Why You Should Heart My Web Host Too!
Let me get this out of the way so I can blog better about it: NO, I’M NOT BEING PAID FOR THIS POST NOR DO I GET ANYTHING FROM IT.
Except the happy feel nice kinda feeling probably. If you’re thinking of changing your web host, getting your own domain and subscribing to a web host, or plain just want to know what else is out there, you might want to go look-see what Advantagecom.net is up to =)
We’ve been with them for over a year now and I’ve never been happier with my web host.
You see, I started out with a huge company who’s callwaiting music rhymes with “woooo hoooo!”. I did have a friend who was working there at the time, so I guess it was that likability factor kicking in. Having a simple [and I mean SIMPLE, like blogspot before the widgets kinda simple] web site is fine, but the minute you get just a teeny complicated you’re signing your site’s death warrant.
Not only did I have to go through a gazillion clueless customer service agents, the person who’s presumably top of the line development team member gave me what’s basically c**p for a solution.
The cincher that killed any hopes of hosting a web site with them came a day when I had to call a tech support officer and our conversation went something like:
” I need to run a cron job on blah blah blah blah … what can we do to make this happen?”
”Ma’am, I’m sorry, but you will have to contact cron and ask him to run this process for you … blah blah blah”
“You have got to be kidding me …”
“No ma’am, at this point blah blah blah …”
“Umm … you do know what a cron job is right?”
“yes ma’am, and you need to contact him because he’s a different company that handles this service …. blah blah blah”
“Hoooookey … sweetheart .. [explaining what a cron job is ...] blah blah blah”
“Yes ma’am, I understand, but only cron will be able to help you with that process …”
“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! you’re killing me! You do realize cron is not a person but a process?!!!! I kept telling you that! Let me know your address and I’ll send you several mega dozes of Starbucks, maybe that will wake you up!”
The last part probably was a little mean but you can feel my frustration right? So I hightailed it and signed up with another company pronto.
It was actually great. They had superb 24/7 customer service and every question we ever asked was answered, if not immediately, we get a notification and received one within 48 hours. But. IT COST A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY to do anything. It’s almost like filling up at a gas station, you want this, ca-ching! $$$ you want that, sure, no problem … ca-ching! $$$.
I went back to the Better Business Bureau web site and made a search for another web hosting company. I found Advantagecom. So I said, what the H, let’s give them a try.
Best decision I made for my web site.
Advantagecom does not have a 24-hour customer service team. In fact, I don’t think they have an official customer service team at this time. they operate 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PDT as they’re located in Walla Walla, Washington and if you happen to F up during off hours, you’ll have to shell out some $35 for being a dufus, but at least somebody’s going to make it right for you pronto. Oh and you have to keep track of your billing because I think their billing system needs an upgrade but you can solve that by being friends with the billing department and let them know whether you want recurring charges or you’ll do it manually.
What you’ll get: Answers anytime you call them. Whatever we wanted, whatever problem we had, no matter how complicated we think the issue is, we never had to wait for a resolution. That’s because when you call them up, whoever picks up the phone can decide there and then what to do.
It is also very rare that their system has a downtime. AND they’re on the Better Business Bureau’s online reliability program with no complaint since becoming a member. this company has been in existence since 1998 and still going. They pay for not having a 24/7 customer service team with quick and decisive answers and great hardware.
We absolutely love Matt. He’s been an incredible source of help and information. I always take his advice when I upgrade or downgrade or screw up my web site. Well, we do have a VPS with them, if you’re signing up for a shared web hosting, I don’t think there’s much problem you can give them =)
And Amy is the ultimate darling [between you and me, I think she's part owner but I'm not really sure =)]. Last christmas, she gave crustini a set of knitted things. Can you say that about your web host?
I’m telling you, I heart them. Maybe you will to?
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