(The following is a composite and does not represent any particular host. Not all hosts exhibit these traits and
even if you see a little of yourself it does not mean you are a bad host, e.g. if you flamed someone it was probably
because you really do care and he really did deserve it. My point, and belief, is that most "bad hosts" are good
guys with good intentions that get in over their heads. I believe the really bad guys are few and far between.
The Old Man In Der Net)

Phases of Web Hosting, a Fantasy

1. Interested

Thoughts: This hosting thing is very interesting. I can maybe do this and kept my job or stay in school.
I could make lots of money and get my own sites for practically free. I could sell sites to my friends and family and
help them with their sites. I can probably run everything myself. I could sell really cheap and attract many
customers. I wouldn't have to make much on each account to make it all worth while.

Actions: Visit a lot of hosting sites and check their plans and prices. Investigate reselling, dedicated, virtual
this and virtual that, unlimited here, unlimited there. Study. Read discussion forums. Sign up for an account to play
around with. Register a domain name. Start writing HTML and maybe Perl and PHP programming.

Affirmation: This is really fun. I could be good at this. Just a matter of learning the right things.

2. Decision

Thoughts: I am just going to do it. I will be careful about my sources. I will start with reselling. However, I
wonder if I should start with a dedicated server. It will pay for itself in no time and I would max my profit on each
account. I will ask questions and check everything out. I will not get caught like so many I read about. I will
provide great customer support and have really good prices. Maybe I could give free sites and make money on
banner ads. With all the bad hosts around there is room for a really good one.

Actions: Participate more in discussion forums (got to get that post-count up, get rid of the novice tag).
Study harder. Sign up for a reseller account. Set up the plans with really cheap prices. Design the home-page and
the plans-page myself with my new knowledge, maybe get a friend to help. Create a couple of fake accounts and
practice managing them. Work the control panel to death.

Affirmation: I am a good host because I care. Anyone could be a good host if they just cared. I'm gonna get
an A, I'm gonna get an A, I'm gonna get an A, I'm gonna get an A.

3. The Startup

Thoughts: When am I going to start getting more clients. I know, they can't find my site. I have to do
something so people know that I exist and what a good host I am. I have to get noticed. Maybe it is my site
design. Maybe I could lower my prices a little more. I don't like "unlimited" but potential clients probably expect it.
After all, everyone knows it doesn't really mean "unlimited." I am selling a few accounts, many to people I know
and meet. I will have to be sure to set constraints so bad clients don't abuse me.

Actions: My friend, the one playing with the fake accounts, goes to WHT to say what a good host I am. Just
telling the truth. Chase the clients/novices on WHT even if they are looking to pay only $3 or $4 dollars a month.
Put my prices in my WHT sig. Post as much as possible. Start checking trouble tickets during the day at my regular
job. My wife calls me at work if an urgent trouble-ticket shows. Curse the bad client that is wearing a wart on my
but.

Affirmation: I will speed even more time with customer support. I will reduce my time-to-respond. I will
get a pager. I will find someone to work tickets a couple hours a day, someone cheap. I will not let a few bad-mouth-ers get to me.

4. It's a Business.

Thoughts: This is taking far too much of my time. I don't have a life anymore. A few clients take most of my
time. What do they expect for the cost of a burger-meal per month. I am working for less than minimum wage. I
could cut grass and earn more. The first time these guys pay late or their card is refused I am dropping them. They
deserve it. Some of the other clients are slowing my servers down. I need to add more restrictions to the terms.
They are supposed to read them each month anyway (I'm really glade I put that in the original terms). - - - -
Why is this turkey asking me that question? He can do his own homework. I can't give quality service and deal
with these trivial problems. I will get up early in the morning and respond to that last batch before going to work.
I hope I don't over-sleep again.

Actions: Blow up on WHT and flame the little b****** that says I am a bad host.

Affirmation: I only reacted because I care. I care, d** it. I am a good host. A few bad clients are not going
to ruin my reputation.

5. The Bad Host

<ME> OOooo good price 7USD/Month, 25g trans, 1mail, 50pop, 20m, no set-up fee etc...

<M> sign up and accept cpanel for small additional fee .50USD/m (stupid me)

<THEM> Bill account

<M> e-mail several times

<Th> no response

<M> call

<Th> Hello, How may we help you

<M> Yes, Hello, I received my billing statment and it shows you charged me an additional 30USD, I was wondering if you noticed the mistake.

<Th> Sir, there is no mistake, that is a set-up fee

<M> Your add said no fee set-up

<Th> Yes sir but there is a fee for the cpanel set-up

<M> Great *&^(*%

:eek:


ONE MONTH LATER

<Th> Hello, how may we help you sir.

<M> HI, I received another billing statement today it shows you billed me 57.50USD, WHY! The plan is for 7.50USD/M

<Th> Sir, we are charging you 7.50 a month the additional charge is for processing your bill

<M> 50USD FOR PROCESSING!

<Th> Sir, this is a normal fee for service that all hosting companies charge.

<M> Hung up......began looking for new host

TWO WEEKS LATER

My site no longer works I call support

<Th> The number you have dialed is no longer in service if you feel ........



This is a true account of what I went through this year

Although I am also at fault as I did not leave this host when I had my first problem with them, I believed that I had not fully understood the terms for service so I stayed and became the fool.


But your on the money,

No such thing as a bad host

Sounds like a bad host to me.
Gary