I don’t usually publicize my rants on small businesses because it really destroys their reputation. But this is the first time, where I am concerned for the potential customers that may order from them. This rant will focus on http://www.exushost.com . I switch webhosting from host to host, and have even ran successful webhosting businesses for years, and have never seen anything like this. Just from dealing with some live support operators with pre-sale questions have turned the operators against me, resorting to questioning me and promising lies. The easiest thing a web-host operator can do, is provide quality assistance in order to earn a sale. It wasn’t even technical or anything. Their actions has given me every reason to publicize a rant about them.
All I wanted was answers to simple questions, not even technical. They questioned me for why I gave them negative feedback and did not send me a transcript of my chat because I may not purchase their hosting. They first tried to convince me their servers and reliability are great and reliable, then they started to change their words and are holding answers from me. They promised a transcript emailed to me, which was never sent. I was put on hold on chat for 5 straight minutes, and when I asked about the delay, they told me they had other clients in line, and would get back to me in 10 minutes. The quality of the support given was unacceptable, it’s like living in an apartment where the landlord just wants you to leave.
Please do read on to hear the whole story.
Here’s what happened:
Well, I first saw a startup web hosting business, and this reminded me of the businesses when I first started.I was connected with an operator (Jesse), and asked if they offered reseller hosting.
I was prompted to hang on one moment, and then told that I will be transferred to another representative (Alex). (Great, I may be talking to the owner now!)
Now with the new representative, he asks me how he can help me. Shouldn’t he already know my question?
I asked him if the previous representative forwarded the issue, or question to him.
He responded Yes he did.
Fifteen seconds later, I reply, “ok..”
He then tells me that he can create a custom plan for me, and tells me it would be perfect to start a hosting company with their amazing uptime and speeds.
Great, nice to know, really.
I ask them how long they’ve been in business, and he ignores my question. He tells me they’ve once owned a previous site, and moved to this new one keeping all their old clients.
I ask for the name and age of this old site, and he tells me it was broadhost.net and was in business for roughly 4 months. The domain wasn’t even registered 3 months ago. Exushost wasn’t even registered for more than 2 weeks.
He tells me that they own their servers, and Colocate in Texas, but when I reverse the DNS of the IP address of the business, it’s hostname is hostnoc.net, and is located in Pennsylvania.
When I ask him about the sites, he then corrects himself and tells me he’s worked for another company before. Would you even consider Exushost a company?
I ask him if he is the owner of Exushost.
He tells me that he is the joint owner, and specializes in server management and account creation.
The display picture on the chat looked as if the operator was a minor under the age of 18, so I asked him for his age.
He tells me he does not need to answer that question.
I tell him that I wasn’t trying to be rude, then he tells me he’s in college.
I asked him who the owner was, and he tells me it was the first operator I was talking to.
So the first guy I was talking to, transferred me to the tech guy to negotiate prices on reseller services.
I question him about that, and he tells me that is because he does account creation and server management.
This is what has made me start my rant. I asked him if he can email me a transcript of our chat.
He then tells me that he can do that if I’m looking to purchase a package.
I tell him that I may come back, but I would like the transcript for reference.
He tells me that he will save the chat, and give it to me when I purchase the package.
This tells me that they want you to leave immediately if I’m not going to pay. I was a potential customer..
I ask him again to send me the chat.
After waiting, I noticed some features on the chat window, so I rate the operator 1 out of 5 stars, with the comment of being rude and impolite.
He then replies almost instantly, “Why did you give me a bad rating, when i was helping you and answering your questions.”.
I tell him that he is giving me lousy service, and should not even be criticizing me for the feedback I leave. I ask to be transferred to the owner.
I ask the owner if he can send me the transcript.
The owner says sure, and doesn’t ask for an email.
For another minute, I then ask if he would like my email.
I give him my email and tell him to tell me when my emails been dispatched.
He tells me he will, but after five minutes of no response, I ask him what’s going on.
He tells me that he is currently talking to other customers, and will help me in ten minutes.
That’s just perfect, I tell him to send the email anyways, and I’m going to leave.
He tells me he will send it ASAP.
An hour and a half later, with no transcript in my inbox, I wrote my rant.
I have printed a copy of the transcript, and have it available for the public.
It may not have been enough information to sham a host, but it’s enough to know from the support of these operators that their business is unprofessional and should not be relied on. Their website slogan is “When size really does matter.” Penis joke or not, it’s really support and reliability in a webhost that matters. You can find a webhost that offers un-metered packages anywhere, it’s support that’s hard to find. A website like this being ran by unprofessional kids should give consumers a second look at how web hosting businesses run these days.
They did not send me a transcript because they think I would rant about them, or because they believe I’m not going to purchase a plan. They probably thought I wouldn’t have logs or proof of their sham if they didn’t send me the transcript, but I printed one for the hell of it. Below is the raw log of the transcript. It cut off the part where he told me to wait 10 minutes to send my transcript. That’s what really ticked me off.
The nickname I used in the chat was Stephen, I replaced the instances with ‘Curt’.
System
3:53:53 AM
System is getting started. [Wednesday, December 31, 2008 3:53:53 AM]
System
3:53:53 AM
A representative will be connected, please be patient.
System
3:54:05 AM
Jesse enters the chatroom.
Jesse
3:54:05 AM
Hello Curt, my name is Jesse, how may I help you?
Curt
3:54:28 AM
Hi Jesse, I was wondering if you offer reseller hosting.
Jesse
3:54:54 AM
One moment, Curt.
Curt
3:54:59 AM
Sure.
Jesse
3:56:08 AM
I’ll forward you to another of our agents, one moment.
System
3:56:16 AM
You will be forwarded to another representative, please be patient.
System
3:56:16 AM
A representative will be connected, please be patient.
System
3:56:25 AM
Alex enters the chatroom.
Alex
3:56:25 AM
Hello Curt, my name is Alex, how may I help you?
Curt
3:56:52 AM
Did Jesse forward my issue to you?
Alex
3:57:03 AM
Yes
Curt
3:57:17 AM
ok
Alex
3:57:27 AM
We dont offer it as a fixed plan, but we can create a custom plan for you.
Curt
3:57:49 AM
And are your hosting accounts running off cPanel software?
Alex
3:58:00 AM
cPanel/WHM
Curt
3:58:09 AM
Alright, that sounds good.
Alex
3:58:31 AM
Its perfect for anyone starting a hosting company, as we have amazing uptime and speeds
Curt
3:58:41 AM
How much would 10gb / 20gb cost? May I ask where you guys are hosted?
Alex
3:59:08 AM
A datacenter in texa Texas*
Curt
3:59:24 AM
Do you own the server?
Alex
3:59:26 AM
10Gb bandwidth 20gb space? yes
Curt
3:59:34 AM
10gb space / bandwidth
1 of 312/31/2008 4:24 AM
ExusHost.com – Supporthttp://exushost.com/support/livezilla.php?template=lz_chat_frame.3.2.chat.4.0
Alex
3:59:34 AM
Its fully owned 20 bandwidth
Curt
4:00:01 AM
So you colocate? Who manages the box? 10gb storage and 20gb bandwidth.
Alex
4:00:26 AM
We have people in Texas, but the datacenter fix local problems
We dont have any though, I can set that package of for you at about, 12.99 monthly
Curt
4:01:20 AM
Is this the first time you guys have been in business? It shows that the site’s only been up for 15 days.
Alex
4:02:04 AM
We owned a previous site but moved server, all of our previous customers cam with us.
Curt
4:02:17 AM
What was the name of this site?
Alex
4:02:24 AM
broadhost.net
Curt
4:02:29 AM
One second please. How long has that site been up?
Alex
4:04:25 AM
Roughly, 4 months But it points to null now, i also am pretty experienced in server management. As i worked for another company before
Curt
4:05:01 AM
For Broadhost and Exushost? It says Broadhost was registered in October..
Alex
4:05:17 AM
And a company before that i didnt own
Curt
4:05:34 AM
Okay, so I’m speaking with the owner of ExusHost?
Alex
4:06:04 AM
Joint owner, but i do mostly server management. And account creation
Curt
4:06:17 AM
How old are you, Alex?
Alex
4:06:59 AM
I don’t need to answer that question.
Curt
4:07:23 AM
I wasn’t trying to be rude, but to have more knowledge of this business.
Alex
4:07:45 AM
Im in colledge
Curt
4:07:47 AM
Is the owner of this site online right now?
Alex
4:08:12 AM
Jesse is online yes.
Curt
4:08:44 AM
Jesse was the owner, and he transferred me to you for a quote on a reseller plan?
Alex
4:09:12 AM
Yes, as i doaccount creation and server management
Curt
4:09:22 AM
And package pricing? Can I have a email copy of this transcript?
Alex
4:09:43 AM
Yes?
2 of 312/31/2008 4:24 AM
ExusHost.com – Supporthttp://exushost.com/support/livezilla.php?template=lz_chat_frame.3.2.chat.4.0
Curt
4:10:29 AM
Hello?
Alex
4:10:53 AM
Hello, if your looking to purchase a package, i can do so.
Curt
4:11:18 AM
I may come back, I just need this transcript for reference.
Alex
4:11:44 AM
I will save it, when you need it i wil give it to you.
Curt
4:12:04 AM
Can you forward it to my email?
Alex
4:12:27 AM
Why did you give me a bad rating, when i was helping you and answering your questions.
Curt
4:13:20 AM
I asked you to email me a transcript of this chat, you responded with negligence if I do not purchase your hosting. It makes me think twice about support after I pay for the service. You also shouldn’t be criticizing me based on my rating against you. Can you transfer me back to Jesse please?
Alex
4:14:20 AM
I can do
System
4:14:32 AM
You will be forwarded to another representative, please be patient.
System
4:14:32 AM
A representative will be connected, please be patient.
System
4:14:35 AM
Jesse enters the chatroom.
Curt
4:14:54 AM
Hi Jesse.
Jesse
4:15:06 AM
Hello Curt.
Curt
4:15:33 AM
I was just talking with Alex, then realized you were the owner of Exushost. Can you read through our previous conversation? Hello?
Jesse
4:16:55 AM
Yes, Alex deals with technical issues, plans, and account creations.
Curt
4:17:55 AM
Is there any way you can send a transcript of this chat to my email? Or must I purchase a plan first? I need references while looking around for a decent reseller hosting provider.
Jesse
4:19:34 AM
Yes, of course we can.
Curt
4:19:58 AM
Thank you, Alex was quite hesitant about sending the transcript. Would you like my email?
Jesse
4:21:05 AM
Yes, of course.
Curt
4:21:14 AM
webmaster@motoq.org Please tell me when the email has been dispatched.
Jesse
4:21:57 AM
Not a problem.
If you would like to read in a nicer format, I have the XPS file ready for you to download and view in Internet Explorer.
I may repost this on webhostingtalk and digitalpoint when deemed necessary.
Raw Log Download Link: exushost-log
That’s terrible. I hope no one buys into this kind of hosting. I’ll be sure never to use them, thanks Curt.
This is great, now I know not to trust this sketchy/amateur hosting site.
I have been with a few web hosting companies and it is too hard to know which ones are reliable. From the sounds of things the webhosting company is unreliable and support is second class. A web hosting company needs to have strong support because there will always be errors. From the chat log and other reviews this place is not suitable to offer web hosting.
I am Batman and I approve this message.
Why would you go through the trouble of making this, I mean we just opened up and were busy with other clients and answering your stupid questions, this dosen’t prove anything of our services, it proves how pushy and disrespectfull you are because there is another competitor and you need to make them look bad.
I request everyone to come into our live support and see for yourself, don’t listen to him, see for yourself.
Jesse, look bad? You are not a competitor, as I no longer offer hosting services. I can show people many other hosts which I am not affiliated with to offer what you do, that has lasted more than a month, with better prices. I’m not trying to make you look bad. But when I look through a host and see support with actions like yours, it makes me concerned about others because I know this is the one host to avoid. I hope you understand that.
Curt, you know you are. You’re acting childish about this and you thinking this is jusitfying yourself? No, it’s not, it’s telling everyone how disrespectful and sad. Who would go through the trouble of research just to make on and other look bad, I mean you must of atleast spent hours reading/writing this.
You’re my competitor, your site will not do nothing, I’m not shutting down because some kids online dislike me and my hosting. But, Curt, I knew it was you all along the chat because I seen you viewing my thread and I remember awhile ago you were from Cali so I told Alex it was you and I said he’s obviously not buying our webhosting.
And another thing, sure Alex did lie a bit, but you shouldn’t assasinate my name because of his lies, he’s not the owner I am.
Grow up, I thought you were cool, but now that I read and feel how cold hearted you are, my heart just drops.
And now I see you friends are teaming up on me, but why? too prove that he made a few mistakes and is judged on that? Yes, it’s the Internet, where people have no lives, people have no feelings.
Jesse, you still think I am your competitor yeah? I no longer make business online other than affiliate marketing, and if I were to make sites look bad, I would go rant on many but yours. I know you knew I was Curt, but that doesn’t justify you disrespecting me when I was going through your business. I’m not cold hearted, from me writing this rant/review would save a number of people from making the wrong choice and going with your hosting. You say that Alex is not the owner, and that’s who I’ve mainly ranted about. No, you, Jesse, also lied. You promised a transcript of the chat, and that promise hasn’t been fulfilled. That is why I made this rant in the first place, to lure people away from your host. I have kept this post private for a week now, to see if you would promote better business practices with your hosting company. Seeing that you still call people retarded because of your mistakes, and claiming that I am jealous, is what made me unlock this post. Nobody is teaming up on you, but is stating their opinions. You can continue to run your hosting business, I am not stopping you. But for the smart shoppers who search for hosting reviews or simply ‘exushost’, will soon see this review and decide for themselves whether or not they should purchase from you. What a childish remark saying people have no lives and feelings. This post is made to inform potential clients of yours before purchasing. I have feelings. You are still going to get customers, yes. But some potential clients will also be doing themselves a favor and won’t get ripped off by some currupt adolescent ran business.
The chat is fucking funny. You guys need to learn to stop lying and fucking help people. -.-
I now know not to use this site or any affiliated with it. I shall do my best to spread awareness of such issues.
Yes, totally don’t use them because they didn’t send an e-mail of a transcript, totally.
I don’t think you get it. A host isn’t supposed to be about size and storage, it’s supposed to be about the support and reliability. If you don’t have the courtesy to process a request such as sending a transcript of a chat, then there is no way you can offer support to your own customers. I wrote this rant after seeing both operators full of bullshit, and you, the owner can’t even follow up on what you say you would. It really isn’t that hard. Good luck with your business, Jesse.
Appreciate the heads up Curt, this guy can’t even come up with a better defense for his shady practices. Will find hosting elsewhere.
Jesse, go back and fix your scam. You wouldn’t have to defend yourself if you weren’t full of shit.
i use exushost and i have no problem with them, you are that kind of client who no company want…sory for poor english
First, I want to assure to Jesse that I am not affiliated to Curt in any way. I haven’t even read the blog post in depth yet because this is being done on my lunch/snack break and I already get the sense of how unreliable and how unstable you are as a provider. Your attitude seems to be very negative and anti-productive. You make assertions that are substantiated by nothing but your own conspiracy theories. Curt offers no online services that I can see. You also are not interested at all to not see what made curt a disgruntled customer. You won’t improve customer support when you go and do this to dissatisfied customers. I will definitely stay away from your hosting because of your negative responses to Curt’s grievances with your company. If you had actually addressed his grievances, I’d be inclined to think that you’re coming here to simply explain your situation, but you’ve essentially come to start a fight with Curt. That is childish. Blogging about a sour deal is what PLENTY of people do. Blogging in itself if a diary. You’re free to say whatever you want. Obviously, you can be as biased as you want, so when you come on here and tell him how childish it is, the irony of that is that you’re the one that seems like an angry child. Advil down then come back and explain yourself more clearly if you want to clear your service’s name.
It is terrible hosting. I’m with them right now and my site has been down for 2 days now.
I use them they are brilliant you can set up custom plans with them to suit your needs! I baught five sql databases off them for a time span of three months with unlimited bandwith on there enterprise speed network dedicated server. Only 7.99 per month I use remote SQL for my website as it would be impossible to host it all on one host without dreadfull lag.
I have a forum with ExusHost, its brialliant havent had any problems and the support is almost 24/7 live support and a ticket based system. My site has been up 40 days with one apache restart and have had no problems, sorry that you had a bad experience with them,
Brian,
Fatalx.net
I use ExusHost. Seems fine to me, especially how much I saved and how fast everything setup. Why would you blog false stuff?
I agree with the fact that their support is horrible, I had a chat with Jesse because I needed GD library installed for my image hosting site he told me he’ll get the problem fixed in 24 hours and its been over 7 days and still nothing. I sent a support ticket asking them to do the same and its been 4 days and still no reply. I have all faith in them and I dont recommend anyone to join either
I had a few small problems to start with, but they were fixed in 24 Hours. I’m reasonably happy with the service except they should invest in a Fantastico licence. Manual WordPress installation is a bit of a pain.
I’m using exushost. It’s actually really good, and I didn’t find a problem with their support system.
I’m stunned on how people reply blogs saying the hosting is bad, when they haven’t even tried themselves, you guys annoy me when you take sides without actually knowing the truth.
bottom line is, I use it, and I will be using them for awhile.
Ratings:
Server: 5/5
Speed: 5/5
Support: 4/5
Setup: 1000/5
Price: 100003203020302323/5
Overall this has been my favorite hosting comany.
Curt your an annoying person to blog stuff about other people when you’re no better yourself! =========================================================================
@Justin
Oh please, go put your ratings some where else. I myself have tried their support and its the worst support i’ve ever been given. I still didnt get a reply from their support regarding the installation of GD library and i sent it on 05/02/2009 , now what do you have to say?
@Justin
I signed up with them… but never got to use their service.. promised to resolve an issue. I waited, nothing happened… justin, wait until they #*@%$d you up.
@sarsh11
@gaydar
Sarsh, you realize it has been done, like a day after you requested, don’t lie and say it hasen’t.
gaydar, You never signed up. Don’t lie like the rest of you.
ExusHost was down for 2 days. Our server was having technical issues which have been resolved, and we atleast refunded maybe 10 people that day.
Attention.
ExusHost has improved its support, and every false allegation people have said. We were less then 2 weeks old, and relatively new to the hosting business. We weren’t expecting to open until our new design was released (Which it is now released.). We have undergo some changes with our support live support system, hiring a full time agent ready and willing to help you with any need what so ever. Our support tickets had an issue which it wasn’t letting us receive any, sorry for any inconvenience to all that has made a ticket.
Too all that have had issues, you can now expect those issues resolved in less then 24 hours. I’m also giving out free trials so you can try it out yourself instead of reading this blog.
Jesse.R
Also, to all those who do not have a clue what they’re talking about saying false allegations just to be cool. Stop, we all know you didn’t actually try using us, you’re just taking Curts word.
Another thing.
Curt, your a smart guy and all, and I respect you a lot. But, you should check out our website a second time. You do also know, we were actually less then 1-2 weeks old during that interview with you and Alex (FIRED).
I agree with the fact that their support is horrible, I had a chat with Jesse because I needed GD library installed for my image hosting site he told me he’ll get the problem fixed in 24 hours and its been over 7 days and still nothing. I sent a support ticket asking them to do the same and its been 4 days and still no reply. I have all faith in them and I dont recommend anyone to join either
good post, you deserve a free iPad: http://bit.ly/freeipad6