With Forum Support or Without?

[Noobeedoo]

I am currently looking for a webhost. The only thing that's been keeping me for weeks is my paypal activation because of delays with my card application that's affecting my link-up with paypal.

I have found a great-looking webhost (in terms of features I need) but it's lacking the forum support feature. The owner of this webhosting company is a member here and I know somehow that he could offer great technical support as he seemed to be knowledgeable in his posts.

What are your thoughts about this? Should the forum feature of a webhosting company be REALLY considered ?

[BatM]

Hey Natz...

What sort of hosting are you requiring? If you need just a web host then you already know who i'd say (i'm not posting so this doesn't look set up!!!)..:sgrin:

But if you were going for VPS or Dedicated, I am with JAG PC and have had only one problem with them.. Thats when GNAX went down!

http://www.jaguarpc.com/ is their site

Great support too. I can litterally ask them how the weather is and I have been told its fine (within an open ticket :stongue.

[jumpenjuhosaphat]

I don't know if a forum would truly be necessary, as long as your host offers some sort of support system. Email or chat would be what I look for...Especially chat, and I'd try at different times of day to see if they man their chat 24/7 or not...Because if your site goes down, you want it fixed as soon as possible.

[Colleen]

It's great to me when a host has a support forum, you can see how they interact with clients, and get support sometimes quicker via other users while waiting for a ticket to be answered. I just prefer it. I've rarely used hosting that didn't have a support forum.

[Shadab]

It's not 'absolutely' necessary for a webhost to have support forums,
provided that they have a good live customer support & knowledge base.

The customer forums, if present, would be an added advantage.

[grim]

Personally I do not like support forums one bit.

[iowadawg]

Same here.
Usually takes ages for anyone to finally answer a question, and then it is usually on the order of" The answer will be found if you search the forum".
Or a bunch of replies to the order of" Yes, I want the answer too"

The worst are those that set up a ticket system and take forever to ever answer.

Whatever happened to plain email?

[Colleen]

I LOVE support tickets... ok I've been spoiled by qoozz. :love:

[1maverick]

support forms are a sign the hosting company is offloading their support and hope their user groups answer the tickets instead of them -

the other tricky thing is to build enough people to get the forum going -

[Noobeedoo]

@ All Readers

are "forums support groups" for this kind of support services "paid'"?
if so, how ?!
how are they getting paid for that?

[Garala]

Well it wouldn't really matter as long as they got support ticket or some kind of support system, but having a forum would be better for both, them and customers since many times people ask same questions and if forum was available, they could simply provide the customer the link. And forum makes it really interactive and those who aren't customers can see how well the company responds and what members think of the service provided.

So, I would prefer that hosting company have a Support Forum. :lep-cool:

[iHubNet Matt]

A support forum is always appreciated. It can be a place where clients can interact and hosts can post all their announcements in relevant section.
So if there is som issue, a customer can first check the forums to see whether there is any announcements about it.
Also, it is helpful for those who are looking for new hosts as they can have a idea about what is going with that host.

At the same time, it is not a necessity and the host can provide a top notch service with out a forum too.