Selling hosting on ebay

Keston E. said:
I wonder why "webhost" would want to do something like sell hosting on ebay. *seriously*
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Because the market is over crowded and someone thought one day that it would be unique to post on there. Once the masses started to see this, (even if the business isn't there) it is considered a cheap way to advertise. Even if the quality isn't there, most are just teenagers that bought a dedicated server and thought they would do hosting.

Most I can say is good luck!

jason
 
Well for those companys run by teens they are probably loosing money, and for others they migh be using those plans as a loss leader. Just a plan to get customers, they offer service and support but customers complain about not enough speed, and they are then told they must upgrade their plan.
 
People seem to badly misinterpret what a lost leader actually is.

A lost leader is something the grocery stores and variety stores do.
A grocery store may sell certain items at or below cost in order to draw people into the store, knowing there is a strong possibility the there will be residual sales.

In hosting, offering huge packages at next to nothing prices is not a lost leader. It is pure and simple overselling. It usually amounts to a bunch of kiddie hosts overselling services beyond their capabilities and playing Russian roulette with other people's businesses.
 
Your right. I bought webhosting off of ebay. One was a teenager. I ordered from another company that is actually good. You are taking a risk with ebay.
 
In hosting, offering huge packages at next to nothing prices is not a lost leader. It is pure and simple overselling. It usually amounts to a bunch of kiddie hosts overselling services beyond their capabilities and playing Russian roulette with other people's businesses.
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Unless it's a promotion, at which point it would be a loss leader.
 
I would have to agree. It looks quite a bit unproffessional. Also, Most of them offer unreal prices, It gets one to feel a bit suspicious.

AustinS
 
It indeed looks unprofessional and desperate to get new customers but the good thing is that so many people who use ebay do not know a lot about web hosting and just look for it as they are thinking "there are so many web hosts on the internet, maybe ebay can bring them together and we can filter them ourselves", well it seems to work as one very famous company called exovian which i used to be affiliated with in the past has used ebay to get an average of 8 customers per day. They quickly gained success up until the state of florida shut them down for failure to report taxes.
 
I think that for one, advertsing on E-bay might be an OK way to kick-start your company and get your name out there. For whatever I buy on E-bay, I dont bother even looking at thing offering ridiculously low prices. You're dumb if you think you're gonna get web-hosting for $0,01 per year. Thats just real nieve...

Apart from the unprofessionalism, you very rarely get any sort of feedback. The host probably doesn't have a web-site of their own and will very seldom provide you with real contact details...I did a little bit of research and it happened that 6 out of the 10 advertisers I contacted told me that 'unfortunately their phones had been de-activated". No surprise considering they are offering 'Proffessional Hosting' for unimaginably low prices.

Moral of the story is: "Desperate people advertise on E-bay"
 
While we have never advertised on eBay.....The more I think about it, the more I see nothing wrong with it. It is a source for ecommerce and trade, just like any.

It's the kiddie hosts, and crap hosts that have given it a bad rep in my opinion.

Aside from that there are very reputible people in general at eBay, and I really see no reason why hosting shouldn't be a part of that equation.
 
I agree with ANMMark. There's nothing wrong with the system in itself, nor can we consider all the people/hosts advertising there to be scammers.

As usual, proper research is the way -- unless you can afford the risks. :)
 
I think it may attract some attention to the business. However, in the end, it seems very unprofessional. That seems to be the concensus.
 
Su said:
My advertising budget goes on chalk

I write on the footpaths in the morning (my url and a quick message and a smiley)
by the end of the day I have local hits -- and that's just what I want, that's where my little jobs come from

it's cheap and doesn't litter :D
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LOL. Are you kidding? Does that actually work?
 
ANMMark said:
While we have never advertised on eBay.....The more I think about it, the more I see nothing wrong with it. It is a source for ecommerce and trade, just like any.
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Agreed, but why will the "bargain-hunter" ebay user pick your business at x/month as a reliable host, making a profit, staying in business ? rather than A.N.Other host offering greater plan specs for y/month ?

Surely by it's nature people buy off ebay based on price or need/desire.
So the 99c/lifetime host wins, and everyone else loses out on listing fees

Quite willing to stump up a few $ to test this theory at some point in March, but IMHO people dont *look* to buy something at auction for a reasonable/sensible price - they're looking for the "deal" all the time..
 
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