How Hosts React!

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There’s going to be some (semi) funny shit here. I’ll be going around, randomly talking with different hosts and see how they react to my questions and the things I say. Sounds awesome, huh? Yay! Lets do it!

BTW, these are real live chats. I didn’t modify them (except for taking out the unnecessary crap).

1. PowWeb

The hosting industry’s leading overseller with <sarcasm>a great support team</sarcasm> and the best sales reps (who can really lie). Take a look at the chat I had with their sales people (they know what they’re talking about).

Me: How can you provide unlimited space?
Virgil Shaw: It is decided by our Product Management team. <WTF?>
Me: No I mean. Its not possible for servers. There is a limit, right
Virgil Shaw: Yes, it is possible. <Woah breaking news!>
Me: Oh ok. Do you guys oversell?
Virgil Shaw: No. <How do they provide unlimited space then?>
Me: Oh ok. Do you guys suspend accounts for using too much space or having too many files?
Virgil Shaw: No.
Virgil Shaw: Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
Me: No. Thank you. You answered my questions. Powweb doesn’t oversell, your servers have unlimited space and you won’t suspend accounts.

Man these guys are great! They are the first host in the world to come up with servers that have unlimited space. Just amazing. How did they do that? Some kind of alien technology I guess (Area51 Sector-Powweb). They don’t even oversell. Well why would they need to oversell when their servers *really* have unlimited space.

2. BlueHost

Hmm BlueHost does not oversell. They have some crazy configuration on their server that allows them to provide unlimited space without overselling. How cool is that? They’ve also got a really courteous sales rep, Ann A. (she never closes the chat without asking if all questions were answered).

Me: How can you offer unlimited space?
Ann A.: Hi! We have several hard drives per server. the space is dynamically allocated between accounts. larger accounts share the server the server with less users than smaller accounts. <Oh really? Wow. So smart!>
Me: No I mean. Its not possible to give unlimited space. At least for $7
Me: Do you guys do overselling?
Ann A.: We are simply saying we won’t charge additional for extra bandwidth or storage used but it does have to be used in a responsible manner. We do not oversell. <Don’t lie to us! Frigin overseller!>
Me: Oh ok. So you do not oversell. Good to know that
Me: How much space and bandwidth falls under responsible manner? <An excellent question!>
Ann A.: Our cpu limit is 35% CPU for 30 seconds and we have a 20 concurrent process/connection limit. As long as the limits are not exceeded, there’s not limit for the amount of space and bandwith used. <Bit smarter than PowWeb’s rep.>
Me: Ok. Are you sure Bluehost doesnt oversell?
Ann A.: Yes, I’m sure.
Ann A.: Obviously, most customers do not come close to use the amount of space available. For those that do use the space available, they are moved to a server that is shared with less users, so the space that promised to them in their hosting package is available. <That IS overselling>
Me: Ok ok. So you guys don’t oversell <I smell a big fat lie>
Me: If we get closed because of using too much space. My friend will refer to you and take legal action against you, personally. <Lets freak her out>
Ann A.: ok, i understand. thank you! <How rude! Closed the chat right away. Nice sales rep, BlueHost>

These sales reps are awesome! Saying whatever they need to say to make you buy a hosting package. These guys are the teller marketers on the web. They lie just as much (maybe a bit more), they’re just as desperate, but they’re not as annoying as those teller marketers.

I hope you guys found it very educational. And don’t believe whatever those sales people tell you. You know why, right?

More like this coming up soon (that’s right!). And if you have anything like this then email me (I’ll credit you). Don’t forget to drop a comment and tell us what you thought of this.