Starfire Web Design Review: A Mixed Bag of Potential and Pitfalls

When I set out to build a website for my small business, I wanted a team that understood the balance between affordability and quality—something Starfire Web Design claims to specialize in. Founded in 2013 by Danny Ericson and Shawn Smith, this Las Vegas-based agency promises a blend of web development, SEO, and social media expertise. But did they deliver? My experience was a rollercoaster of highs and lows.

The Good: Strong Vision, Initial Engagement

Personalized Attention (At First)

Shawn, one of the co-founders, was my primary point of contact. Early on, she was highly engaged—listening to my vision, offering suggestions, and assuring me that Starfire could bring my ideas to life. Her responsiveness in the beginning was impressive, and I appreciated her attention to detail.

Flexibility in Edits

For the first few weeks, revisions were handled promptly. Whenever I requested changes, Shawn was accommodating, which gave me confidence that the final product would meet my expectations.

The Bad: Missed Deadlines and Broken Promises

Timeline Woes

The project was supposed to take around three months. Instead, it dragged on for nearly a year. Communication became sporadic—sometimes taking weeks for a response—leaving me frustrated and uncertain about progress.

A Website That Didn’t Work

When the site finally "launched," it was far from functional. Basic features like review submissions were broken, critical data was missing, and the design looked shockingly amateurish—like something thrown together in a middle school coding class.

Security & Professionalism Concerns

After consulting a third-party developer, I learned the site lacked basic security measures, making it vulnerable to data theft. When I raised these concerns, Starfire’s solution was to take the site offline entirely and demand an additional $5,000 to transfer ownership.

The Ugly: Bait-and-Switch Tactics?

Overpromising & Underdelivering

Starfire’s biggest flaw was overestimating their capabilities. They sold me on expertise they clearly didn’t have, leaving me with a half-baked product and a drained budget.

Poor Project Management

Despite my consistent follow-ups, their communication was unreliable. Delays piled up, and accountability vanished once problems arose.

Final Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pros:

✔ Initial engagement was strong
✔ Early responsiveness to edits
✔ Friendly and professional demeanor (at first)

Cons:

❌ Missed deadlines by months
❌ Delivered a non-functional, insecure website
❌ Held the site hostage for additional payment
❌ Communication breakdowns as the project progressed

Would I work with them again? No. While Shawn was pleasant to work with initially, the final outcome was unacceptable. If you’re considering Starfire Web Design, get everything in writing—including security guarantees and hard deadlines—before committing.