On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 11:16:48 -0400, Kim Phelan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > One of the main > concerns brought up by resellers was how to ensure that a user didn't > come into the environment build a site, pay for one day, then go > to another hoster.
A series of semi-connected thoughts: 1) What prevents this from happening when this tool is not present? Does adding an additional desirable feature make it more likely to happen? 2) Such a customer would not be part of the target market for this product. This product seems to be for people who would use it continuously to update their web site. Someone who would do what you describe probably doesn't need this tool at all (and the target market probably doesn't need this safeguard). 3) In the scenario you describe, it seems that this tool is the only thing that the customer considers worthwhile about the reseller's product offering (or at least the competition is greatly preferred, except for this tool). Either there's something wrong with the reseller or the customer simply isn't part of the reseller's target market. Neither of these are problem for Tucows (nor the product's design) to solve. 4) I doubt this would happen. This might be the best way for the no-experience web site owner to put a site together, but it's not the only way, and pulling this scheme off would be a lot more trouble than trying one of the other options 5) Even if it did happen, the reseller has gained a customer (that they otherwise wouldn't have had at all -- see #3) for one billing period, at least, for an additional hard cost of $0.25 / month. If it happens with any regularity, see #3 again, I think the reseller has a problem that's beyond Tucows' reach -- and that the reseller can address by making sure that the price paid makes it worth their while (if not by addressing the issue of why their customers want to leave), e.g. include this tool when the customer pays for a year of hosting in advance. > Portability came up time and time again. As it should. :-) It is essential that the output of any web development tool be portable. HTH -Winston
