Here's my little experience with tera-byte.com
I emailed tera-byte.com that offers 20GB transfer for $10/month. I asked them if I could get more bandwidth and pay for it and they said NO! I asked if I could get a couple of accounts to fit my needs, but they won't let me get more than 1 account! How stupid is that!? They wouldn't work with me at all.

They said:

Our plans are pretty much set in stone. If you really need that much transfer, maybe you should think about a dedicated server or something.

This was after I asked them for about 50GB transfer/month (note that their $27/month acocunt gives 40GB transfer!). They were pushing me to pay $200+/month for a dedicated server instead of working with me and maybe charging a little more and customise the account for me needs.

Anyways, I just thought some of you might be intrested in knowing this and to save you the trouble of emailing them to god forbid work with you a little.

Saeed

Thank you for bringing that to our attention. However, I would like to point out that each web host has the discretion to either charge $X for extra bandwidth or not do so at all. In my opinion, they're already being generous enough by offering 40GB for that price (in fact, if you look around, 96+% of hosts don't even offer anything above 10GB of bandwidth at all!). It's also difficult to predict whether the bandwidth usage rates for high-bandwidth sites will rise or fall.

If you're looking for more than 50GB/month then you really probably will have to look for dedicated/co-lo.

Offcourse, I understand that. But what I'm saying is it would be like they would have 2-3 different costumers. It's not like I'm not paying for the accounts.

Also if I needed a lot of server resources I would surely get a dedicated server, I have no use of much resources except for bandwidth.

Saeed

Tera-byte are being very generous in offering 40gb for that price. Alabanza only offer 50gb of transfer per month with their base dedicated package.

We cap people at 10gb of transfer for standard and then make special arangements if they need more. 10gb is a lot of data to shift and I can see why tera-byte don't want to let you use the $10 plan with 20gb a couple of times - they don't want to be out of pocket, do you think that 20gb costs less than $10? It costs at least twice as much as that. The bottom line is they know for a fact that they would be out of pocket, and like BC said it is their call.

As customers, I wouldn't be too unreasonable when a company like tera-byte offers such generous bandwidth allowances in their packages.

Try other hosts and see how much it would cost to even get 20GB transfers. Or give those companies offering unlimited bandwdith a try, and you'll soon realize they don't really mean what they say.

50 GB is a heck of a lot of bandwidth anyway. Exactly what are you doing that requires so much? And perhaps, as suggested above, it would be more feasible and possibly (but not likely) cheaper to customize your own dedicated server. If you don't need all the other resources, many hosts offer custom quotes/plans.

Saeed, it's much better to have a host honestly tell you that they cannot meet your needs BEFORE you sign up with them, than to have them lie to you about it first in order to get your business and then let you down. I commend them for their honesty.

If a host has plans that cannot be altered to meet your needs, just move on. Complaining about it publicly on more than one forum in hopes of making them look bad is counter-productive, and makes me question your motives.

Be realistic..NO ONE could offer 20gigs bandwith for only a few bucks.

Deb Suran, you commend them for their honesty?
:) LOL..
If they're honest, they won't sell 20 Gigs bandwith for only US$10.00 because they already knew if it's impossible.

Thx.
Soda

Originally posted by sodapopinski
If they're honest, they won't sell 20 Gigs bandwith for only US$10.00 because they already knew if it's impossible.

Soda, it isn't impossible. It is playing the same game that almost all hosts do (although a higher level). Stating that you offer 'unlimted bandwidth' is impossible. Deb's right- not every site can be hosted for $20-$40/mo. This site is *already* big and probably will only get bigger. Time for a dedicated.

Zolbian, it isn't that they aren't willing to work with you, they are just telling you that they will not host a 50 Gb/mo account on a shared server. You aren't going to find a host that will do this, and tera-byte offers one of the biggest, most generous plans I've even seen. Honestly, if you can't something you like there, then you need a dedicated server. Many hosts would have told you this at 30 Gbs.

Theres probably only one in every 20 sites on there servers that even goes past 5gb so really they arent loosing any money.

"NOT co-operative" You asked them to change there plans to suit you and they made a business decision to say no live within one of our plans or get your own server.

As a Tera-byte customer I applaud them. You don't say what you need all this space for but I would bet that 90% of those looking for high bandwidth at low prices are wanting to host porno or warez sites. Maybe your in the 10% that doesn't but your branding them as "NOT co-operative" sounds like sour grapes just because they are not willing to take the chance.

Why don't you tell us what your site will be for and why the need for so much bandwidthand just maybe some host will get back to you and say how they might be able to work with you.

I sure wouldn't that kinda bandwidth-hogging site on the same shared server I'm on. :)

First of all, gthorley: My site does not contain adult content, nor does it contain any ilegal content. I am founder of a big web develeper resource sites, back in the days before selling it we had a minimum of 60GB transfer/month. Now my new site is not about web developing, but it will be a music site with "LEGAL" songs that people can listen to.

Secondly, I know they are offering a good price on their packages, BUT!.. What I'm saying is that if they can not handle a costumer using the full given resources of their packages, then they should not offer them! I personally don't see anything wrong in me as a costumer wanting 2-3 accounts to fit my needs. I am currently hosted on FutureQuest and they have no problems letting me sign up for more than 1 account. Yes, their plans are more expensive, but atleast they are honest. Tera-byte is not!

Thirdly, I don't want them to change their plans to fit my needs, I only suggested that so they would save their webspace and the trouble of setting up all the extra accounts. The thing is I could have easly signed me up for 1 account and had other friends sign up for other accounts for me. But I am not that kind of a person, I'm honest with everyone and I expect the same in return. Also I won't sit and say nothing when I feel that someone is not doing the right thing. This is a board about webhosting and this is something I wanted to share with those that are intressted.

Saeed

Whats wrong with the host admitting they can not handle yoursite?.

Would you of liked to of signed up and three months down the line they shut your site off?. If your site is so important and consumes this much traffic. Why not get one of there dedicated servers for $99 a month?.

Zolbian, you are just going to have a big site. I understand what you are saying when you say,

What I'm saying is that if they can not handle a costumer using the full given resources of their packages, then they should not offer them! I personally don't see anything wrong in me as a costumer wanting 2-3 accounts to fit my needs.

*but* you have to realize that you didn't ask them about a 20 or 30 Gb site (which would have fit within their packages). You asked them about a site that would be bigger than those. You may not see anything wrong with wanting 2-3 accounts, but they did. It is their call, and maybe another host would let you, but they wouldn't.

I'm not asking you to agree with me, and often you won't agree with the board's opinion on things, but let me give you an exaggerated example:

Yahoo approaches Tera-byte and says, "Hey, we've got this site that uses 240 Gb a month, can we just sign up for 12 of your $10/mo plans?"

A site like this would effectively consume all of the server, (resources). A site like this needs to be on a dedicated server (which they offer). A site like this should not be on a shared server. Again, not asking you to agree neccesarily, just see a different view (theirs).

Now my example is a bit extreme, but hopefully you see what I mean. I've known tera-byte to be *extremely* easy to work with, and very honest, and I think this applies here.

Also I won't sit and say nothing when I feel that someone is not doing the right thing. This is a board about webhosting and this is something I wanted to share with those that are intressted.

And that is a good thing! Understand that just because I/we disagree with you, it can be discussed...

Technics, the thing is they back out as soon as they see a costumer is going to use the full resource of the package they´re offering.

Chicken, I totally understand what you mean. I would have gotten a dedicated if I had a site that needed 50gb of transfer for normal files such as html, images, cgi and databases. My actual site in on another webhost, so there will be no load on this server except for bandwidth. I don't know, I'm doing this site as a hobby thing, I don't think it´s worth paying $200/month since it won't even be making enough to pay for itself.


Saeed

PS. Yahoo is a heavey load on any server (anyway you look at it), my site needs pretty much only bandwidth.

I think there's a reason why web hosting is usually offered in packages, instead of an open ended "market" where customers get to pick and choose exactly what features they need, disk space, transfer allowance etc. Packages strive for that delicate balance between value offered and profit margin for companies offering them.

What you're asking is that tera-byte.com allow you to extract out only the best aspect of their package (the generous allowance), and duplicate it to fit your site. It's not unreasonable for them to refuse that.

I think it may help if you posted what the maximum amount of money is you're willing to pay for a host that offers 50 gigs of transfers monthly. The knowledgeable people here can then provide you with alternate proposals to look over, instead of dwelling on a hopeless cause :)

George

Addended to George's astute comments above, you need to bear in mind that hosting is often a business of very narrow margins -- and one of the highest overhead costs of hosting firms is their traffic; whilst being, for most hosts, their lowest profit center.

Many hosts will indeed "negotiate" custom packages; but in the end, they need to make a profit to remain viable, and traffic is where they often have the least flexibility.

Originally posted by zolbian
Technics, the thing is they back out as soon as they see a costumer is going to use the full resource of the package they´re offering. No, they were willing to give anything up to the full limit of the package, but not beyond it. What's unfair about that?

Certainly there are a lot of hosts who attempt to use vague and deceptive wording of terms, and bury disclaimers (such as what "unlimited" means) in fine print, but this seems pretty straigtforward. They sell what they sell, but you want something they don't.

Originally posted by zolbian
Chicken, I totally understand what you mean. I would have gotten a dedicated if I had a site that needed 50gb of transfer for normal files such as html, images, cgi and databases. My actual site in on another webhost, so there will be no load on this server except for bandwidth. I don't know, I'm doing this site as a hobby thing, I don't think it´s worth paying $200/month since it won't even be making enough to pay for itself.

This is hard Saeed. I've seen plenty of people in similar situations where they just started up a site (sometimes when they were 13 years old), and for whatever reason, the site just took off. Now they are 13 1/2 and are being told that they can do is move to a $300/mo dedicated server, heh.

Anyway, that's a tangent. You may run into trouble no matter where you go with your site. Often the TOS specifically prohibits linking images, etc., from other accounts/servers. I know you said you chose Futurequest (a really good company by the way), but you might want to be sure that they don't have this clause. Maybe you saw it and contacted them about it, but just be sure regardless.

Unfortunately, I don't have all those busy site problems :( One day I hope to be in your shoes :)

Originally posted by zolbian
First of all, gthorley: My site does not contain adult content, nor does it contain any ilegal content. I am founder of a big web develeper resource sites, back in the days before selling it we had a minimum of 60GB transfer/month. Now my new site is not about web developing, but it will be a music site with "LEGAL" songs that people can listen to.

Saeed

Well now the hosts reading here know what you want if its a good business deal for them you should get lots of offers. Trouble is they don't have any way to contact you and maybe the rules don't permit them to leave you a message less they be charged with soliciting business or something. Maybe you should leave an email address so they can make offers. Anyway good luck with your venture where theres a will theres a way.

Good point, turn on the email feature in your profile and see what comes in. Youe email address is not posted anywhere, and they actually have to email you though a form. Might see something you like!

Ok, let me try to make my point a little more obvious since most of you don't get it..

Tera-byte.com says we offer you 20GB for $10/month or 40GB for $27/month. Everyone thinks "Wow!, that is a great deal" (as I did). But! They know 99% of their users will not use more than 5GB/month. Now if that user wanted more than one account I'm sure they would have no problems what so ever creating 10 more accounts for him. But then a costumer comes that actually is going to use what they offer and they say no! I read in another post that bandwidth is about $3/GB for the webhost, so you people that call Teta-byte "Honest" tell me how could they give a user $120 worth of bandwith and charge them $27? Even if we say $1/GB it would still be $40/month if a user used the full bandwidth.

Now my point is that they are not offering the 40GB/month that they say they are (that most of you think they are). If they were then they would be more than happy to have a costumer that would buy more than one account. I mean, the more accounts they sell the more money they make, right? So basicly Tera-byte.com is no better than the hosts that say "unlimite transfer" and then is Terms of use say otherwise.

Most of you people put up with stuff like this, you look the other way or go elsewhere without saying anything. That is exactly the kind of reaction that makes these companies grow and tell you even more lies.

Keep in mind that this is only my opinion and how I read the situation. You all have the right to your own opinions and thoughts.

Saeed

Ok, email is on.

For those of you that have webhosting, I'm looking for a host that would let me have music files (legal!). I will probably do them in Flash (.swf) format (200-500k/song) so the browser will cache them (instead of real audio). I will be needing about 100mb of space and "maybe" a very small usage of mySQL.

Thank you,
Saeed

Originally posted by zolbian
This was after I asked them for about 50GB transfer/month (note that their $27/month acocunt gives 40GB transfer!). They were pushing me to pay $200+/month for a dedicated server instead of working with me and maybe charging a little more and customise the account for me needs.

Saeed, this is what you originally posted. If you had a 30 Gb/mo site, you could and would be fine, but you don't. They won't host the site on a shared server and I think everyone on that server appreciates this.

Like I said, most hosts specifically prohibit you from just hot-linking files from another server. You are mistaken in thinking that they are offering just bandwidth for the money (this isn't what hosts offer).

They offer you space for a site and with that a certain amount of transfer for a certain amount of money. This is not what you are looking for. It doesn't matter about multiple accounts (nothing to do with it).

Also note that while offering 40 gigs is nice, there are other factors that could limit this amount. Your site may need a dedicated server before 40 gigs due to cgi scripts, etc., and will have to be put on a dedicated server since ti consumes too much resources. All of this goes for any host, not just tera-byte.

I know you just want the account for the space (no cgi scripts, etc.), but you have to understand that hosts do not offer just space (ie: I need 500 MB to just store my files), or just bandwidth (what you are asking for).

Saeed, is this site up yet? Just want to take a look...

Chicken, I told them I needed about 50GB and I was thinking about getting more than 1 account. I asked them if they could give me the bandwidth in 1 account so they can save the webspace and the trouble of setting the accounts up. Also when they said no I asked if it would be ok to order multiple accounts.

Some sites need more bandwidth, some webspace and others the ability to run lots of scripts (i.e. message board). Not all sites will need exactly the same amount of everything.

The site is not up yet, I need to find a webhost that will offer me the bandwidth I need in order for the site to be complete and go online.

By the way, anyone have any experience with http://www.3dhosting.com? They seem to offer 60GB of monthly transfer for $54.95.

Saeed

Saeed,

Your points are technically correct, however it is unfair to suggest tera-byte are lacking integrity because you don't accept the 'spirit' of their offer.

You can't honestly believe they would have the support they do if they didn't treat their customers well over a long period of time.

The explanations that have been offered you about use of bandwidth and the delicate balance of resources needed to maintain profits should be something you embrace and learn from, not become upset and belligerant about.

Instead of showing that you 'don't get it', why don't you consider doing something proactive.

If you are prepared to pay $55 for 60Gb of bandwidth for your music files, why not get a $99 dollar (or slightly dearer) dedicated server with 100 Gb per month transfer, and find someone willing to pay the other $45 or so for the use of the rest of the space and resources.

You could probably use this forum to canvas that prospect without breaking their rules (I hope :|)

If you email me and talk further I may consider this myself.

I've yet to see many other industries where the collective is prepared to assist newcomers with quite the same 'integrity' overall as web hosting. Save your ire for those hosting companies that do sting people.

Cheers.

You´re right! I never ment for it to go this far, just wanted to share my experience and give my 2 cents. I'm sure they are a good host, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people defending them. And I guess nothing/nobody is perfect ;)

I was actually thinking about getting a dedicated and sharing it with someone. Where was it that I could get a dedicated for $99/month with 100GB transfer?

Thanks,
Saeed

Saeed,

This is gonna sound like a set up, but it's not. Contact me off the board if you want, but the answer is..

....a subsidiary of tera-byte.com (4webspace.com)

Now there are a couple of alternatives if you find that difficult to swallow, also search this forum, I'm sure there has to be something close.

ok Bandwith is it the amount of people that go to your site and tranfer the sites images and such or is it the amount of download from your site, because i am confused by reading this post. Maybe someone can shed light in this dark area. Because i have had about 20 people go to one of my sites and not used any of mine.

When someone goes to your site and views your images, they are downloading them from your site, along with the html files.


Bandwidth is usually measured by the amount of tranfer both uploading and downloading.


If you only get a few visitors, which use about 100k - 1Mb of bandwidth, that will not show up because it is too small an amount.

felix220,

They charge $99/month for the server, but then if you want MySQL they charge $375 extra. PHP costs $295 extra. I'm not sure if you HAVE to pay this or if you can simply install MySQL and PHP yourself.

Also I'm just guessing my site will need 50GB of transfer each month (might need more, depending on how many users it gets). I'm going to make the songs in 8-bit to save bandwidth.

Saeed


[Edited by zolbian on 12-04-2000 at 01:44 PM]

Saeed,

Check your email.

Originally posted by TheComputerGuy
ok Bandwith is it the amount of people that go to your site and tranfer the sites images and such or is it the amount of download from your site, because i am confused by reading this post. Maybe someone can shed light in this dark area. Because i have had about 20 people go to one of my sites and not used any of mine.

Well if you want to put some labels on things that make sense of this:
Bandwidth is actually the capacity of the line in terms of speed. This translates to amount of data transfer in two ways. One, a small pipe (like your 56K dilaup connection), cannot handle large transfers of data at once. This is one limitation. Since it cannot handle large amounts at once, it is also going to be more limited in what it could push (even full bore, constantly all month long). A larger pipe would be able to push more data at once, thus more total per month.

Transfer is more the *amount* of data that is passing through the line.


Originally posted by zolbian
I'm not sure if you HAVE to pay this or if you can simply install MySQL and PHP yourself.

You can install it yourself. They just charge you to do it, since as Steve said, they'll have to support your questions about it.