I used to like 99designs, but they were a fair bit cheaper when I used them last.
I'm starting to think you're getting the worst of all worlds if you use them now. You can't really expect any good designers to enter (or if they to, you can't expect any effort) since they have a 1 in 20 chance of getting paid (or whatever it is).
So these guys need to account for all the failed jobs to win one... you're effectively paying them all and then getting one rushed logo for your money. Would it not now make more sense to either spend the full $499 on one great designer with an impressive portfolio, and get one really high end logo that you loved, or spend $5-10 x 10 on Fivver and get a bunch of average ones at 10% of the price ? 99designs now seems to leave you paying Armani money, and getting George as Asda quality :lol: