Calm Experts

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Hause Parte and we’re an evolutionary prominent community that evolves the way people party. I’m based in Edmonton right now, and we do all kinds of events in Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Calm Experts?

Our goal was to create a web app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We offered them the web app development project and they brought our company to pieces by not delivering the product and messing up our goals for the year. At the start of the project, the CEO gave us the initial price and asked to be a partner of the company — I obliged as long as they develop the app.

We agreed on a price and the CEO ensured us that he will take care of the technology and hosting moving forward. They didn’t ask for the full amount at once, and we paid them every time they sent us an invoice. While they did develop the web app, it was different from the website and it ended up being taken down.

As the due date grew closer, he assured us that the app was 99% ready and that we didn’t have anything to worry about. It was frustrating because we had made plans with other companies for several events, but we still didn’t have an app to present to them — they actually set our company back. 

We decided to go our separate ways as long as they give back what we paid them. They didn’t return our money, insisted we were still partnered with them, and kept asking us to continue hosting events. They also told us the contract we signed was to be event partners, and not as technology providers.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Mendy (CEO) and two other people, who ended up only being third-party developers that Calm Experts hired.

How did you come to work with Calm Experts?

We were shopping online for developers and came across Calm Experts.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent $5,000 CAD (approximately $4,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–July 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

Things started going downhill on July 1st when they didn’t deliver the app and lied about it being 99% complete. The deadline came and they gave us nothing, so we asked for our money back — which they declined to do. The CEO told me that just because they failed to deliver the app, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t remain partners. It was never in the contract that we’d be business partners. 

They took everything down which had a very negative impact on our business. I lost contracts, venue connections, some of my clientele, and other people who had worked with me. I recently went on their website and saw that they’re lying about being the creators of the app. 

How was project management handled?

The communication was just between the CEO and me and when we were working together, he never answered any of my calls. It’s been really frustrating because he deleted all my reviews and blocked my comments.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

No, because the CEO didn’t deliver on what he said he would — he doesn’t have integrity.

In what specific areas can they improve?

The CEO should improve on harnessing integrity. If he works on his integrity, he would be a better person and a better business owner.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

I would suggest seeing their work and reading reviews about them before starting a working relationship.