unlimihost.......dead?

[Frosty]

does anyome know what happend to www.unlimihost.com ? The site has completely disappeared.......

I wonder if the 15 year old who owned it saw the bad posts written about him and changed his site/domain completely.

:confused:

[Martie]

could be....who knows? :eek:

[Phoenix]

Either that or his parents found out about it, shut it all down, gave him a spanking he won't soon forget and he's like, grounded or something.

[Mr Chunder]

I can't say that I approve of these "kids" running hosting companies. It just shows what can happen on the internet. I accept that there are always going to be a minority of really smart kids who are perfectly capable of setting up a good hosting business delivering good service etc. and retiring billionaires at age 21.

However, it does not always work like this and chances are, a kid who's still at college will not be able to serve customer needs as much as a proper business would, so therefore, such businesses should be "encouraged" not to trade.

Phoenix - I remember a while a go, on these forums, you were starting a committee on young people running hosting compaines or something like that. What has happened here ?

I really do feel it is hard to determine if a hosting company is run by a youngster and a customer who goes with that company will end up disappointed with that service, bad press for industry etc etc.

Not good :rolleyes:

But, you've gotta give it them for having the foresight, motivation to start up their own hosting company !

$0.02 worth.

[James]

I think your making a brave assumption, in that all the adult hosts are running their businesses as a full time occupation.

Just like a student many of them have other employment and are building their businesses up to a point where they can fully support them.

So as far as customer support goes, age doesnt really factor into it.

[Jaiem]

Originally posted by James Cross
I think your making a brave assumption, in that all the adult hosts are running their businesses as a full time occupation.

Just like a student many of them have other employment and are building their businesses up to a point where they can fully support them.

So as far as customer support goes, age doesnt really factor into it.


True. NTL a young person (teenager) is very likely going to have many more distractions coming at them very soon: Finishing High School, going to college, sports, socializing/dating, parties etc etc.

Adult do all that too but are general not as flighty.

[Phoenix]

Originally posted by Mr Chunder


Phoenix - I remember a while a go, on these forums, you were starting a committee on young people running hosting compaines or something like that. What has happened here ?


Mr Chunder, I just put in a request to give you access to our discussion forum. The topic is a bit broader than just young people hosting-but that is one sticking point, drop me an email offline at phoenix@xensei.com and I'll give you more info.

[Tommy]

Good point James, I know of a couple of hosting companies owned by adults but can only give their evenings to support. During the day they are working elsewhere.

[Tier1]

I agree that there is a risk in hosting with a Company (or hosting provider) that is run by a young person (ie. teenager) but you have to admit there are some very intelligent kids out there and I have to take my hat off to them for being able to see opportunity and go for it! Are they choosing the right business? That is the question.

[James]

I think any opportunity to get a firm understanding of business principles at such a young age, cant be a bad thing. If they go on to run a different business in 5 years time, they'll still have learnt the basics, and be able to take that knowledge to their new venture.

I'm behind them 100%

[Phoenix]

Agreed, James, but I do feel that mentoring is a good idea, not just for the young ones, but anyone new to the industry. I had a guru when I first got involved in high-tech, he could answer questions that even Microsoft's level II engineers gave up on.

It's always a good thing to have someone who has 'been there and done that' to contact for guidance, a helping hand, pithy advice, or just a listening ear, when you find yourself and/or your business up the excremental watercourse with no means of propulsion.

[Mr Chunder]

Cannot disagree at all with youngsters being entreprenuerial.

<VENT>

However, have to disagree with the idea that youngsters in the hosting business can put up a front that looks like a professional company. A customer comes along, buys some hosting and then finds he cannot get support becuase the kid is at college or is busy with exams and whatever !

WOULD YOU BUY HOSTING IF YOU KNEW A KID WAS RUNNING THE COMPANY ?

At the end of the day, a proper business with real adults working in a team to business goals with the threat of the pink slip, mortgage arrears etc. and all the other pressures that keeps us adults motivated in their jobs, do not compare with college kids running hosting companies in their spare time.

Summary:

1. Its great that kids can run business

2. Kids running hosting companies that require dedication, service and a lot of work etc. HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO LET THE INDUSTRY DOWN !

</VENT>

Phoenix - thanks for the offer to join your forum. Much as I'd love to join, I'm pretty short of time so would not partake unless I can give it lots of committment. Best of luck anyway.

[Frosty]

Hey Mr.Chunder,

You consider someone in college a little KID???? I don`t think there`s anything wrong with someone who`s young starting up their own business. As long as they`re capable of doing it right. My mom`s best friends son started up his own internet business when he was only 16 and today (at 24) he`s making close to $400,000 dollars a year. And i just turned 21 years old and can run a hosting service perfectly fine. You really do not need to be a rocket scientist to run a webhost. So according to you......someone should wait to start a hosting business until they turn 50 since "college kids are busy with exams".

I say, that`s BULL@#$!.... life is short.......start whatever kind of business you want........ just don`t do it like the unlimihost kid.....or that tacidhost kid......or that CIhost run by adult rejects. My goodness..... bla bla bla.

:mad: :)

[Phoenix]

Okay, let's take a time out before things get too ugly and look at the big picture briefly.

One interesting facet about high-tech, is that historically, it has been the playground of the younger generation.

Most of the tech-oriented adults active in the industry now, started out when they were very young.

From Microsoft to Napster, young people have been leading the way in this industry since it began.

[Frosty]

Phoenix,

there isn`t goning to be a nasty fist fight here........ i don`t know what the heck i`m talking about anyway. But i`m jelous of that 24 year old who started his own thing at 16 and now just bought himself a brand new porsche and condo on the beach in california and he`s only 24 i think........ Lucky S.O.B.

ah well.

:eek:

The moderators are going to get me.... i think i went off topic a little.

[JTY]

frosty,

The mods won't get you.... we go off-topic all the time..... :)

[Phoenix]

Frosty, glad to hear this isn't going to turn rough. Don't waste your time envying someone else's success. Luck has nothing to do with it. It takes hard work and intense dedication to be successful.

Set your own goals depending on your talents and abilities and how you measure success, figure out a strategy, and don't let anything or anyone stand in the way of your achieving your goals. Don't be afraid to think big.

now to get back on topic...

Regardless of the age of the host, or whether the company is a side business run by a single person, or a full-time operation with a staff, what is most critical is setting appropriate customer expectations.

If you are only available part-time, your customers need to know that, because otherwise they are going to expect you to be available when you are not.

It also depends on whether or not the customer's site is their full-time business site and they need their host available during business hours, or if it is a personal or side business site-then they'll want their host available off-hours when they are working on their business.

And, thanks to the fact that hosts and their customers can be found in any time zone, if you think globally, you may still be able to find a host owned by a student who is available during business hours. When he's getting out of school in his time zone, your business is just opening in your own time zone.

Part-time hosts of any age are not the best solution for every customer, but then web hosting isn't a one-size fits all industry.

[Jaiem]

Just to be Devil's Advicate, most hosting customers don't need very much support. As the saying goes, 10% use 90% of the support time.

Still, I agree it isn't fair even to those 10%.

[Mr Chunder]

Originally posted by frosty
I don`t think there`s anything wrong with someone who`s young starting up their own business. As long as they`re capable of doing it right.

.............

I say, that`s BULL@#$!.... life is short.......start whatever kind of business you want........ just don`t do it like the unlimihost kid.....or that tacidhost kid......or that CIhost run by adult rejects. My goodness..... bla bla bla.

:mad: :)

Frosty - thanks for re-inforcing my two points - quote above.

I'll repeat my summary again - except replace the word "kid" with "young person"


Summary:

1. Its great that young persons can run a business

2. Young persons running hosting companies that require dedication, service and a lot of work etc. HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO LET THE INDUSTRY DOWN !

That is all my point is.


Anyway, whats the rush. If you're 21 and building up a nice business, think were you'll be when 24 ? You have to be careful that your not drug crazed, killed by your Porsche or cleaned out by the ex-wife by 28 !

[Frosty]

Mr.Chunder,

Actually, don`t worry about correcting the "little kid" part.....i still act like one all the time. I`m not very mature, that`s for sure.
he he...
Oh yeh, and i don`t think i`ll ever need to worry about my ex-wife since i`m not a lesbian! I`m a girl. And i don`t like porches.... i`d much rather be run over by a mercedes. They`re the best.
:)

Phoenix,

Even though (if my butt could take it) i could sit in front of the computer 24 hours a day and answer support questions. I usually respond to support questions within 2 hours or less. There`s NEVER NEVER a question left un-answered for more than 8 hours. Yet this one customer complained that it took me TWO hours to answer his support question! Can you believe that???? Some customers are never freakin satisfied. That ticks me off.
:cry: :shake:

[Mr Chunder]

Originally posted by frosty
Mr.Chunder,

Oh yeh, and i don`t think i`ll ever need to worry about my ex-wife since i`m not a lesbian! I`m a girl.
:)



Yer sorry - erm, I meant that you could be cleaned out by a good-for-nothing ex-husband ! :p

I prefer BMWs myself....:)

[Frosty]

Hey spoon_man (a.k.a BULL@#$! man),

the moderators are gonna get you for pulling this one!

:eek:

[Phoenix]

Originally posted by frosty
Some customers are never freakin satisfied. That ticks me off.


That is the first lesson you'll learn about running a business, especially one that is service-oriented. No matter how much you bend over backwards for them, some of your customers will be impossible to please.

[Frosty]

Phoenix,

Yeah that`s for sure. Ever since this customer signed up three weeks ago he`s emailed me LITERALLY 40 times already and i`ve answered every single one of them in less then five hours. Usually within 2 hours or less. Have you ever had a customer that emails you that many times? And he always emails saying that something doesnt work....when it does work except that he doesn`t know how to do it correctly.

I think he`s gotten spoiled and expects every single email to be answered within 10 minutes or something. Ah well. Lunitics everywhere........

:rolleyes:

[Phoenix]

Originally posted by frosty
Ever since this customer signed up three weeks ago he`s emailed me LITERALLY 40 times already and i`ve answered every single one of them in less then five hours. Usually within 2 hours or less. Have you ever had a customer that emails you that many times?


So, that's where he went...<rimshot> but seriously folks, the second lesson is that 10 percent of your customers will generate 90 percent of your customer service/support workload. The other 90 percent of your customers you'll rarely hear from.


And he always emails saying that something doesnt work....when it does work except that he doesn`t know how to do it correctly

The technical term for that phenomena, my snowy friend, is: PEBKAC error (Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair) sometimes referred to as "Pilot error".

[Frosty]

Phoenix,

"pilot error"
Well, maybe he should learn to fly his freakin plane better.

I got myself a new avatar........see it? I fiqured it suits me since everyone already knows i`m a pig. This is horribly off topic (moderators will attack)...... but how the heck do i capatalize the first letter in 'frosty" my username? I want it to be like this "Frosty" with a capital letter. I guess i can`t fix that.......
:(

[Tommy]

I think Tech Support requires a different kind of person alltogether. Different traits and characteristics to someone who sells plans or installs web servers. Those who are naturally suited to providing support can do it endlessly and never tire from the relentless bombardment of questions. :rolleyes:


P.S.

Frosty, I've capitalized your name for you :)

[Frosty]

ah cool......thankx Tommy!
Frosty looks much better now and happy.
:) :)

I don`t mind answering a ton of support questions, except that very often i don`t know the freakin answer. So that could be a problem.

:eek: :)

[Phoenix]

Originally posted by Tommy
I think Tech Support requires a different kind of person alltogether. Different traits and characteristics to someone who sells plans or installs web servers. Those who are naturally suited to providing support can do it endlessly and never tire from the relentless bombardment of questions.


The people who do full-time tech support are indeed 'a different kind of person altogether'.

I used to work in the Global Help Center of a huge multinational corporation. I didn't do front-line telephone support, but most of the people on the floor did.

Most of them were very shy and/or lacking in social skills-when I got there, no one talked anyone outside of their own 4-person pod unless they had to, and very few people went to the cafeteria to eat lunch, they'd just pick it up and sit at their desk reading or surfing. And no one, ever, went out to lunch. Turnover was high, as is normal in that sector of IT.

Tech support is a thankless, unglamorous job, generally regarded as the lowest-level job in the IT industry. For career-changers new to IT, it's an entry level position, but many people never leave it. It's secure and it pays well.

A rare few of them could do it endlessly and never tired of it, but these people are the exceptions. Your average support analyst feels considerable contempt for the people they support (aka lusers). They find doing the job to be very stressful, and boring.

To alleviate stress and boredom and to keep sane, IT people in general do odd things-the odder the better. One group of analysts, in a 4-person cubicle called a pod, formed themselves as a kingdom (Podonia), declared a state religion (worshipping Boondikki the Jamaican stick God), and demanded tribute (in the form of candy and junk food) and declared war on another hastily organized principality (a negotiated peace was arranged involving a great many Lindt truffles).

Password Gremlins Day, Happy PEBKAC Day and other state holidays were celebrated among the Podlings.

Toys were also popular-especially action figures or things that could be thrown. It was a very Dilbert-esque world. The Matrix was universally popular-every single desktop bore Matrix wallpaper, ditto on the screensaver.

Happy PEBKAC day, everyone.

[Frosty]

he he.... :lol:

That`s funny. I bet they were losing their sanity from sitting in front of the computer constantly answering the same questions over and over again. But i hope the action fiqures they were playing with weren`t Barbie Dolls.

:)