Tired of our host!

Shared hosting. Is it safe to switch?

[Birdman]

I've tried to put up with these people, but I am at the end of my rope. They don't reply to my emails half of the time and when they do, it's always "we can do it for x $'s".

Now they have switched servers and have problems all over the place.
Enough ranting ;)
My question: Since it is a shared hosting plan, can't I just purchase a new plan elsewhere and switch our domain's nameserver info? This won't cause any problems with se's will it? I know I'll have to redirect the old site so there is no dupe content.

[john316]

It is fairly straight forward to move.

1.open a new hosting hosting account.
2. move content to new account.
3. change the nameserver info at your registrar.
4. say goodbye to your old host.

*If you use a lot of (or any) cgi, double check your paths to perl, sendmail, or any other server path config files on your new host. Don't forget to configure email accounts at the new host. If you are moving via ftp, make sure the permissions are set correctly on your scripts at the new host.

[Birdman]

Thank you john316! One problem remains. The domain name was set up by the same people and they have their email as admin contact. I don't know the password to change nameservers. I would rather not clue them in until the change is complete. At least they do have us listed as owners. Should I contact the registrar to change admin info and do you think they will notify the old host if I do?

[richlowe]

By making them the admin contact you have given then the power to do what they will with your domain. Who is listed as the domain owner? If it is you, then you might be able to get the registrar to change the admin contact. If it is not, then you are pretty much at the vendors mercy.

Richard Lowe

[john316]

I would simply request that they give you the password to your domain registrars account. They don't need to know why.

[Birdman]

Thank you both for your advice.

By making them the admin contact

I wasn't even in the picture when this was done. It is actually my mother's site. She paid them way too much. That is why I got into this stuff in the first place. I'm glad though, because the web is sweet.

I think I'll try to contact the registrar since we are listed as owners. I had to do sort of the same thing with one of my own domain names. I forgot the password and the admin email was a site I let go.

[richlowe]

since we are listed as owners

Since you are the owner, it shouldn't be much trouble.

Richard Lowe

[john316]

In the hosts defense in regards to admin and contact info:

A lot of folks just say "I don't know how to do that, just make it work", so they end up as contact by default, there may be no malicious intent involved.

Thats why I suggest an email.

[Crazy_Fool]

>>I've tried to put up with these people, but I am at the end of my
>>rope. They don't reply to my emails half of the time and when they
>>do, it's always "we can do it for x $'s".

this is just a general comment i feel that it's worth making here and is not aimed at any one person .....

this sounds like the pretty common misconception that web hosts are supposed to fix incorrect code on the sites they host:

site owner - "my script doesn't work"
web host - "we'll fix it for $20"
after repeating this a couple of times, the site owner hasn't paid the host to fix the script. the web host gets fed up answering the same questions over and over so doesn't bother replying. site owner eventually gets fed up with the web host and moves elsewhere.

the bottom line is, fixing problems takes time, and someone has to pay for that time. when we buy web hosting, we buy web hosting and web hosting support. but web hosting support is for web hosting - things like ensuring the servers are working, that email is working and so on, not for the design and development of web sites and not for writing or fixing incorrect code and so on. if people can't write and fix scripts themselves, they need to employ someone to do it for them or learn how to do it properly themselves.

when dissatisfied site owners move elsewhere rather than pay for someone to fix the site, they often end up no better off or even worse off. they might get their site fixed for free by another host, they might not. but if they do, it's probably cost them a lot of time and effort in moving the site. it may even have cost them some downtime and lost sales. it may well have been cheaper to pay the host or someone else to fix the site in the first place.

yes it's always cheapest to do it yourself or get someone to do it for free, but is it the best way forward? is it the most cost effective or financially rewarding way forward? are you right to expect free services from other people? are you justified in feeling fed up when people won't provide free services? is moving hosts the best thing to do when the host won't fix your site for free? which will benefit you most - paying for a definite fix, or moving away and maybe still not having the fix?

i could ramble on for hours, but time for sleep ......

[mosley700]

"this sounds like the pretty common misconception that web hosts are supposed to fix incorrect code on the sites they host"
I doubt anybody thinks a host should fix code, but there are many problems caused by hosts.
Hosts sometimes re-configure things so images don't show, or miss-configure stats.
An example of this was binaryblocks.com. They were a good sized hosting provider, reselling hosting services even.
They had thousands of sites on their servers, including two of mine.
They president of the company didn't pay his bill to cobaltracks, and they disconnected the servers. The owner of the place disappeared. Hundreds of sites are still down because of it.
I feel that good hosting is hard to find. I've moved my sites three times in the last six months. ( If my sites go down for more than 5 minutes per month, I'll move 'em. )
All in all, most business done on the Internet is iffy. Programmers take thousands of dollars, and then ignore emails.
Hosts ignore emails and phone calls.
SEO "professionals" take thousands of dollars out of your pocket and deliver squat.
It seems, sometimes, that the Internet is a haven of scoundrels and thieves and incompetent, lazy, computer nerds.
Recommendation: Walk into an office in a city near you, meet the hosting people face to face. Also, check uptimes at Netcraft.

[txbakers]

I have to agree with Crazy to some extent. The web host company provides a piece of real estate - a vanilla shell as we used to say in the mall business. It's up to the tenant to decorate, advertise, and take care of the merchandise. The landlord provides the lights, the service, and a conducive environment to operate your business.

It's not my responsibility as the host to fix scripts or examine your code.

However - as Mosely stated, most web hosting company's customer service is disgraceful. I was with a cheap host for several years, but if I had a problem all I received in return for my emails were stock answers which came close to my question. The company didn't even have a phone number you could call. The WHOIS listing for the domain provided a phone number, but it was sent to a recording asking you to email your problems.

The only way a smaller company can compete with the big boys is on service. A smaller company has to be willing to go the extra mile where others won't. If it takes looking at code or helping to install a script that should be part of the service. After all, the web host is essentially getting an annuity from the tenant - fees coming in month after month without having to do much work. A little courtesy and service go a long way.

[Birdman]

Wow, I thought this thread was dead. Thanks for the replies, although I think a few people misinterpreted my post.

I said...

They don't reply to my emails half of the time and when they do, it's always "we can do it for x $'s".

I was not asking them to fix the site itself. I meant things like: ftp password?, cgi-bin?, why is the site down?, why is the webmail dow?, why are stats down?

are you justified in feeling fed up when people won't provide free services? is moving hosts the best thing to do when the host won't fix your site for free?

$250 a year for a site under 30 megs is hardly free and I never once asked them to "fix our site". I only asked them to fix thier own problems and(early on) give me the passwords I needed to change the site they started on and quit. Thier own site is still "under construction", as it has been since I took over.

My main worry is if I request the domain password they will know I'm outta there. What if they delete our files and don't give me the password? The domain is registered through a tucows reseller account and tucows says I have to contact the reseller(our hosting co.). I guess we either take our chances and ask or stay with them and be unhappy and pay 3 times as much as we should.

Thanks again for the replies :)

[txbakers]

I would immediately transfer your domain to a reputable registrar like Verio. It will cost you $19, but you will get full control over the name. When you register a name, you don't want to park it on your hosts name server - that gives them full control. Verio, Network?Solutions and other top tier registrars will give you a free parking space on their name servers. All you need to do is to modify the zone files any time you want to change hosts.

That way you are not beholden to anyone.

As to deleting your files - you should have them backed up on your local machine as well. Stuff happens, even to the most cautious, and you should have a complete set ready to go in case of whatever.

[Birdman]

Thanks txbakers. I do have a backup, though a bit outdated. I'm on that now. Can I transfer the domain without the password and user id? I would hope that they would not be malicious enough to delete our site. I'm just looking at the "worst case scenario". Even with backup files, if the domain doesn't resolve we're in trouble, right?

[txbakers]

Yes, the domain needs to resolve. I'd give Verio a call and see if you need the password and user name. To my knowledge you don't - they just send confirming emails to the administrative contact, both from the old registrar and the new.

The last time I walked someone through a transfer it took three tries (the person was a very non-tech type and just deleted the confirming emails thinking it was junk!). A personal call to Verio took care of the whole thing. They have good service people.

Whatever you do, your site will be down while you transfer and the new name servers propogate across the internet. Could be as much as four days.

[NeedScripts]

For domain transfer, I would highly recommend Go Daddy. They are pretty good at service and very economical.

Whatever you do, your site will be down while you transfer and the new name servers propogate across the internet. Could be as much as four days.

That is not true. If you continue your hosting account with the existing hosting company. Once you get the domain transferd, then get another hotings account (so at one moment, you will have 2 hosting accounts), and then change the Name Server info at Domain Registration Company and your site won't be down even for a second :)