Just an Idea!!

[poorapagal]

What you all think of a secret insight on hosts, for example if some advertiser puts in some cash into for example WEBHOSTDIR or sponsors this, that some "secret customer" be sent to some host and see how they respond to different questions, not knowing that they are being tested to by a "secret customer" who is just here to see their standards.

And then we can report the GOOD , BAD and the UGLY of hosts!! what you think.. could be a great help for first time users..isn't it..

Some of you might recognize it from magazines like NET who visit shopping sites and see how they get on...

[Jaiem]

For just questions there's no need to pay.

[poorapagal]

no jaiem, i meant trying out the service rather than just the question and answer, as you only know a host after giving it a try...any kid can sit in his room acting as three customer support people, support starts showing when they have to deal with the REAL stuff..

[Colin]

It would be sweet...but something like this is going to take serious $$$ and time to do, and I doubt anyone here is going to think that it's practical.

Besides, a good number of folks in these forums belong in the web hosting industry themselves. It probably goes against some code of ethics or something if they really do it :rolleyes:

[poorapagal]

yeah COLIN true...not saying that some of the ones involved in hosting are like that , but you are right it would be worthless if the secret is out before it's begun :) ... maybe it's just good for online shopping sites..

[allera]

Not that I think it's a bad idea -- I think it's a great idea -- but I think there are too many variables in deciding whether to LABEL a host good, bad, or ugly, especially somewhere public like this.

What if the host responds to customers VERY quickly, but to non-customers VERY slowly (too many customer support emails to handle non-customer inqueries).

Another thing is money and time like Colin mentioned. If you want _accurate_ data, you would have to sign up with each host being tested, stay on board for a predetermined amount of time (one month isn't good enough to determine if a host is good or bad, as we can see from some posts on this forum), and submit emails regularly to test their support staff.

Like I said, it's a great idea, and ideally that's what the web host directories are SUPPOSED to be for (after all, most have user reviews), but even the web host directories get corrupt with banner and money offerings.

I just say it has to be very carefully planned, very objective, and as fair as possible for all hosts. It will take a lot of time, and time is money! :)

[Phoenix]

Allera, poorapagal

There is a group of us toiling away on a planning committee for a real trade association for our industry (not a vanity organization like those that have been founded for the benefit of the founders)-one of the centerpieces is a code of ethics, as well as a method of evaluating web hosts.

Right now we are still in the idea generation phase working out of a private forum, but if either of you would like to help out, just drop me an email at phoenix@xensei.com, and I'll see that you get access to our forum.

[Mr Chunder]

I'd agree with Allera about the points of too many variables. I am often unimpressed with surveys where only "1 trip is made to the shop" and its success is based on that.

The idea to do something is a good one !

Instead, I would like to suggest that a central committee can receive complaints - much like you complain to the business bureau or something like that. The "central body" - perhaps it is this trade association that Pheonix has mentioned - can then produce stats based on the number of complaints. A table of top 100 bad hosts can then be compiled TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the number of customers the organisation has.

e.g. a host with 10 customers and 5 complaints would have a 50% disatisfaction rate.

A host with 100 customers and 5 complaintss would would have a disatisfaction rate of 5% - not bad compared with the other company.

However, they BOTH have the same number of complaints => IMPORTANT POINT !!

The next obvious issue is unscrupulous hosts will simply say they have less hosts.

We really should be something in this area. Phoenix - do you have any plans afoot?

[Phoenix]

yes, Mr. Chunder, there are plans afoot. Please drop me an email if you'd like to join the planning committee.

[poorapagal]

yeah true. it would require lots of funding, but yeah if there is anything planned i guess after trying out my hosts from the simplest things to NOT getting any relevant replies when my site got hacked... i would like to contribute bit of my time, as they say time = money

[Colin]

Is this a private party, or can anyone join?

Seriously though...I am interested in something like that. I have been checking out lots of hosts...writing in to their sales reps...writing to their customers...etc etc etc for almost 2 months in search for that "perfect" host :rolleyes:

[James]

Colin, if your interested send Phoenix a private message via the forum. He'll let you have more details.

[Jaiem]

I agree that individual experince will vary.

In any business you're going to have some very happy customers and some that are not happy (hopefully many more of the forer than the latter). That's just the nature of life. You can't please everyone all the time.