Clear App Development

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of College Mapper. We help low-income students apply to college.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clear App Development?

We wanted a mobile application because it would reach more students than our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app needed to guide students through the college admissions timeline. We planned to get an iOS app first and then the Android version at a later date. The team designed wireframes and most of the coding before the engagement phased out. The owner ceased development; he said they no longer had the bandwidth.

What is the team dynamic?

I worked directly with the owner. He had offsite developers and designers.

How did you come to work with Clear App Development?

They had great online reviews.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $7,000 on upfront milestone payments. We used PayPal.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work occurred in late 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did the relationship with Clear App Development evolve?

The owner was very attentive until I made the first payment. Our interactions disintegrated after that point. Similarly, he introduced me to the team at the start of work. However, I didn’t realize Clear App experienced extremely high turnover. Both the designer and developer were outsourced; they left the team due to the owner’s behavior.

I requested a Skype call after customer service and deliverables were unsatisfactory for an extended period of time. The owner missed the meeting because he had been out late the night before, which he admitted in an attempt to reschedule. I forced the issue until he agreed to Skype. I was open to figuring out a solution. However, he only offered to send me the source code because he was traveling to China for about a month.

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

The app wasn’t functional; the login didn’t even work. We still don’t have users. Since the engagement ended, I’ve sent repeated emails requesting a refund for incomplete work. The owner has been completely unresponsive; he won’t even return $2,000 of the total $7,000. We need to get new developers to complete the product.

How was project management handled?

He didn’t run the company professionally. The site’s business address turned out to be his father’s medical practice. I called the receptionist, who confirmed his China trip. The owner didn’t provide a phone number or address; he was already ignoring emails.

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

He had a great web presence and marketing. However, customer service was awful. My experience most likely reflects a larger pattern. I’m now skeptical about the positive reviews’ legitimacy.

In what specific areas can they improve?

He could comply with the money back guarantee on his site.

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

I wouldn't hire him because he doesn't deliver. Initially, I didn’t want to leave this review, but decided it’s more important to help others make informed decisions. I’m happy to speak directly with any potential client; they can contact me via Clutch.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a self-employed personal trainer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clear App Development?

I had an idea for a site focused around challenging people to do workouts in real time. For example, if you want to do a push-up, and you want to challenge others to do the same, you can initiate a challenge and go meet that person. I wanted to bring people together who had the same goals of working out a lot, and to bring a level of competition to their day.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I showed Clear App Development a blueprint of what I wanted, which was for both Android and iOS. They completed the iOS app first, and then Android. They stayed in constant communication with me about their progress. We met in person every month, and they showed me a prototype of how the app would look and function. Once I approved the prototype, they continued with the development.

How did you come to work with Clear App Development?

I found them through a website, but I can’t remember which one. I met them in person and we talked about my goals.

How much have you invested with Clear App Development?

I’ve spent $4,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together two years ago, and the final product was delivered within four months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I've moved on from the project. Unfortunately, the server for the app recently shut down.

How did Clear App Development perform from a project management standpoint?

They communicated with me throughout the process. I asked for some changes, so it took a little longer. They wanted to do things perfectly, so they clarified the information with me to ensure they were developing the app to my specifications.

What did you find most impressive about Clear App Development?

Their communication was outstanding. I received emails, texts, and phone calls when they ran into a problem or needed some advice.

Are there any areas Clear App Development could improve?

Nothing at all.