The subject for today's post came to me from a reader, who asked that I look into a web site design company called justtwogirls (JTG). It seems that one of the two girls - who's actually a 30 year old woman named Christina - is disappointing more than a reasonable share of customers. The outrage of JTG's customers now borders on activism. The customers (or victims) appear legitimate in the gripe, but of course, I will encourage Christina to respond.
Here's what the numerous complaints reveal:
JTG appears to target women who own - or hope to start - web businesses. The design firm's web site depicts smart looking, cheerful, "girlish" web graphics done in stylish colors (see example.) 
Surely many women wanting an online boutique or outlet to sell their crafts find the designs appealing and contract with JTG to have a web store created.
The problems begin shortly after design starts, and remarkably virtually all the women who feel they have been rooked describe a similar scenario. Christina becomes an instant "best friend," often staying up late at night talking to clients about how they envision their web store. The "bonding" doesn't last long. Soon Christina fails to respond to e-mails, address customer complaints, fix web site issues etc. Clients plead for resolution but to no avail. Then, things start to get a bit creepy.
Christina pretends to be a teenager, she steals designs from her clients and sells them or uses them without permission. She uses language that should never be used at all. She shuts down clients web sites or denys them access to core functionality. You see, Christina doesn't try to make amends and resolve client issues. Instead she sends psychotic sounding e-mails.
Here are a couple of Christina's emails addressed to one customer who asked for an update on her web-site, which was having some problems:
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From: "Christina |
" <tina@justtwogirls.com> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert 
Go sweep the floor of your double wide, clean your bare feet and brush the three teeth you have left in your head. I can smell the trashy trailer park you live in.
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From: "Christina |
You're "real" job apparently isn't doing anything hence trying to sell crappy jewelry online. The person who posted these e-mails for others to see, had the courtesy to add the *** rather than give us the unedited version.
I'm so glad this came across my desk, since it beats the pants off of complaining about Dell. By the way, Dell is still absolutely ineffective at resolving problems (I was on hold for over an hour today before giving up) but at least they haven't made any racial slurs.
Okay, Christina, if you're reading this, and you feel that you wish to rebut, please go right ahead. I want to hear your take on this...
Christina reminds me of someone that I used to work with in a start up web design company in California. I ended up leaving that company after about a year wit them.
Posted by: Tim Draayer | August 24, 2006 8:25 PM | Permalink to Comment