Switching Hosts

Avoiding bad blood for lost business?

[Hubie]

I might have to change hosts soon, simply because a competitor is offering a similar service for much, much cheaper. I know my current host cant compete with these prices. We've been with them for several years now. (they have access to all our site data, enough said). What's the best way to cut ties and switch over to a new hosting company while avoiding bad feelings? The last group of people I want to piss off are the ones who have my data records............

[foxtunes]

If you've had a reliable host for several years, I'd think twice about jumping ship to save a few pesos.

This new host could be offering dirt cheap packages because they are over selling.

Overselling=downtime.

[Hubie]

i am switching for sure.

that wasn't the question.

[surfin2u]

I might have to change hosts soon, simply because a competitor is offering a similar service for much, much cheaper. I know my current host cant compete with these prices. We've been with them for several years now.

I understand that you're not asking for this, but here's one more vote against switching from a good host to an more unknown one to save money.

That said, why care what the old host thinks after you're gone? And what makes you think that you can do much about it?

[trillianjedi]

"Thanks guys, it's been nice and you've been a great host but commercial pressures are forcing me to move on elsewhere".

I know my current host cant compete with these prices.

Have you actually asked? Even if they can't match current market prices, they might be a bit put out that they didn't even get the chance to get nearer the mark. If you haven't already, I think you should give them the opportunity (assuming it's purely a commercial price decision to move).

they have access to all our site data, enough said

What do you fear, exactly? Are you hosting "sensitive" data?

If you're a small account, they honestly won't give much of a damn about it. If you're a large account, you may be surprised how they react to the suggestion that they're a little out of touch with market rates and you're considering moving.

TJ

[surfin2u]

Good points TJ. Negotiating is always a good strategy. When you give the other guy a chance to respond, you may end up doing better than you might have expected.

[onlineleben]

Money is an issue, but not everything.
Even if your old host cannot compete pricewise, maybe they can offer you additional resources/features/benefits to your current hosting product.
I am with my hosting company (a small local company) since 1998 and have experienced very good service from the very beginning. I wouldn't switch to an other one just for getting things cheaper and becoming someone not known to the support staff or owner.

[klick2kall]

Also on the negotiate with current host bandwagon. I understand your need for protecting your content as well. Which makes the argument for making an attempt at staying with your current host even more valid. I have played the merry go round game with hosting for years and it just never ends up equating to anything beneficial. Mostly it just causes more downtime.

Increasing your margin is always something to strive for in business...but you need to find the fine balance between reliability and cost effectiveness. Increasing your volume of sales however is twice as important as your margin. Downtime would certainly not be condusive to volume increase and "customer" satisfaction whoever that may be.

[Hubie]

ok...i'm past the negotiating point. there's no way they can compete with my new host.

so here's my question now......can I simply make a DNS switch and be gone with my old hosts? Or do I need specific data from them?

Hubes

[trillianjedi]

can I simply make a DNS switch and be gone with my old hosts?

Yes, if you're in control of the DNS, just repoint all URL's to your new servers' IP address.

TJ

[surfin2u]

You might want to maintain your account with your old host for an extra month or two. After Internet surfers are all routed to your new host and no longer the old one, you can delete your data from your old account before closing it out.

[Sports Workout]

what do you mean delete my data?

also, will i retain all site statistics (traffic, search log, etc) even after DNS switch?

[surfin2u]

You probably uploaded your web page files to your host's webserver by using FTP. You can also use FTP to delete your files from the server. If that is not the case, and you have used some website construction template or page on the host's webserver to build your site, you should still be able to go in and use it again to delete some of what you created. I'm just guessing here because without knowing what software tools you used to create your site, it's difficult to give a specific answer.

Perhaps you have created a mysql database too, and if you have then you can drop each table to remove it, and then delete the database.

Your stats and logs reside on their server too, but you may not be able to delete them. You should download any of them to own computer if you want them for future reference.