Fed up with web host

[Spathiphyllum]

I've just about reached the end of my rope with another webhost. Thank goodness JaguarPC is still around.

OK, I've had some various levels of annoyance with another host for about a year now but didn't really want the hassle of changing. Well that is about to change... and I'm naming names. Catalog.com.

Get this... without notice they decide to "upgrade" without notification. And guess what? They convert me from a basic, traditional Apache set-up to a MS FrontPage extensions one. CRAP! They have completely redesigned the way I want to set up my domain, did not backup (at least not visibly) my old .htaccess files. and changed permissions. No notice, just boom and it's done. Unbelievable.

Well Jag, I'll be adding more stuff to my account here as soon as possible. But I'm wondering... how many other people have had something like this happen to them?

Sorry about the rant but I'm pretty livid about this. Needless to say, I would discourage using Catalog as a web host. Overpriced, mediocre support at best, questionable web software selection, and dubious implementation of it to "benefit" customers.

[Vin DSL]

LoL! Got caught hedging your bets, huh?

I don't expect you to have read all my posts here, but a host, a while back, offered me a free unlimited VPN account, Linux or BSD, no strings attached. It was tempting, but I'm still here...

JagPC rules! Everyone else drools!

[Spathiphyllum]

Actually, had I known about Jag when I first started this web stuff, I would've quit looking. I was just unfortunate enough to be a newbie, and despite lots of homework, just never saw Jag.

Bet hedging is still a good idea for redundancy, so the theory is sound... but the real world application? Hmmm. May have to rethink. I'll probably end up adding another account here and with the guarantee that neither account be assigned to the same server. Network connectivity could be a potential problem as could Jag's business imploding one day (possible but not likely). Gotta have contingency plans. But with Jag's features, price, and support, I can't see that happening anytime soon.

Yeah, I've gotten a bit spoiled here. Just wish I could afford a dedicated.

[Spathiphyllum]

Let's compare:

Catalog.com - request for support for the account change (sent to support which is offered "24/7")
Begin: 9/4/2004 10:05 PM
End: Still waiting for a reply other than the automated "Yes, we have received your request... Thank you for using Catalog.com..." (9/7/2004 1:10 AM)

jaguarpc.com - request for support for new account setup and current account modifications (sent to sales and not support - Sales not available on weekend)
Begin: 9/5/2004 2:10 AM
Questions answered: 9/6/2004 11:52 AM
Account modifications completed: 9/6/2004 2:37 PM


So Catalog has yet to respond compared to Jaguar's sales which responded in effectively 3'52'' after receiving the request on a holiday (assuming 8-5 workday). Further, a server update was applied less than 3 hrs. later.

Now, who would you recommend to others? And guess which account is going to get transferred?

[Vin DSL]

Now, who would you recommend to others?

I would recommend Catalog.com... to Ron...

[Spathiphyllum]

Now that would be downright evil!

[Ron]

It can't be as bad as Aletia was at the end... if it is.... run for your life while you still have your files.

[Spathiphyllum]

I started here just after the Aletia move to Jag... sometimes you get lucky.

[Spathiphyllum]

Status update with Catalog.com

Begin: 9/4/2004 10:05 PM
End: Still waiting for a reply (9/8/2004 1:08 PM)

Original request appended by Spathiphyllum with note for updated status request ~24hrs ago. No visible action taken by Catalog and no reply. Spathy's follow-up? New request submitted asking them to review the original request.

Sorry folks, just creating documentation to illustrate the 24/7 support policy of another host with whom I have done business. Needless to say I've backed-up my files and am reviewing transfer policies in preparation for the inevitable. I find that process, and this posting, a bit therapeutic.

Still wondering if anyone else here has used Catalog.com and noticed the deterioration in services they provide? Maybe I'm just lucky.

[Vin DSL]

Status update with Catalog.com

Begin: 9/4/2004 10:05 PM
End: Still waiting for a reply (9/8/2004 1:08 PM)

No visible action taken by Catalog and no reply.

That's typical of the experiences I've had at other webhosts, so don't feel bad. At some hosts it takes a couple of weeks to get a response. A lot of places never respond.

Basically, you're renting space on a hard drive somewhere. I always figured I was on my own, and most of the time I was. I think it made me a better webmaster though...

One webhost actually lost my account. They were going to move me to a new server, but they couldn't find me. I cancelled at the end of a one year stint, and the site stayed up. So, I just kept trucking. After two years of not paying, and various assorted periods of downtime - sometimes lasting a week or two - I got tired of that game.

Anyway, most mass webhosters suck! Nothing unusual about that...

[Spathiphyllum]

Well Vin, it sounds like you've had it worse than me. A day or so for an email response is acceptable considering the fees paid. I like a faster response and it makes me more inclined to purchase further services if the host is responsive. (Jag is responsive.) But a week to respond? Outrageous... that is not providing service.

Being left alone, as you mentioned, is beneficial in that it does force independence. And that is EXACTLY what I wanted from Catalog. Problem is they won't leave me alone and I cannot telnet, shell, SSH, or anything else to my account to change some of their forced settings. In fact, it looks like they are trying to force everyone to FrontPage it or use their web GUI to do work. Forget that!

About a month ago they indicated that they were going to phase in increased storage space... sounds good on paper. Now I suspect I know the reason - they wanted to put everyone on FrontPage which automatically consumes most of that "free" space. Gee, what a perk. I'd prefer that they left me with the old and lousy plan and let me do my work my way. I'll only bother them to ask why connectivity is lost when it happens. Seems like I'd be a pretty good customer. And they don't even have a board to frequent where they might run across some of my radical opinions? Oh well, I'll just move more stuff here and post my experience for other potential customers to see.

BTW, "lost your account?" Now that's rich. Glad to know you weren't paying for their indifference.

[Vin DSL]

BTW, "lost your account?" Now that's rich. Glad to know you weren't paying for their indifference.

OMG!!! What a bunch they were...

Speaking of Frontpage... the support guy/vice-president I used to hang with on ICQ taught Frontpage at some college. He spoke fluent Farsi and the whole nine yards.

He couldn't believe I didn't use Frontpage. He thought I was a caveman.

Heh! To top it off, I lost track of these guys for a few years. I guess they decided to start peddling smut - hosting adult websites or something - and my web site history on Netcraft started coming up as being hosted by 'XXX Adult Porn Services' or whatever. Gawd! Was that embarrassing! Luckily JagPC updated the software here enough that those guys finally scrolled off the history page.

Anyway, I've got stories that would curl your hair! JagPC is like a candy shop in comparison to some of them!

[Vin DSL]

Hahahaha! My memory is being jogged...

I was just thinking, you know how you always have at least 2 DNS addies? JagPC has like 20. Well, these guys had the first DNS number pointing to their webhosting servers, and the other one was some really off the wall IP. I never could track it down.

I asked my support buddy about this one time. He said the second number was the owner's cable modem at his home. He said there were having some problem at the hosting company. He changed the second IP to point at his house, and he never changed it back.

Bwahahahaha... don't get me started...

[Spathiphyllum]

...He said the second number was the owner's cable modem at his home...

Ya' know, I'm all for the intrepid entrepeneur and creativity, but this is NOT a good idea (he said in a most understated manner). I think that might be pushing the envelope just a bit. Was this when everyone and his brother was trying to run an ISP before all of the consolidation post-IT boom? Had to be.

I'm still very disappointed with Catalog but who knew they had so much company? Well, the cream usually rises so, hopefully, JaguarPC will sustain enough profitability to stay in business for a long time.

About FrontPage, I might post a poll one of these days asking about FrontPage use of members here, something along the lines of:

Do you use FrontPage extensions?
A - Yes, using it now
C - Yes, but I want to abandon it
B - No, but thinking about switching to it
D - No, never have and never will
E - What is FrontPage?

Lots of other possible scenarios but these seem to be the most likely responses.

Personally, I just don't get FP's appeal when Apache and all of its derivatives, modules, and extensions are just so good. And the proof is its continued dominance in an arena that Microsoft would love to control but has so far failed.

[Gwaihir]

E -> F

E: No, did once but am glad to be rid of them

Gwaihir picks E.