is my web developer trying to bluff me

yes, for me a fix 960 (1000px max) is a good option. it could accomodate most of the screen resolution nowadays. 

And I guess, since your developer develop the site in fixed 1200, they need to redesign & recode the site. So, they were not bluffing you.
 

 

think i will try get it to fix 960 (1000px max) seems a good option

 

Excuse my curiosity but how much did you payed for that website ?

 

I agree with the developer. I wouldn't change the layout without signing a new contract.

Fluid websites are a specialty and not easy to make. I can't see any reason to make this fluid or to make it any smaller.
Get rid of the accordion banner and maybe change the spacing in parts but that's all.

But you should ask the developer to fix the 100+ validation errors. That is embarrassing!
W3C Validation

 

It cannot said there are bluffing you while you din mention specific before they start design . 
But you can complain that now a professional Designer company that they should design and discuss with you time to time. 
i believe you need look for other designer to help you up. Learn from the mistake. 

 

just out of interest can anyone tell me the cost to re cut the design to the right size and how long it would really take.

 

Its definitely too big, static width websites are fine to use but not if they are going to be that wide. See I have a dual monitor setup with a new 23" widescreen 1920x1080 (which handles that fine) and a couple year old monitor that is still very good and its big too but not widescreen that is 1280x1024 which your site is barely not fitting it.

I disagree that static width is bad and old and blah whatever but you can't make it that big for sure.

I would ask him to make it smaller to accommodate smaller monitors or to make it fluid width. Either would be a good option.

 

I think that the issue here is knowing what you are buying. Understanding what you are going to get for said amount of money

I have been designing for years, and When i start to develop a project for someone, for a business, or even for someone wanting to have a hobby based site, I always lay out the process, and put the terms right out there from the get go, so that there is no confusion in the end. With web site building there is so much left to the designer sometimes, when this should not be.

You should go back to the original meeting where the website was discussed. Did you agree on a set width? (As I saw above that was mentioned) As because you did, you will now be liable for any changes that need to be made to rectify the situation on your site, and therefore edit the stylesheet (css) to allow customized scrolling.

I agree with Talker. And This IS a big fix when you are someone who runs this type of design with photoshop and such, as it is not just a piece of code to be altered, it is images that all have to be edited

 

Your designer is crap. I've hired over 20 of them. They should all know to make a site 960px width. Fire his ass right now. That's what I would do.

 

your web developer is true.

 

I agree with Talker, This was bad coding practice by your developer. Anyway, I think you should go with your developer, if you don't intend to change the developer.

 

Sounds kinda weird. Very weird. Be careful tough.

 

Hello,

Site looks cool from the point of view of design.
But the designer must set it 1000px for fixed width.
If he wants to occupy the whole screen he must set fluid width.

We can provide the best solutions.
Look the design, color combination and typography on my site:
http://webveins.in/

Thanks