I just had to get this out of my system.... :o

Recently a user posted here at WHT asking for some free hosting for a small anime site and I offered it to them. Well, they said they wanted to use a subdomain for each section of the site and I said okay because subdomains are basically nothing to add. They also asked for a few extra domains parked to a subdomain and went ahead and did that...

Well, today I find out that they are offering hosting to other sites and of course each subdomain is another site and some of the sites are showing my banners and some aren't.

Basically, it seems as though I've been providing a reseller account for free and now the user wants some more domains. I've discussed this with them and they said they're not willing to discuss it. I asked if they would be interested in a hosting plan and they said no because some random host was cheaper and sent me to the most unprofessional hosting site I've ever seen in my entire life. I said to just go with them and they said no because they didn't have any money.

So I don't know if I should just suspend the accounts (that would suspend all the subdomains) or if I should terminate the whole thing or if I should just be patient with them. I know what I should do, but I'm a nice guy and so I don't want to just leave them in the dark. :)

Any opinions?

terminate the whole thing... J/K I don't knwo thats kind of on the line there. If they did not tell you they would be hosting other sites and are thats fine but they should all have your banner.

But on the other hand you did not say you wanted to give away 100 sites and bandwidth for them all for free for his one banner so i think i would terminate the whole thing.

Just my 2 sents. ;)

p.s. i am a nice guy as well but man thats kine of on the line there.

Originally posted by Timothy
Any opinions?

Yes. There's a big difference between being a nice guy and getting walked on. You're doing them a favor by hosting them for free and now their not willing to discuss it!! Don't let them take advantage of you.

Here's what I'd do (I'd think this out a bit more first if it were really me, but for the sake of this response this is my first thought)

I'd send them a letter saying that things have gotten to be more than you had originally agreed to and you can not offer this level of service free of charge (especially since some of them aren't showing your banners). You'd be happy to still provide free hosting to ONE subdomain (with banners) and the other sites can contact you for a possible arrangement as well if they like.

Since they are not willing to discuss it, I would end the letter telling them that if you do not hear back from them by a certain date (like a week), the sites will be suspended and you will send them all of their content so they can make arrangements to host elsewhere.

If you're feeling particularly nice, you can offer paid hosting at a discounted rate somewhere in there because you understand their financial concerns (they won't take you up on it anyway, but it will make you look like you are trying EVEN harder to make it work, so if they try to bash your company here afterward you can say that you honestly tried everything first).

If it were me, and they didn't like the offer I would not feel guilty in the least with them going elsewhere.

Like you said, someone is probably running a business on your servers for free, and taking advantage of your kindness. That's just not right.

My 2 cents...

Originally posted by Timothy
Well, they said they wanted to use a subdomain for each section of the site and I said okay because subdomains are basically nothing to add.

Looks like they want a free ride. They wanted each sub-domain for a section of the site right? As quoted. Not to host 100's of sites by reselling.

I think you have every right to go ahead and terminate the entire account. You'll still be a nice guy... :)

I'd have to go along with Andrew (BravoComm).
That seems like a fine solution.
And you'll still be a nice guy.
Just don't let this experience discourage you from still being a nice guy ;)

That would bring me to snapping point right there. They don't get to say they're not willing to discuss it AND get the goods. If they can't afford to go to the other place then they really have no argument. It doesn't matter if the other place is cheaper, they can't go to it anyway. It's like some kind of humerous threat to leave you. Now's the time for all good men (and women) to set their feet down, make the rules and trim off the fat. Cut off any subdomains/domains not displaying the banner.

Timothy, it sounds as if you were a bit overly generous, but aside from that, you agreed to help with a certain amount (site, subdomains, domains pointing to subdomains, etc.) but I'd consider what you offered and compare that to what you feel isn't quite with that plan, such as them offering the space to others and inform them that the space was intended for *their* use only. Any sites/subdomains not showing the banner would be history, because I'm not one to put up with that sort of crap.

Tell them that they have changed your offer from being able to host their domains on your servers in exchange for banner ads into a reseller plan without displaying your ads and if they're not willing to discuss an upgrade or similar, you would have to suspend the accounts. Being generous is not a bad thing and won't hurt anyone, but it will hurt you if they're taking advantage of you.

Is this what they call Free Unlimited Bandwidth?
But seriously, thats what they are taking right now. They have obviously have taken full advantage of you. Do whats right, and remember nice guys finish last.