Dilemma! What to do?

TheDoctor · #1 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 07:51 AM

Right now I have the standard hosting package at ValueWeb.net. I am curious to see if you think I am paying too much for what I am getting. Also I am moving into eCommerce with the site. I am opening a merchant account with a company for $29.95 a month which includes the shopping cart and gateway however if sales are under $700 a month there is an additional $14.95 fee. Now for the next 7 days WalueWeb.net is running a special on the there Commerce package for $29.95 a month compared to $49.95 regularly which includes mySQL and more than twice the space as well as Miva Merchant, which is not compatible with the merchant account I am going to be getting but it still offers twice the space and mySQL which to add to the standard account is an additional $14.95 a month alone.

What do you think I should do?

Should I go ahead and upgrade to the Commerce package?

Should I change hosts?

Should I use a different merchant system compatible with miva merchant?

What would you think about switching to the LEAN package at www.globalservers.com. ONLY $14.95 a month and 10 times the features though it seems. It also comes with unlimited domain pointers and 12 virtual host (which would be nice since I have 30 domains). Then I would just use the current merchant account that I was going to go with.

What do you think? Does this seem like the best move?

What do you think about ww.globalservers.com's packages, ecspecially the LEAN package in general and compared to others?

All help would be appreciated.

Thank you

WebCraft · #2 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 08:26 AM

TheDoctor,
One of the things to note about hosting and merchant packages is the blind side. What I am refering to is support. I have run into the same wall with several of our companies clients. What to do?

The company I use supplies the Miva software and has a great monthly rate. Not to mention support!

Give http://alpineweb.com/ a try. I have several Miva clients that are hosted here and all I can say is good and great things about the small company.

The really advantageous thing here is that these guys have passed on the support inquiries to us and now we can help those clients that need help. We got an understanding of what goes on and its a great collaborative effort.

The Virtual Private server is $45/month, with $50 set up. However you don't have the limitations that you mentioned with your current provider. The list of features would take a great deal of typing so here is the link to the VPS Server:
http://alpineweb.com/hosting/vps/freebsd/index.html

Let me know if you need more help.

WebCraft · #3 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 08:34 AM

I meant also mention that MIVA is Free when you buy this plan! Good luck, let me know if I can help anymore.

dpdenterprises · #4 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 12:07 PM

Well, the host I'm using has provided good support and the price is great. Check out 1and1.com. Currently they are offering a 500meg business package including 100 email accounts, MySQL and more for FREE for 3 years. Yes, I said FREE! No strings attached.

WebCraft · #5 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 12:30 PM

dpd,

i am not sure on a few things mentioned.
1) You have a hosting system through AOL. Why? Not even an absolute URL.
2) MySQL and 100 free email accounts FREE for 3 years? What the heck does that mean?
MySQL is always included as a FREE package with the server company I referred. 100 email accounts? Who needs that many. Of all the sites I have build for corporate agencies, the most I have ever seen needed was around 20. Besides when you have that 100 email accounts on a 500 meg server, you are not really allowed as much incoming mail for it would close the server down. That would mean that if all of those accounts even had 2 megs a piece, then the math would say that 200 megs alone was allocated towards email.

What you had stated makes little to no sence as far as the business aspect of what TheDoctor needs. Not to mention, as I discovered, they don't even offer Miva which I believe was the main part of the question.
I see that you are a part of the affilaite program and trying to win a vacation from the 1and1.com web site. So nice try, but they don't have what TheDoctor needs.

The idea of the forum is to help others, not try and upsell or do a sales pitch. We referred our host connectin only because they offer what he needs.

ronbaker1 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 01:56 PM

I think Superb.Net, www.superb.net, is an option you should consider. I've used Superb for four clients, without any significant problems. Superb has a range of hosting solutions, with a focus on high availabilty, high quality operations support, and service.

For one client, I used their "Win Pro" package ($55 setup, $35/month) and built an online store using Miva Merchant (included in the package). Miva Merchant is a great software development tool for online stores. You should look for it in any hosting service you select. Obviously, if you use Miva Merchant you need to choose a financial gateway it works with.

With the "Win Pro" package, you will have an additional fee to install SSL. And pay fees for "parked domains", if you want to add multiple domain names. But, the basic package has most of what you will need. Of course, for a few more dollars you could move up to their "e-commerce" package and get all of these elements as well as other features included in the base price.

When you're buiding an e-commerce business solution, you need to go beyond the dollars in evaluating a web host service. Obviously, you need certain features and tools in the package. But, you also need a focus on operations, service, performance, and availability by the web service provider. I like Superb based on all of these characteristics.

By the way I took a quick look at http://alpineweb.com/ and this also looks like a good hosting service based on the features and service they promise.

dpdenterprises · #7 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WebCraft

dpd,

i am not sure on a few things mentioned.
1) You have a hosting system through AOL. Why? Not even an absolute URL.
Ok, my answer to this is that I have just gotten the hosting on 1 and 1. As for an absoulute URL it's dpd-enterprises.com
2) MySQL and 100 free email accounts FREE for 3 years? What the heck does that mean?
You are true that most but not all hosts offer MySQL at no cost.

MySQL is always included as a FREE package with the server company I referred. 100 email accounts? Who needs that many. Of all the sites I have build for corporate agencies, the most I have ever seen needed was around 20. Besides when you have that 100 email accounts on a 500 meg server, you are not really allowed as much incoming mail for it would close the server down. That would mean that if all of those accounts even had 2 megs a piece, then the math would say that 200 megs alone was allocated towards email.

Again, a good point. I never suggested that one would need/nor use 100 email accounts.

What you had stated makes little to no sence as far as the business aspect of what TheDoctor needs. Not to mention, as I discovered, they don't even offer Miva which I believe was the main part of the question.
I see that you are a part of the affilaite program and trying to win a vacation from the 1and1.com web site. So nice try, but they don't have what TheDoctor needs.

Yes, I'm regestered to win the vacation, but that was not my reason for posting. I thought that by offering the information on 1 and 1 TheDoctor or any one might be interested in thier offering. Vacation or not you can't argue with a 3 year hosting contact for FREE.

The idea of the forum is to help others, not try and upsell or do a sales pitch. We referred our host connectin only because they offer what he needs.

I'm sorry if you or anyone else took my post as a attempt to upsell or as a sales pitch. It was not ment to be seen as that just as an attempt to suggest something to others that could be useful.
I apoligize to anyone whom my post offended or that took it out of the context in which it was offered.

Preferredtelecom · #8 (**permalink**) 11-14-2003, 02:11 AM

We use a company called Goemerchant.com for our eCommerce package. You should look into them for $49.95 per month you get everything including 50 megs of webspace, Credit cards, shopping card and a easy to use store front included. Head over to the site and try the demo I think you'll like it.

Steve Kugler · #9 (**permalink**) 11-14-2003, 01:35 PM

Since you are supplying web site design services, I strongly recommend you check out www.mals-e.com for e-commerce. This is a free service that allows you to collect credit card data to process orders, while maintaining the files with the "buy" links on your site. I've been using the service form 5 years now and it has only gotten better. You need to have a basic underatanding of HTML and that's it. There are examples that lead you through the process and it is not difficult to setup. Check out the Shopping Cart user to user forum on his site to see how others think. Mal Stewart, the creater, actually answers his email and has conducted his business with class.

You can check www.kepcopower.com to see how I chose to implement it. I know this seems like an advert, but since the service is free there is obviously nothing in it for me but the good feeling of passing on a great find.

Steve Kugler

TheDoctor · #10 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 07:39 AM

GOeMERCHANT.com is the company I am about to get involved with for $29.95 a month plus 2.39% per transaction. They are having a half price special at the moment.

What does everybody think of this?

Also, www.globalservers.com seems to have the BEST deal going with the VPS1 LEAN package, A LOT FOR THE MONEY.

What do you all think? Check out the site if you haven't and let me know what you think.

Thanks

PS - I don't have much time to finalize my desicions so all quick helpful responses are appreciated.

HOLDSTILL · #11 (**permalink**) 11-21-2003, 12:45 AM

I too do websites & was using Easyspace however I came across this one
http://www.ipowerweb.com

not only do the have a great price - it is all business & for business.
All the sql, shopping cart, site design programs like FP or Dream or whatever PLUS if you don't have any of those they have lots of templates so yu can just go right in & do your thing.
They also have a PayPal link for businesses w/a shopping cart setup.
Plus the credti card things.
Price for 2 yrs is 6.95 a mo + 21.00 for the domain.
I just set up this site which is not quite done - have not done the shopping carts yet:
http://www.t-m-toys.com

Ck out this host - it is rated #1
PS I am not an affiliate - YET...
Dianne

minstrel · #12 (**permalink**) 11-23-2003, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpdenterprises

Well, the host I'm using has provided good support and the price is great. Check out 1and1.com. Currently they are offering a 500meg business package including 100 email accounts, MySQL and more for FREE for 3 years. Yes, I said FREE! No strings attached.

I saw a large (two-page I think) ad for this in PCWorld this month:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Their website

Who on Earth is 1&1 ?
1&1 is a part of United Internet, a public company with 3,500 employees. Previously, we only served large providers in the USA, but now 1&1 is thrilled to be serving you directly. We have 2.5 million loyal customers, 4 state-of-the-art Data Centers and industry leading Connectivity.

I don't know much about the company and I must say that personally I am always suspicious of something that seems too good to be true - but then again sometimes these promos really are what they say they are. I don't know that we need to attribute any hidden motives to dpdenterprises for bringing this to the attention of WPW members...

As for who needs 100 email addresses, I have no idea but hyperbole in advertising isn't anything new. Remember a short while ago when AOL was offering 1000 free hours for the first month? If you could stay awake long enough to use all those hours, you would get them free... If you happen to be someone who actually does need 100 email addresses (multiple personality disorder, maybe?) then this would be the place for you...