Criteria to consider when deciding to buy a template from a particular website template store:
(Hopefully you will answer yes to as many of these questions as possible - then you know you have an excellent, professional template provider!)
- Does the store guarantee support of the template, by the original designer or second best, someone just as qualified? Can you email the original designer of the template (especially important if the store sells templates by many designers)?
- Does the store have a track record of helping customers (look for testimonials), or will you "pay and pray"?
- Are customization services offered (preferably to be undertaken by the original designer of the template)?
- Does the store state that it adheres to certain standards, and will your template display correctly in different browsers?
- Can you see the template in action, or a full-size screenshot (don't worry about copyright watermarks)?
- Does the designer provide original source files, such as a Photoshop file of the template layout, and the source files for any animations?
- Can you see a short bio of the designer, so you can gauge his/her experience and skills?