Some web designers charge by the hour,

Do they set timer?

Idea: Get a book from the bookstore.

Spend a weekend reading it and learn how to design your own website.

It's really that easy to do !!!

Are you really paying someone to do this for you?

Have you asked family?

Usually there is a kid in high school or college that can do this quickly and free as a favor.

It's crazy to pay for web design.

I learned this over a weekend with a book. Not rocket science.

Don't pay for that.

Yes they set timer but i will advice you to get one who charge on fixed price. This is because it takes some web designer weeks to get it done, some days, some home hours depending on the number of pages etc

No, they will estimate or approximate. I would pay for the work performed, not the time in which it took them to do it.

"I want 5 pages with some flash built in on the first page and a fillable form on the contact us page, how much will that cost?"

Thats how I would approach. They will come back with questions and you need to be able to answer some basic tech questions, but spend an hour reading about this stuff and you'll be fine.

A timer? Like a clock? What is the alternative? Would you prefer a sundial?

Yes, people who work by the hour track their time. The alternative would be guessing, and you don't really believe that professionals just guess, do you?

Some web designers charge by the hour,

Do they set timer?