Web templates good or bad?

My client wants to use a Web template and I say it's a bad idea. It looks cheap.

It depends on what type of template it is. I have learned my lesson that Flash templates are a very bad idea. It will take you many many hours to customize it.

However, some other templates can be good for both you and the client, because the client gets to see what the site will look like beforehand, and you don't have to worry about the client saying they don't like the end product.

They can be especially useful if you use some sort of cms like phpnuke or oscommerce.

One thing to keep in mind is that if the client wants something (even slightly) different than the template, it may take you a long time to implement because you are not familiar with the inner workings of the design. The other concern with templates is that someone else may use the exact same template, and there is a small chance one of those people may be your competitor.

Do you have a link to what template the client is planning on using?

Small businesses like templates because they are cheap.

i think templates should be like sort of a starting point, not the majority of the content or stuff of a website/page. so in essence i believe templates are good when used responsibly, as in moderation with other design principles, and bad when overdone to the point where the project becomes mundane or repetitive.