i hired toptal am i getting ripped off? I feel like i am.

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A user hired Toptal developers and was billed for 118 hours of Shopify store work but feels the results don’t justify the cost.

Issues reported:

  • Provided artwork not placed correctly
  • Only 7 of ~57 product listings completed, missing descriptions and prices
  • 5 apps installed but only 2 properly implemented
  • Site has just 5 basic pages with no proper structure, tabs, or animations

The user questions whether this represents price gouging or standard billing, noting their girlfriend built a superior store with more listings in 30 minutes. They’re seeking guidance on evaluating whether 118 hours is justified for this level of work.

Current status: One respondent (a Shopify store builder) agrees the situation “doesn’t sound right” and offers to privately share examples of stores built within similar hour ranges for comparison. The discussion remains open as the user seeks validation and next steps.

Summarized with AI on October 29. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

I’ve been billed for 118 hours, despite providing all the artwork, which, frustratingly, hasn’t even been placed correctly. Roughly 50 product listings are missing, leaving only 7 on the site, and these lack descriptions and prices, only showing pictures. Although 5 apps are installed, just 2 are properly implemented. My site consists of a mere 5 pages, devoid of information in tabs, proper structure, or any animation. I need clarity on how to evaluate this situation to determine if these hours are justified. Is this price gouging, or is it a standard charge? I assure you, if it’s a fair charge, I’ll settle it. To illustrate the issue, even while I was on a call with Shopify, my girlfriend effortlessly created a superior, better-organized store with more product listings in just 30 minutes. Could you provide guidance on assessing this or provide an example of what a 118-hour store should look like? Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

2

Can you post a link to what they’ve done? It doesn’t sound right to me. We build a lot of Shopify Stores. If you want to email me personally, I can show you some examples of stores within that hour range. I don’t want to post that information publicly.

Thanks

Joe