 October 2008
Likely to say: “What’d you say if I could build you a PC, hook you up to broadband, save you 20% off your phone costs and make you a website for just £49 a month over the next five years?”
Previous Offences: Man and Van. Lawnmower repairs. Painting and decorating. Minicab driving. Photocopier services.
Will ruin your project by: subcontracting it to the Barrow Boy.
Web design is a computer thing and Jack has a computer shop. Ergo, he offers web design to his customers. What they don’t suspect, of course, is that his design skills extend no further than choosing perforated chrome spotlights for his guest bedroom and that their website job will be done by the local Barrow Boy.
For this rare level of service he charges a hefty premium, but then he’s got his overheads to consider and face time costs money. Still, £49 a month (plus VAT) seems like a pretty good deal for five web pages, a choice of over 10,000 templates, the (refurbished) PC, the (unsupported, flaky) broadband and the deep discounts on phone calls to other customers of the same service within a two mile radius.
You get a free domain name, too.