HG 2 months review and 4 accounts later

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It was a several months ago when I was looking for an alternative to iPower's vDeck3 that created so many problems from downtime, email not getting through, MySql not functioning properly, slow loading times, difficulty accessing vDeck, etc.

After reading many HG(Hostgator) reviews from different HG customers and different hosting rating reviews by customers, I decided to try HG for myself.

At first the results were disastrous . HG was basically another problem hosting company like iPower except with better promotion and better PR than iPower. After a few weeks I terminated my account with HG due to severe problems. There were a few *HATERS* on this board including some *HELPFULS*. If you're unsatisfied with HG and post to this forum, you can expect both. If you take advice from the *HATERS* on this forum, this will really confirm that you never want to deal with HG again.. so I terminated my first account due to fanatics and terrible experience hosting with HG. I spread my accounts over 3 different hosting companies so I don't get stuck like I did with iPower where I hosted all my accounts with iPower for 8+ years.

The *HG DIFFERENCE*
HG tech support is far superior to anything iPower has and I decided to try HG again with encouragement from the *HELPFULS*. Telephone support, ticket support is very quick and they do offer true 24/7 support. The new rating system implemented for Hostgator employees is an excellent way to help you and HG get your account running at optimal levels. iPower doesn't care whether or not they fix your hosting problems, rather solving minor problems while ignoring and sometime talking their way out of addressing any problems. This is something HG doesn't do.. HG addresses your problem(s) and fixes these problems.

I have finally terminated and/or transferred all my accounts/client accounts with iPower and received a poll from iPower on why I terminated my accounts. I would not be with HG today if I was satisfied with iPower almost 8 years. When iPower faced major problems, customer and tech support didn't care and it was time to change hosting companies.

When I have a problem with HG and they fix the problem.. HG ask you how you rate customer satisfaction after they have fixed the problem. In this way HG problems are fixed in a timely manner so you and/or your clients don't have to go searching for another hosting company.

Thus far uptime has been great. Pages and installed forums are very quick in loading. The transition from PHP4 to PHP5 had me rewriting and/or obtaining new scripts which was accomplished taking less effort than I thought.

When first opening new accounts, the difficulties for people new to webhosting is for them to test different options to make sure all functions are working properly. As HG has so many customer accounts, not everything necessarily works the first time. 2 of my 4 accounts with HG had to be reported for functions not working properly. My other alternate hosts have not caused any problems as their cPanels have worked flawlessly from the beginning.

At this time the Server Status link is missing(used to be in the cPanel) from my HG account that I use specifically to show other clients who are looking for web hosting while my other HG accounts show Server Status.. so I've sent a trouble ticket to "support" this morning.

The Web hosting is a very competitive business. There are many bad webhosting companies that you really have to avoid. Then there are really good webhosting companies than run in "packs" so you pick the one that best suits your individual needs as each web hosting company seems to have their own personality, strengths, weakness, peculiarities -even among the top webhosting companies.

Comparing HG running with the best of the best web hosting, I presently rate Hostgator as 'C-[C minus]' (A=best, B=good, C=average). If compared to all webhosting HG would get much higher marks, but this is comparing HG to the "Best of the Best" web hosting. I do have my favorite web host which I can rate as an 'A'. I have had to use tech support on a minimal level, functions work the first time, I don't have to write so many trouble tickets and the price is similar to HG.

It is my hope over time that HG will improve. I will update and upgrade my HG rating on this thread after evaluating how HG's ability to fix the Server Status.

Most of my accounts are being transferred to the A rated web host.. however; Opening four new accounts with HG in two months as I rate HG a C-[C minus] webhost competing with the best of the best web hosting companies still isn't bad.

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I ate lunch and when I returned the *HG DIFFERENCE* overcame the problems Server Status back on the HG cPanel.

Please note on Best of the Best Host Webhosting a "C" is not bad. This is hard ball major league web hosting, amateurs need not apply. When I had to leave vDeck due to severe problems, this is a High School ball league. You can't compare a good High School ball team to even the worse Major League Professional Team. Hostgator is out there hitting and pitching with the Best Web Hosting companies available, so I don't mind being critical when HG is down or praise give praise to HG on a great job.

I rated "Perfect-5" for David Ibarra(HG staff) who fixed this problem very quickly and I have to raise Hostgator to B=Good regarding Best of the Best webhosting. The difference between an A or B is so highly competitive. HG could easily be an A as I open more accounts

[GatorWesley]

Thanks for the in depth review!

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Originally Posted by GatorWesley

Thanks for the in depth review!

As I mentioned in a PM, to clarify my A, B or even C rating of Best of the Best Major League Webhosting. Even a C is exceptional with the Best of the Best Major League web hosting companies. When I mentioned about the vDeck "High School webhosting", there is still "College webhosting" and "Minor League webhosting", but they are *NOT* the Best of the Best Major League web hosting companies. As I wrote in my PM on any given day and/or depending on the client --Hostgator can get the "A" position as Best of the Best Major League Hosting.

There are some very good 'Minor League' webhosts, but they let you know their shortcomings upfront, cost about the same as HG and don't pretend to be in the 'Major Leagues' with Hostgator!. HG also lets you know *UPFRONT* about their TOS, so there are really no surprises. The only difference I hold HG to a higher standard in being one of the 'Best of the Best' and HG has delivered and so long as HG continues to deliver, I have no problems referring more clients. (Those of you who have read my posts when I had my first HG account and was put on a bad server know I have no problems "addressing a problem(s)" speaking my mind. If HG is treating me/my clients right, I also have no problems saying I am very pleased with HG )