"This job has been good for me and pays my bills, but from day one I've felt that we're all being sort of con artists here. We charge our clients high fees for the websites we build, plus a substantial monthly maintenance fee. But we're essentially just building and hosting templated websites for them. We use open source images and logo templates. The copy we use is highly templated. They could do the same thing themselves for much, much cheaper, especially using new AI tools."
"Sometimes I get my groceries delivered. It's not always convenient for me to go to the store, spend time finding everything, and do my own shopping. Do I know how to go to a supermarket and pick out my own groceries? Of course I do, but I occasionally will pay extra for the convenience of having someone else do all of that for me, especially if I'm overwhelmed with work or my 6-year-old or I'm just really, really tired."
An employee at a small web firm feels guilty because the company charges high fees and monthly maintenance for templated, hosted websites assembled with open-source images, logo templates, and highly templated copy. The employee recognizes clients could create similar sites far more cheaply, especially with evolving AI DIY tools, yet values the job's flexibility, pay, and relationships and does not want to leave. A convenience analogy compares paid website services to grocery delivery, emphasizing that clients pay for saved time, reduced hassle, and relief from overwhelm rather than for fundamentally unique creations.
Read at Slate Magazine
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