So I must've done something right as you're reading this post. Before you go off and say "Gosh, another guy going off on a rant. Not going to read this but instead I'll bash him either way" just simply read the post. It might be longer than you'd plan on reading but hey, you might learn something.
Anyways, I myself used to own a "hosting company" as they're referred to these days. After around 5-6 months of thinking "D*mn! I can make a lot of money!" I realized how untrue that was. The hosting industry 2 years ago wasn't as bad as it was now, but it was still terrible. The current market is flooded with kiddie hosts claiming to best the "Next MCPH!" or whomever, but they aren't. These host usually don't make it past month one at the max.
Now, I might not be the best person to be going off since I myself was one of these hosts at one time. Buying a server from OVH or Datashack to realize later I was getting ripped off! That's not ever fun, right? Alright, so too many kids are starting "companies", that's been stated. But why should you kill their dreams? Well, they're wasting time and money. Mostly their parent's money, but still money.
Recently, for example, there's a new-ish host who's decided to ask every question a good host should know. It's people like this that tick me off and make me want to yell. They come on here claiming to be the latest and greatest when they can't even install their panel! Ouch!
Long story short, if you don't know what you're doing, do NOT get into hosting. Hopefully in the future, I might make a few do's & do not's for hosting but for now I'll leave it at this.
One of the big problems I see in the end of all this is the customer. They buy a server from one of these "new MCPH" hosts, suffer horribly or just unexpectedly have their server disappear because the hosts can't pay the fee so the customer doesn't get their money's worth, as I remember how many hosts just chose not to give back refunds.
This ends up as a problem for all of the genuine hosts, they lose customers to the cheaper hosts and then after they (customer) get ripped off they are too annoyed to go back to the old ones (may also be trust issues). So that's how lack of experience costs even the best hosts to suffer.
Sorry this may seem a little unrelated, I've just seen a few good hosts plunder to the temporary 'cheaper' host, and it kinda feels very unjust.
Also if I could say a new arising problem I notice more frequently: torrented or DEV whmcs. I've noticed a few hosts illegally using it (won't mention who just to be fair) and all that leads to is again: premature closure of the hosts. If they can't pay for that (or at least use boxbilling, don't go on about how bad it is please. Not the problem at hand), how can I trust them to run servers?
You definitely weren't getting ripped off at OVH or DataShack. They are two of the cheapest providers for self managed dedicated servers.
@MikeA,
I said this as I actually was. This was when OVH oversold most of their network. At the time as well, I was put on one of their dedicated servers with another user as they'd "messed up" their automation at the time. Keep in mind, this was also 6 months ago and lately they've done a lot better. Regarding Datashack, I purchase a server from them as they were doing "datacenter maintnence" and my server was wiped 3 times "accidentally" and after asking for a refund several times, they said they wouldn't and ended up deleting all of my existing services with them (3 dedicated servers).
@Others,
Thank you for your comments on this post. I personally noticed that even a few of you worded your statements better than I would've mine. Anyways, hopefully more people can see this post including those wishing to create their own "hosting company".
Well I am glad to see that all of the "hosts" are commenting and sharing the same opinion. The amount that just copy and paste on hosting threads compared to the few above who actually read posts in the hosting section.
It's honestly just annoying to see copy-paste posts. First off, they're not allowed in the Hosting Requests sections since it's against the rules. That should be a no brainer honestly. Second, copy-paste doesn't look professional and you don't create that connection with the client.
It's honestly just annoying to see copy-paste posts. First off, they're not allowed in the Hosting Requests sections since it's against the rules. That should be a no brainer honestly. Second, copy-paste doesn't look professional and you don't create that connection with the client.
If you see a host copy and pasting replies report it. Its hard enough keeping up with all of the sections, you can't honestly expect moderators to spend their entire day in a single section monitoring every single post a host makes. While we do regularly check, it can be hard to notice the copy and pasted posts if we are just doing normal browsing in the section, or we end up missing it because it seems so innocuous in the current context.
I would like to point out that what you consider copy-and-paste rule breaking, may not actually be breaking the rules.
Replies must meet all needs outlined in the original post along with any other relevant information based on what the topic starter posted (memory, price, slots, country, etc.), posting only server rates is not allowed.
Hosts can use a template if they want, so long as they are tailoring their responses.
Copy and Paste posts, I don't hate per se. Just, I think that reps should have to answer the question and requests of the client in their main body only and keep the generic we have X and X and X on our host in a spoiler, in case the client wanted the quick breakdown of what the host has to offer.
That way you don't have a barrage of text and the hosts can state everything they can offer, so the client has easy access to both the info he/she requires (and asked for) as well as, at his/her discretion, more info on what the host offers.
If you see a host copy and pasting replies report it. Its hard enough keeping up with all of the sections, you can't honestly expect moderators to spend their entire day in a single section monitoring every single post a host makes. While we do regularly check, it can be hard to notice the copy and pasted posts if we are just doing normal browsing in the section, or we end up missing it because it seems so innocuous in the current context.
I would like to point out that what you consider copy-and-paste rule breaking, may not actually be breaking the rules.
Hosts can use a template if they want, so long as they are tailoring their responses.
I would GLADLY monitor this specific forum. What I mean as well, to clarify, are the post where they're not tailored for the user but pasted from a document they've saved. I've seen several posts from the past where they still have "Hello [Enter their Username Here]," posts. Oh well though. You are right when you say you can't be on all of the time, but the more the merrier.
So I must've done something right as you're reading this post. Before you go off and say "Gosh, another guy going off on a rant. Not going to read this but instead I'll bash him either way" just simply read the post. It might be longer than you'd plan on reading but hey, you might learn something.
Anyways, I myself used to own a "hosting company" as they're referred to these days. After around 5-6 months of thinking "D*mn! I can make a lot of money!" I realized how untrue that was. The hosting industry 2 years ago wasn't as bad as it was now, but it was still terrible. The current market is flooded with kiddie hosts claiming to best the "Next MCPH!" or whomever, but they aren't. These host usually don't make it past month one at the max.
Now, I might not be the best person to be going off since I myself was one of these hosts at one time. Buying a server from OVH or Datashack to realize later I was getting ripped off! That's not ever fun, right? Alright, so too many kids are starting "companies", that's been stated. But why should you kill their dreams? Well, they're wasting time and money. Mostly their parent's money, but still money.
Recently, for example, there's a new-ish host who's decided to ask every question a good host should know. It's people like this that tick me off and make me want to yell. They come on here claiming to be the latest and greatest when they can't even install their panel! Ouch!
Long story short, if you don't know what you're doing, do NOT get into hosting. Hopefully in the future, I might make a few do's & do not's for hosting but for now I'll leave it at this.
Kind Regards,
Zach
This ends up as a problem for all of the genuine hosts, they lose customers to the cheaper hosts and then after they (customer) get ripped off they are too annoyed to go back to the old ones (may also be trust issues). So that's how lack of experience costs even the best hosts to suffer.
Sorry this may seem a little unrelated, I've just seen a few good hosts plunder to the temporary 'cheaper' host, and it kinda feels very unjust.
Also if I could say a new arising problem I notice more frequently: torrented or DEV whmcs. I've noticed a few hosts illegally using it (won't mention who just to be fair) and all that leads to is again: premature closure of the hosts. If they can't pay for that (or at least use boxbilling, don't go on about how bad it is please. Not the problem at hand), how can I trust them to run servers?
@MikeA,
I said this as I actually was. This was when OVH oversold most of their network. At the time as well, I was put on one of their dedicated servers with another user as they'd "messed up" their automation at the time. Keep in mind, this was also 6 months ago and lately they've done a lot better. Regarding Datashack, I purchase a server from them as they were doing "datacenter maintnence" and my server was wiped 3 times "accidentally" and after asking for a refund several times, they said they wouldn't and ended up deleting all of my existing services with them (3 dedicated servers).
@Others,
Thank you for your comments on this post. I personally noticed that even a few of you worded your statements better than I would've mine. Anyways, hopefully more people can see this post including those wishing to create their own "hosting company".
Regards,
Zach
It's honestly just annoying to see copy-paste posts. First off, they're not allowed in the Hosting Requests sections since it's against the rules. That should be a no brainer honestly. Second, copy-paste doesn't look professional and you don't create that connection with the client.
If you see a host copy and pasting replies report it. Its hard enough keeping up with all of the sections, you can't honestly expect moderators to spend their entire day in a single section monitoring every single post a host makes. While we do regularly check, it can be hard to notice the copy and pasted posts if we are just doing normal browsing in the section, or we end up missing it because it seems so innocuous in the current context.
I would like to point out that what you consider copy-and-paste rule breaking, may not actually be breaking the rules.
Hosts can use a template if they want, so long as they are tailoring their responses.
That way you don't have a barrage of text and the hosts can state everything they can offer, so the client has easy access to both the info he/she requires (and asked for) as well as, at his/her discretion, more info on what the host offers.
I would GLADLY monitor this specific forum. What I mean as well, to clarify, are the post where they're not tailored for the user but pasted from a document they've saved. I've seen several posts from the past where they still have "Hello [Enter their Username Here]," posts. Oh well though. You are right when you say you can't be on all of the time, but the more the merrier.