General Query About Freelance Designer Fees

Question

I've always wondered what other freelancers charge for various websites. I've read where noobs are getting away with charging $1000 for a very simple 4 page static website (which they admit to using templates) - which I always feel obligated to email the website owner to tell them they got screwed (especially when half the website doesn't work).
The online reports I've read really are so scattered, they offer no insight. The websites I create are always built from scratch, everything is custom designed and coded (unless I use a 3rd party effect) - CSS, JavaScript, etc.
Just for the hell of it, what would you (assuming you are an actual designer and not a template noob) charge for something like:
6 page html website with mostly text and graphics (all graphic are supplied) - photo editing more than likely needed
Copy editing more than likely
E-Commerce cart linked to PayPal (I can custom build this without using any 3rd party software)
That's about the meat of it. If you throw in your quote, let me know where you are from (state/country). I'm interested in what people charge world wide. I'd also like to hear any other words of advise about how much others charge. I know I've been under charging for years, but once you get into that hole, it's hard to jump out of it knowing you are still being fair.

Answer 1

I'm going to try and not lose my temper on this, but there is always one in the crowd that sets me off... I hate it when a simple question turns into someone trying to teach.
Rob Hecker2
what you are describing is the website of ten years ago. Virtually every potential client I talk to wants a CMS
Thanks for the backhanded comment. Just because whatever clientele you run into may want CMS doesn't mean everyone else in the world does. Each time a potential client mentions wanting to update their own website, the more I ask about the time they have to commit to it and their basic knowledge of what may be involved (photo editing, etc), they quickly realize it's not worth their time to learn basic skills and therefore allow me to continue to update the website. I mean, web design isn't JUST about creating the thing and severing the client's need for your services anymore. If you just focus on CMS websites, then you are losing out on the updates. Just because YOU don't do something doesn't mean the fact others may do it means they are any less experienced.First of all, online e-commerce didn't really take off until the very late 90's / early 2000, so I don't know how my description would be desribed as something 10 years ago as if it was already so outdated in these current times.
For one thing, the focus of my work is creating business logic with PHP/MySQL, not creating HTML layouts
Well good for you. I'm more on the graphical/context side of small business websites. While your focus is different, there is no need to assume my experience is any less in what I do. If you build websites in which you know there will be no follow-up money coming in (for updates), then it makes no sense for you to lower your rates based on that. That's just financial suicide.
You might turn up your nose to WordPress and template noobs
No, I don't turn my nose up to template noobs. I wanted to focus answers from the people who custom build.
If you are in the business of building websites that can be defined as "six page html website with mostly text and graphics" then I think you are operating at the lower end of the website industry. Pardon my bluntness, but you are trying to figure out where you fit in the industry. Right?
Backhanded comment #2. It was a general description to give a visual of what kind of content this scenario website pertains to. Pardon my bluntness, but your comments are not only arrogant, but also you have totally misread my topic and taken it to a level of insults. I thought I explained quite well I knew I was asking such a vague question and was simply looking for ranges of figures (whether it be hourly or simply based on there being an e-commerce cart). I'm NOT looking for comparisons (as someone else suggested). I simply wanted to get a range (even if it was wildly vague and random), and most seemed to misread what I was trying to ask. Everyone else at least offered "some" insight - while all I read from you was insults. You should have edited your response to just include your $600-$2000 range - since that's the only non-insulting thing I could pull out.
To everyone else, thanks for whatever insight you gave. I'm moving away from this thread before I lose my temper.