Need your opinion (drama?) - GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum

X

edgeprod

Permanently Gone

Join Date: Mar 2004

Posts: 10019
Share

Post
#1

Need your opinion (drama?)

04-04-2006, 08:03 PM

I have a friend (no, really -- this isn't one of those, "so I have a friend that just fucked a guy in the ass .. does that make him gay?" stories) who is having a problem. I'd like to get everyone's opinion before deciding how to approach it.

She's a well known porn star, who works VERY hard to keep her users happy.

Here's the situation:

She was running a Windows server for her sites, and was hosting this server with ****** hosting. She has been with the same company through FIVE years. This is probably a company you have heard of, and they're very active in the industry. She needed to move her server to a Linux-based machine to support a new software package. She was in a year-long contract for the server.

Here's how the company handled it:

1) They required her to stay in the contract for the Windows server, even though it is no longer needed.

2) Instead of just formatting the server and making it Linux, they installed a NEW server, and required a contract for that, too.

3) Now, they're billing for both servers.

Do you think this is the appropriate thing for them to do? They have refused to make a reasonable accomodation to remedy the situation. Even in light of the fact that my friend has been with them for FIVE years.

Is this something they should reconsider?
Tags: None
Spunky

I need a beer

Join Date: Jun 2002

Posts: 133978
Share

Post
#2

04-04-2006, 08:05 PM

That's kinda fucked up..it's not like they are losing anything..I would pack up and move on

YOUR INFORMATION HERE
Comment
tony286

lurker

Join Date: Aug 2002

Posts: 57021
Share

Post
#3

04-04-2006, 08:06 PM

someone uses swiss cheese windows on a server ? lol
Comment
dissipate

The Dirty Frenchman

Join Date: Nov 2005

Posts: 8904
Share

Post
#4

04-04-2006, 08:09 PM

That's a bit shady of the company if you ask me, they should have just reformatted the server for her and placed her site on to it. If you're looking for a company who won't jerk you around like that, check out Tear2Hosting
Comment
edgeprod

Permanently Gone

Join Date: Mar 2004

Posts: 10019
Share

Post
#5

04-04-2006, 08:09 PM

Originally posted by Spunky

That's kinda fucked up..it's not like they are losing anything..I would pack up and move on

That's how I feel. I feel like they don't want her business going forward ... but you have to give them the benefit of the doubt, of course.
Comment
edgeprod

Permanently Gone

Join Date: Mar 2004

Posts: 10019
Share

Post
#6

04-04-2006, 08:37 PM

Also, I should mention that she has already asked them to be reasonable on the Windows contract (considering that they could just have formatted the box, and it sounds like they took advantage of a tiny bit of ignorance or inexperience). They have denied the request.

I used to host with them -- and found them to be reasonable most of the time. I don't really see why this situation is going this way, but we'll see what everyone thinks.
Comment
edgeprod

Permanently Gone

Join Date: Mar 2004

Posts: 10019
Share

Post
#7

04-05-2006, 05:12 PM

Any other opinions before a decision is made?
Comment
Sly

Let's do some business!

Join Date: Sep 2004

Posts: 31379
Share

Post
#8

04-05-2006, 06:09 PM

Things aren't as simple as doing a basic reformat. A reformat will wipe the whole server clean, is that what she really wants? Not to mention, Windows carries an additional license fee. However, that doesn't mean they shouldn't work with her to solve the situation.

A possible solution would be to move the site to a separate temporary box or location, install Windows, then move the site back over to the original box. This would include site downtime, license fees, and quite a few man hours. Any decent company should be willing to help out their customers, but your friend does need to realize that this whole process isn't as easy as changing your clothes. It is a process and an appropriate fee should be expected.

Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted

Windows VPS now available
Great for TSS, Nifty Stats, remote work, virtual assistants, etc.
Click here for more details.
Comment
Sly

Let's do some business!

Join Date: Sep 2004

Posts: 31379
Share

Post
#9

04-05-2006, 06:11 PM

And what I just stated is based on my limited technical knowledge. A real tech could probably create a full list of why "switching to Windows" isn't as simple as pushing a button.

Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted

Windows VPS now available
Great for TSS, Nifty Stats, remote work, virtual assistants, etc.
Click here for more details.
Comment
JMM

Confirmed User

Join Date: Apr 2001

Posts: 1755
Share

Post
#10

04-05-2006, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by Sly

And what I just stated is based on my limited technical knowledge. A real tech could probably create a full list of why "switching to Windows" isn't as simple as pushing a button.

And your limited reading comprehension skills. (j/k)

She is moving FROM windows TO linux.
Comment
edgeprod

Permanently Gone

Join Date: Mar 2004

Posts: 10019
Share

Post
#11

04-05-2006, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by Sly

Things aren't as simple as doing a basic reformat. A reformat will wipe the whole server clean, is that what she really wants?

At the time, yes. Just suck down the content for the sites to a local computer, reformat the server as Linux, and reupload -- trivial. I feel like they took advantage of her inexperience, and are now holding the contract over her head.

Not to mention, Windows carries an additional license fee.

Yes, but since she went FROM Windows TO Linux, it shouldn't have mattered.

However, that doesn't mean they shouldn't work with her to solve the situation.

It's sad that they refuse. I agree. I hate to reveal the name of the company until I have all of the facts and opinions.

A possible solution would be to move the site to a separate temporary box or location, install Windows, then move the site back over to the original box.

Well, they did the "migration" months ago. I don't know why they'd have to install Windows, though, since she was moving FROM Windows TO Linux. My apologies if you misread (or I mistyped) previously.

This would include site downtime, license fees, and quite a few man hours. Any decent company should be willing to help out their customers, but your friend does need to realize that this whole process isn't as easy as changing your clothes. It is a process and an appropriate fee should be expected.

I absolutely agree. No one is saying there shouldn't be a fee. For the 2 hours of installing Linux (which it's unlikely they would spend), an appropriate fee would have been fine. Instead, they KEPT the old server, and now charge for TWO. This is inappropriate, and is the result of taking advantage of her inexperience in this area. It's not right, in my opinion -- but, again, I want to see what everyone else thinks.
Comment
DamageX

Marketing & Strategy

Join Date: Jun 2001

Posts: 14293
Share

Post
#12

04-05-2006, 07:17 PM

Short answer: MOVE.

Whitehat is for chumps

If you don't do it, somebody else will - true story!
Comment
edgeprod

Permanently Gone

Join Date: Mar 2004

Posts: 10019
Share

Post
#13

04-05-2006, 07:23 PM

Originally posted by JMM

And your limited reading comprehension skills. (j/k)

She is moving FROM windows TO linux.

LOL, well, his points, at least, were valid ones. I've switched Operating Systems (from Linux to FreeBSD) on a handful of servers, and I was charged a $150 "reinstall fee," and gladly paid it.

In fact, the company that is doing this to her had my business for a few years. One day, one of my servers (I had 5 there, I think), just STOPPED working. Their answer was "your traffic increased, the server can't handle it." The problem was -- the traffic DIDN'T increase, the server wouldn't even boot.

Since then, they've been bought, but I just feel like the problems I had with them might be creeping up here.
Comment
edgeprod

Permanently Gone

Join Date: Mar 2004

Posts: 10019
Share

Post
#14

04-05-2006, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by DamageX

Short answer: MOVE.

She's in a contract for BOTH servers, now. They are requiring her to pay for both the NEW one (one year), and the balance (almost a year) of the old, unused one.

Sorry if I didn't make that clear when I said:

"1) They required her to stay in the contract for the Windows server, even though it is no longer needed."

and

"3) Now, they're billing for both servers."
Comment

Previous template Next

Working...