I just visited another site where I may sign up for 6 months and get one free. However, I am enticed to take 12 months and get 2 free.

The first time I saw this I just thought "duh." But I have seen it so many times now I am starting to think there is something here I don't get. What am I overlooking?

There has to more to this. Right?

Gary

I think, you should first research about the host you are gonna choose. 6 and 12 months are a long time. And if the host is not reputable, its not worth the risk. Also, I think you should test there support and stuff out. Find you more info abt them. If they have a telephone number, contact them on it.

oo one more thing.. Its just a marketing trick. They keep the client in contract for longer. Which host wouldnt want this? :)

Originally posted by projo
sign up for 6 months and get one free. However, I am enticed to take 12 months and get 2 free.

There has to more to this. Right?

Gary

Obviously.

If you sign up for twice as long you get twice as many months free.

Conversely, if you sign up for only half as long, you only get half as many months free.

Since it's always better to get twice as much free as half as much free, well then, the choice should be clear.

etLux, you really like confusing people dont you? I'm already confused. Why confuse more people? Reaching this state of confusion, is bad enough. I wouldnt want anyone else to reach it.

I think I explained that with exemplary clarity. Try reading it once again.

I did.. I read it 4times... im yet confused :D

Take the 6 month deal and get 1 month free.

After 6 months buy another 6 months and get another month free.

PLUS by that time the price for 6 month hosting may have dropped :D

Gary which host is this? Maybe the board can reassure/offer advice either way?

(I feel a musical number coming on, maybe something from Grease?)

Wella, wella...
Tell us more, tell us more-
Like how many bytes?
Tell us more, tell us more-
Is tech support up all night?

Doo Dah-doo Dahh-doo Shah-doo-doo-doo-doo...

Originally posted by Chicken
Gary which host is this? Maybe the board can reassure/offer advice either way?

(I feel a musical number coming on, maybe something from Grease?)

Wella, wella...
Tell us more, tell us more-
Like how many bytes?
Tell us more, tell us more-
Is tech support up all night?

Doo Dah-doo Dahh-doo Shah-doo-doo-doo-doo...


heheh.. Chicken the singer?

Please look at the time on my original post above. I think I was asleep. It finally happened. I am posting in my sleep.

Actually I was not evaluating the indirectly-referenced site for hosting but I can see why y'all'ld think so (y'all'ld is a perfectly good word). I meant to indicate that the site was trying to entice me for a longer contract with no advantage. At least not one that I understood. My title is misleading. I'm just impressed that I can write in my sleep.

I have been studying plans, features, and business models in preparation for my own hosting work down the road. I asked my original question after following a link from a post around this forum. In any event I have seen this many times. So, I did a quick google.com search on something like "sign up for 6 months and get" and got many hits, some relevant, some not. The two at the end of this post were on the first result page. The first is exactly the type pseudo-enticement I am talking about. The second is different but provides a time limit and maybe a hint at the answer to my question (I now repeat my question in the light of day):

Question: Why would I be enticed to sign up for a risky 12 months for a 17% savings when I could sign up for 6 months for the same 17 % saving and repeat in 6 month intervals?"

(your comments have helped me better form the question.)

Answer (maybe, your comments please): It is a one time deal that can not be repeated. Thus the 12 months with two free ones might appeal to some.

If this is not the answer then I am overlooking something. Is the 12-versus-6 just advertising hype? If it is just hype with no real additional benefit is this not a lot like blowing smoke up the chimney (or up something)? Would some prefer the longer period just to minimize billing activity? Does this fall into the same category as "unlimited?"

http://www.aplushosting.com/english/index.phtml
"Sign up for a full year, and you'll pay for only 10 months! Or, sign up for 6 months, and get one month free. "


http://www.nwrks.net/orderform.html
"January Special: Sign up for any Net//works! Hosting Plan for a minimum of 3 months and get a free month of hosting! Sign up for 12 months and get 2 free months! (offer valid 1/1/01 - 1/31/01). Offer does not apply to dedicated server plans."

Again: My intent is not to compare these two plans but to decide which promotional features to eventually use in my own efforts. When I do go into production I will give first considertions to members of this forum.

Gary

(There is one thing that bothers me. I think I understood etLux's post.)

I may have to register the name "longposthosting.com"

Gary

Lots of hosts are still running their holiday specials
there is an advertising forum here that lists many different offers.
Good Luck

Originally posted by projo
There is one thing that bothers me. I think I understood etLux's post.

This is disheartening. Such a clear explanation!

Dear longposthosting,

Yes, this offer woldn't repeat itself, thus if you look at it total (now that doesn't sound right, but stay with me), you'd get either:

1 month free out of 12 if you signed up for 6 months -or-
2 months free out of 12 if you signed up for 12 months.

Maybe they'all'ld charge you for only 5 months or 10 months, but the theory is the same.