Problems with the Forum

[Stitch Up]

My site was down for a few weeks and suspended by Google following an attack. I contacted my host, Just Host, they informed me my site had been hacked BUT, amazingly, they removed all the offending scripts and got my site working again - AT NO COST!

Perhaps you need to share the load of supporting the site with others who have the ability/expertise, unfortunately, that's not me!!

Sponsorship is always something I've tried to avoid, however, if it's controlled properly, I suppose it's the only 'fair' way forward. We already have 'advertising' on the site and they do provide good support too. Now the membership has grown to a good level, advertisers shoul be more willing to contribute as it would be worthwhile for them.

In moving to a new hosting package, what do you think would be the annual costs? Would a move resist further attacks?

You're doing a great job Justin and I'm sure I echo the thoughts of many who enjoy this resource by saying thanks for your efforts.

Cheers

John

[AdamB]

I also use 'Just Host' also - top marks for them as well. I have had a few problems including deleting (by mistake) loads of posts (about 20,000) from a forum which they got back for me in a few hours ................. at no cost!

My opinion but they are very good.

[JSR]

Regarding "Just Host", Googling brought up this page: http://www.webhostingreviews.com/just-host-reviews.htm in which just 13 people out of 151 would recommend them.

2.79 / 10.0 Uptime & Reliability
3.25 / 10.0 Server & Connection Speed
2.31 / 10.0 Price Value for Money
1.86 / 10.0 Technical Support & Knowledge
1.51 / 10.0 Customer Service & Billing

Average rating: 14.56%

That puts them even worse than 1and1 (of 85 people only 14 would recommend them) -

4.96 / 10.0 Uptime & Reliability
5.60 / 10.0 Server & Connection Speed
3.52 / 10.0 Price Value for Money
3.13 / 10.0 Technical Support & Knowledge
2.45 / 10.0 Customer Service & Billing

Average rating: 27.13%

[Stitch Up]

I can only speak as I find and for me Just Host have been great, very quick support when I've needed it, zero downtime as far as I'm aware. Being a happy customer I'm unlikely to be looking at host reviews and therefore even less likely to post a positive review. If on the other hand I'd received rubbish service, I'd be more likely to seek out review sites and would more than likely to post a crap report on them.

I know that Justin did have some dealings with Just Host and found their tech ability sadly lacking.

If I go into Tesco and get a grumpy ole sod on the checkout, I'll likely condem Tesco and not the grumpy ole sod. Similarly, when I am contacted by a customer or a potential customer, I try to go out of my way to give them a good service in the hope that when they think of Stitch-Up they have a positive feeling.

I'm often asked to recommend a broadnamd supplier. Based on my experience, I'd recommend TalkTalk simply because I have had excellent service from them. But, TalkTalk have been trashed on Watchdog!

John

[JSR]

I can only speak as I find and for me Just Host have been great, very quick support when I've needed it, zero downtime as far as I'm aware. Being a happy customer I'm unlikely to be looking at host reviews and therefore even less likely to post a positive review. If on the other hand I'd received rubbish service, I'd be more likely to seek out review sites and would more than likely to post a crap report on them.

I know that Justin did have some dealings with Just Host and found their tech ability sadly lacking.

Despite the reviews, I'm sure JustHost are no worse and no better than any other web-host that offers dirt-cheap or free hosting in that they cram as many people as they can on the same server and have a minimal support team. It's only to be expected, all things considered. There are plenty of expensive hosts that employ the same technique.

That 138/151 people chose to report on poor dealings with the company has to make anyone contemplating a web-host sit up and take notice, even though we are all aware that more people complain than praise. These figures should never be taken in isolation as the only consideration - for example, the dates of the complaints needs to be considered. Old complaints may have been addressed and may be irrelevant. Also, just because there may be a host that has no complaints that doesn't guarantee that they're going to be perfect either. But, still, people considering a new web-host have to start somewhere.

If I go into Tesco and get a grumpy ole sod on the checkout, I'll likely condem Tesco and not the grumpy ole sod.

Well, it was Tesco who hired the grumpy ole sod and put him in a customer-facing position. Ultimately, it is their fault. If I phone up customer support and get some unintelligible person who doesn't know what they're talking about then I don't blame the person, I blame the people who hired them without giving them sufficient training - because the person is invariably hired because they're cheap, not because they're the right person for the job. That's not the individual's fault, it's the company's.

[Stitch Up]

I chose Tesco because I don't like them. To powerful, destroy farming and change the countryside.

I'd only go into Tesco with a brown paper bag on my head so they can't recognise me

[JSR]

I'd only go into Tesco with a brown paper bag on my head so they can't recognise me

"There's that guy with the brown paper bag on his head."
"Do you recognise him?"
"Sure, a guy with a brown paper bag on his head came in last month..."
"No, you're thinking of the guy with the white paper bag on his head."
"Oh, yeah..."

[John G]

I'm with talktalk for phones and also for my webhosting - its always cross your fingers time or seat of the pant stuff - would definately stay clear. Infact barge pole stuff.

Phones have been a constant pain in the arse, especially when you move premises - 2 years down the line - yes 2 years, and i've still got 2 lines on my account which i'm still paying for. Bought a domain name through them when I 1st started and 2 years later, when the domain was ready to renew, they didn't know anything about it - they changed name to opal business. Got free calls all day every day but invoice comes in with charges every month for different calls, all normal calls not mobiles or 0800 blah blah blah. Tried customer service - that didn't work either. Customer service is like russian roulette, different country each time, different person each time - half an hour to each person, then transfered to another guy, or lady guy, and bobs ya uncle, your working days gone in a poxy phone call to get a 20p charge deleted off your bill, and yes, nobody speaks plain english.

Total Joke.

[Justin]

Choosing a host is incredibly difficult. Everyone has different experiences and many people only review a host online if they want to complain, as is often the case, not many users review with praise.

I'm bearing a few different things in mind, obviosuly storage space/bandwidth etc. We also need to ensure decent support which is where many of these host companies seem to be falling down. 1&1 have always been great for uptime etc. but support has become so painful I'm moving other business away from them after many years.

I emailed a company on Thursday who looked to have some great packages but as yet I've heard nothing. This begs the question, if they can't answer a sales query within a couple of days what would support be like?

Up until now I've been working with typically fairly basic host packages but I'm now looking at a Virtual Server. This should give us far better reliability and minimal downtime. I can also use other useful features, automated backups and so on. It's overkill for what we need right now but as the forum grows it'd preove very useful. The companies I'm looking at have 24/7 online chat support in most cases.

Cost wise this is a dramatic but not unrealistic jump in pricing. From spending a few pounds a month this will rise to anywhere between £25-£45. Sure we can do things cheaper but this hasn't paid up until now. I'll also be keeping one of our existing host packages as a cloned backup to enable a quick redirection if required. This should ensure downtime would be kept to a minimum in the event of an attack etc. probably as little as 30 min's.

With regards to funding, I will need to find a way to get regular money coming in. We have great members on here who have come through in the past when I've needed a quick injection but I'd sooner not rely on putting out my begging bowl once a year.
Regular donations/membership of £1 per member per year would make a vast difference and I don't think anyone could complain at less than 9p per month! This would only work if all members paid though. I'd rather not get into the whole chasing for memberships, removing users for not paying and so on. Other options we've discussed have been advertising/sponsored sections. I know many members are against this as am I to a large degree but it would be a way to bring in much needed revenue without member having to pay. Is this fair though? We have a wealth of knowledge and brilliant technical support on offer so why should it be free? Just playing devils advocate I'm not in this to make money...not just yet anyway £10 per annum per member would seem incredibly fair and would give us a brilliant income to push things on but it just isn't needed right now.

As always, appreciate anyones input, suggestions and advice.

Justin

[Ian M]

I'd pay £10 per year as it would be one hell of a bargain.

Justin you are doing a brilliant job & I think we all appreciate what you do for us all.

Your a star in my book.

Ian