Webhosters who charge higher prices for existing customers

**Frank Rizzo** · 09:24 AM

Been with a webhoster for a year and a half. I have two dedicated servers with them.

A few months ago they increased their prices by 7% due to 'increase in energy costs'.

I don't like price increases so I asked for a discount for having been a reasonably long term customer. I got a

response.

To rub salt in the wounds I now see that the webhoster have slashed their prices

I was paying £99 a month. This increased to £106 due to the energy increase. But now they are selling a slightly better spec server for £69 a month.

This is ridiculous. I can cancel my servers, order two new ones (free setup) and save £1043 a year!

I mailed the sales team explaining that I could order the new ones and save £1043 a year but to save hassle why not just give me a discount. I got no reply.

What would you do?

**CouponGuy** · 09-12-2006, 12:39 AM

I see two good options:

1. Do what you mentioned. Cancel your servers and order two more at the discounted rate.

2. Get rid of them altogether. If you're not pleased with their service, you should go somewhere that cares more for their customers.

**ADAM Web Design** · 09-12-2006, 12:42 AM

Look at it this way: if you can get it cheaper from the host itself, you can probably get the server cheaper (and with better service) somewhere else.

Any host that wouldn't allow you to upgrade your server to match what a new customer would get isn't worth dealing with.

**The Critic** · 09-12-2006, 02:41 AM

Get rid of them. They obviously aren't interested in keeping your business.

**Frank Rizzo** · 05:15 AM

I do believe they are the best in the UK. If you check some of my threads here from around a year ago you'll see that I couldn't praise them enough.

In particular I am impressed by their 'one off charge' for part upgrades. This is a pet hate of mine. Any hoster who charges a monthly fee for a RAM upgrade is ripping people off. This webhoster do not do that so that's why I chose them.

I believe the problem is that they have expanded too fast and are forgetting about their existing customers. Some of their sales text states '...you are a customer not a number'. But in their expansion they seem to have forgot that.

I'm going to give it one more try. I'll ask again for a discount. They would be crazy not to offer it as I'll just order the two new ones and cancel the old ones. If they refuse that... they are in trouble!