[iranfromthezoo]

Okay I have over 14 websites that I run by myself plus an extra 20 projected this coming year. I have been using StartLogic as a host but lately customer service has lacked and quite frankly sucked. When I am in the FTP client uploading files it will not take the files down or wont update them either. I have waited over 3 hours tonight on a date sensitive deadline which pass about 30 minutes ago to launch a new website. Their new vdeck system has completely locked me out of the site so i can't see any stats of my site or much less do any behind the scenes work. I am in the process of swapping to ICDSoft.com as my new webhost. I was wondering would it be more feasible for my to buy a server and use that at my home. We are a non profit organization who has a large nationwide book and service going on right now. I can't afford and we can't afford this downtime.

[Sherman Homan]

You certainly can host them yourself. But there are lots of reasons not to. A legitimate hosting service is going to have big fat pipes, redundant DNS, reliable power, automatic backups, etc. However, you really only need a static IP (yes, I know about DynDNS and those things) your own ISP must allow it, and the understanding from your clients that a home-brewed host isn't going to offer service agreements or drop dead reliable ecommerce. And that sounds like your problem with your current provider. I would look for better hosting company. Cheaper doesn't always mean saving money!

[ghporter]

By "customer service" do you mean "the people you call when you need help" or "getting the service you are paying for"? If the latter, call their support line and complain-with details. Your post gives an outline of what is wrong, but you'll need to expand on that with times and dates, file sizes, etc. Then start considering whether they're a good hosting choice or not.

I've been using 1&1 for about a year, and while I only have two rather small sites, they've been very nice to work with. Like all service-oriented businesses there are going to be negatives about them, but I've been satisfied...