Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : The so called ''unlimited hosting'' and why it is a scam

[jon-f]

This is probably old news to most of you, just an article I wrote for my site related to web hosting that I would like to share with everyone.

Lately I decided to go on ebay and try to sell some of our hosting and reseller accounts. When I got there and looked at all the other items for sale I was not really discouraged but almost all of them are those unlimited hosting and reseller scams. I suppose they have to go on ebay to sell such crap as it is forbidden to advertise these scams at any major web hosting board. They promise you unmetered and unlimited space and transfer for dirt cheap prices but if you read the fine print which they must post because they will end up quoting it to many people, but if you read the fine print it will say accounts using over 5-10% resources will be suspened immediatley. I have even seen some that say cannot go over 2% resource usage. Then they will have hidden clauses and terms for the type of files you have, for example I have seen some that doesnt allow any software with a copywrite what so ever. That does not neccesarly mean warez but freeware and open source as well! Another reason they sell these plans like this is because most likely the average person will not use that much stuff, especially the type of people who buy these plans as no experienced webmaster with a high traffic site will buy them. But if you do start using over a few gigs of space they will find some of your files that violates their hidden terms and then they will suspend your account. Trust me, they make it where they can suspend you at anytime for anything. Suppose you start getting some decent traffic, around 1000 hits a day, well they will say you are abusing resources and suspend your account. It's just one big scam and there is no way you can win. Do you really think someone can offer all this for such a low price? Especially it being unlimited. Well the fact is the server they rent to sell this crap on is limited in space and bandwidth so you know something is up there. The same applies for these sites who try to sell hosting plans with 150gb space and unlimited bandwidth for $15. It is impossible, they would have to use 2 servers or hds just to host your account. Just think if these hosts could really pull through with this unlimited stuff then how come sites like Slashdot and digg not hosted there? Why is everyone not hosted there? Because it is a scam, plain and simple. I used to know a guy named Justin who was always getting these unlimited resellers, he would keep them about a month, start filling up the space with sites he hosted and then all a sudden, cut off. He done this for about a year and then finally gave up the hosting business which I warnedhim from the start. I think it should be illegal to advertise such scams as this unlimited hosting, People if itr sounds too good to be true...It most likely is.

[JayC]

Three suggestions:

1. Spell check
2. Paragraphs
3. It's about hosting; it belongs in the Web Hosting Forum

I'll take care of #3 for you.

[jon-f]

Hmm, thats odd. Im not able to edit this post lol
Anyway sorry bout the grammer, this was just a blog on my site. Delete it if you like, there is no way for me to edit it and you just make me look stupid by telling me that and not letting me edit it

[markjut]

Yup, ebay is particularly full of unlimited deals like that. Note the difference between unmetered and unlimited though. Unmetered is possible, just means that they don't measure it which is perhaps more truthful than unlimited.

[CyberHostPro]

yep linux is full of unlimited features for £20 one of fee!

Kinder stupid, coz i thought i would give Ebay a go for hosting and not got that much really coz of the over sellers.

[Douglas]

felosi, use the report to Moderator link and ask them to edit it with a corrected copy of your article. Just make sure yu submit a corrected copy, LOL! While it is a rehashed subject (over and over again), it's still a very poignant reminder that's just as valid today as it was 5 years ago.

[DediEuro]

Hi,

You cant really do Unlimited, however there is many unmetered hosts out there ;-)

Good luck

[jon-f]

Well I say somene has to be metered on something on up the line so unmetered would have to have some limits as well. I actually have never known anyone to stay on those unlimited or unmetered plans for over a month.
And ya ebay is so full of oversellers and these unlimited scams it makes it impossible to sell legit hosting. I figured people must still be buying this crap so I figured id write a small article on it.
I share my articles to hopefully strengthen my writing skills and get people's opinions on everything, whether it is bad writing, a relevant subject or whatever. Thanks for feedback

[nettiapina]

Originally Posted by felosi

Well I say somene has to be metered on something on up the line so unmetered would have to have some limits as well. I actually have never known anyone to stay on those unlimited or unmetered plans for over a month.

Unmetered means that the speed of the line is limited to something, but the amount of transferred gigabytes is not counted. While unlimited anything is quite impossible, unmetered is often used on VPS's, semi-dedis and such.

Yeah, it's a blog entry.

[cywkevin]

Then the market evolved and spawned overselling to such extremes it may as well be unlimited.

[ldcdc]

Then the market evolved and spawned overselling to such extremes it may as well be unlimited.

Another one of the marvels of marketing.