If a client or potential client asks you directly if you're a reseller what do you tell them?

you shouldn't lie...

Originally posted by dherman76
you shouldn't lie...
I agree, but I know there seems to be alot of people that try to make it look as much as possible like they are not a reseller (i.e. private nameservers)

Jeff

There's nothing wrong with virtual nameservers. If you are asked if you are a reseller, then tell them you are, but ALL hosting companies are resellers in one way or another (mostly reselling bandwidth).

Originally posted by WeinBar
There's nothing wrong with virtual nameservers. If you are asked if you are a reseller, then tell them you are, but ALL hosting companies are resellers in one way or another (mostly reselling bandwidth).

I agree with the vertual nameserver part there is nothing wrong i think it works more as an ad then you tring to hide who you resell from. If someone likes the speed ect of the site they just visited and want to know who is their host to check them out when you look at the DNS you will be able to see who their host is...

Originally posted by WeinBar
... but ALL hosting companies are resellers in one way or another (mostly reselling bandwidth).

I agree, but I was referring specifically to someone who doesn't own a server or lease a dedicated server.

Its always best to tell the truth to your customers, hell most will understand. I've worked for awhile in the retail end, and as long as you don't lie to them. The virtual nameservers are good also for the same reasons mentioned above...


Of course, I've seen several little wanna be webhosts that claim to have multi-million dollar datacenters when they are really resellers for *****.....

I'm sure deceiving the masses would work out fine until you have server problems and the support for getting the server back up is in someone elses hands. I'd much rather explain up front then after the fact for something like that.

Although I remove that information from my site but I will tell the truth to my potential customers who asked.

I just got another sign up today and the customer did ask me this question since she is referred by one of my customers that signed up for my hosting service while the information of being a reseller was still on my site :D

See my signature ;)

Choon

Very good honest choice :)

You should tell your customers the truth, but be prepared to explain why they should host through you instead of directly from who your reselling for.

I have no problem admitting it. Why?

I get a 50% discount. So, I resell plans for cheaper than what the company who gives me the reseller plan sells the same plans for.

Are you handling support?

A reseller should not have any problems admitting his status if his upstream provider takes some protective measures. You do not want to be sending yoru customers to your host do you?

;)

I'm going to start reselling soon for some of my design clients. I'm going to tell them right out that I'm reselling. I'm not saying eveyone should do that, but if you're asked, you should always tell the truth. And don't make up cr@p about your own $10 million data center!

Originally posted by dherman76
Are you handling support?
I handle Linux/NT/MSSQLServer support for the company I work for but it's not a webhosting or colo company.

Originally posted by Hachour
A reseller should not have any problems admitting his status if his upstream provider takes some protective measures. You do not want to be sending yoru customers to your host do you?

;)

That will depends for my case ;)

If a customer ask for a reseller package given a block of web space and data transfer per month... I will tell the customer that I am just a reseller and ask whether is it okay for me to direct the customer to my host.

It happened once just yesterday... :D

Choon

Originally posted by choon


That will depends for my case ;)

If a customer ask for a reseller package given a block of web space and data transfer per month... I will tell the customer that I am just a reseller and ask whether is it okay for me to direct the customer to my host.

It happened once just yesterday... :D

Choon

Do you plan to move up to a dedicated server or colo at some point?

Originally posted by JeffH


Do you plan to move up to a dedicated server or colo at some point?

I will if I can meet the following:

1. Has 100 clients or more ;)
2. When I gain more/sufficient knowledge about how do I manage a dedicated server :D
3. When I know I am able to handle most support issues
:rolleyes:

Regards,
Choon

I would recommend telling them that you are a reseller if they pose the question, otherwise, I wouldn't. Period.

Aloha

OK some of you seem to be missing the point on the sales end

tell them yes we are a reseller the reason we resell is because the comapny we go through are experts at running servers just as we are experts at running a hosting business and providing top notch support.

think of the analogy of a big car company
we are like your local car dealer we buy from the manufacture and that way we handle everythign for you.
(well OK car dealers are ripoffs ;)
but yo get what I meant

or some example like that
try to sell your service not that you get it for cheap and are making %xx on each one you sell.

do not bring up financial info with customers about your margins you are opening yourself up

yes we are a reseller the company we go through they have the best technicians that are great with machines and understanding how to do technical stuff
we are the experts at customer service making sure you get the correct plan for your needs providing you with help when you need a mail list manger etc....

sell service you can not put a price on service
you can put a price on products

and good thinkers make WHT go round...:)

the truth shall set you free .

OT
Q: when is the best time to redesign your website?
A: when your resellers have a much better website then your site, that it looks like you are the one reselling for them :)

I totally agree, if they ask if you are a reseller, tell them. Also, sell them your service at the same time. I would not recommend advertisingon your site that you are a reseller.

Thats what I think.

Thanks everybody. This confirms what I thought.

Jeff