Banned for what exactly? Testing to see if we can use someone's design they are begging me to use, which I never asked for in the first place? Trying to find a use for someone's work which would otherwise go to waste?
You guys act like I had some conspiracy to get a free website design from Dialatic. I never asked Dialatic to make me a website design. He did so without my request, and then pestered me for days to use it. I tried ignoring him, but because he consistently kept nudging/messaging me about it, I said I'd ask my developer to see if he could fit the design into our new website we are launching.
That page (which I had no problem taking down, I just couldn't reach my developer quickly because of restraints in China, where I was on vacation while this all transpired) was my developer showing me an example of how it would look if we used Dialatic's design. It was basically my developer showcasing Dialatic's product to me. This was done so that I could make a decision on whether or not we could find some use for his work. It was a favour to him. It provided me no benefit whatsoever. It's not like anyone was being directed to that website.
However, once Mike (Dialatic) realized that I wasn't very impressed with it, he started being a bitch. He posted all over the forums calling me a scammer, etc. simply because I did not want to buy his product. It was ridiculous. It would be like a dealership trying to ruin your credit for not buying a car after taking it for a test drive. I never committed to buying that design. Even Mike admitted he spent about 20 minutes making it. It amounted to a few gray boxes.
Mike exemplified his immaturity and lack of professionalism throughout the process. In business, we are judged not for how we deal with situations which go smoothly, but how we deal with situations which do not. When Mike noticed the deal wasn't going through, he reacted by trying to sabotage my business and reputation. My reputation was built on 6 years of doing business on this website, and I'll be damned if I'll let some kid who tries to peddle a shitty website template onto me try to push me around here. I've put in too many hours, carefully handled way too many trades here for that to happen. If he wants to challenge my reputation, I'll tell it like it is.
Deals with Mike should be avoided. He has no focus on projects, he constantly changes his mind on everything, and gets nothing accomplished. My time invested with him has always been wasted. He lacks the basic maturity required to do business. He is a child in a teenager's body. Avoid.