Is there a place online were companies can bid on clients?

I thought i cam across this somewhere, but I can seem to find it.

Thanks!

--JCA Justin

There was something called Growth Orchard or something like that - I looked into it a few times, saw the same three listings for months, and never went back...

Haven't been back in a long time so maybe it picked up..

Greg Moore

Yep, that would be http://www.growthorchard.com/default.cfm (http://http://www.growthorchard.com/default.cfm)

I have been thinking of this for a while. If there is enough interest from web hosts, I can create a section for this on our site. The more I think, the more I am tempted to do so but my original plan was to bring more programming/web design clients and I thought more web hosting companies (except some small designers and resllers) may be inclined to link to our site as this will help their own customers find good prorgramming and design services at affordable prices.

However, by creating a hosting section where people can bid, it may be a turn-off for some web hosts. What do you think? I would love to get some feedback. Let me know.

thanks

Thanks for the replies so far, I was aware of Growth Orchard, and I have been attempting to be active in the site however they don't seem to be doing anything at all. The same 3 listings remain on the site.

I would definitely be interested in a site were hosts could bid on clients.

--JCA Justin

growthorchard.com is basically dead. I registered, posted requests and messaes....what did i get in return? Nothing...nadda!..zip!...zero! No responses.

Not even from the webmaster.

So i stopped using it.

I think there is demand for such a site. Hope to see one that actually works ;)

That's it - only 2 people interested? Hmm... I am not sure - this kind of site takes enough people on both sides (customers and web hosts) to keep it going. Porbably the other site closed for this reason. I would like to see more show of hands.

My Hand in favor

As long as its anonymous.

As long as its anonymous

Can you clarify that, please? Do you mean to say people do not get to see which host is bidding on your request? If so, they will not have a good way of knowing what they are getting (network, servers, etc.,). I have thought about this but want to know what's on your mind.

thanks

I like it the way it is done on this site in the requests forum. No replies allowed, except by email. Means you do not know what your competitors are offering and they do not know what you are offering or even THAT you made an offer.

I don't think I wanna get involved in a thread in which each new post is a lower offer then the previous post. That won't help the quality of hosting very much.

I like the concept of growth orchard, if it is updated and run properly. I believe they are reworking the site and should be ready to go in January. I do agree with Pilgrim - it should be like the request forum, or at least like growth orchard where the bidding prices aren't public.

That being said, I am definitely interested in such a site.

Dustin

Or maybe one should make a script, which will list all the biddings for the users, and enables hosts to post a bid on the website directly.

I emailed the webmaster at GrowthOrchard a few months
back and they had plans with the site but were too busy
with the "core" business to go full out on growthorchard.
They said they will be starting up again shortly....

-- Brad

It seems like shortly has been a long time.

--JCA Justin

elance.com does have a section for hosting though not much.
But the elane model of bidding has been very good.
I really love that site. We were very active on it some time back as it was a major source of getting clients for us. (now we live mostly on our present clients and word of mouth). However I'm sure a system similar to elance in the hosting industry would be very good. This is a cool way to find out about a provider and well as a buyer...
elance being open has been it's major success. We had once made a closed bidding site for a client which failed only because of the closed system. Open systems set high standards..

Have a great day :)

regards
amar