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Author Topic: Reseller Account vs. Basic Plan  (Read 2704 times)
iamamy
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« on: March 16, 2007, 09:34:27 PM »

I've been a web designer for several years but I am totally new to reselling. 

Other than making it appear that I am an actual web hosting company, what is the difference between getting a reseller account and selling a plan to my client and just purchasing a Lunar Pages "Basic Hosting Plan" for my client?  The client would get a lot more space and bandwidth for just about the same money.

Is it illegal to charge my client for a web hosting account that I purchase from Lunar Pages if it is not a reseller account?

Thanks in advance for any advice here.javascript:swapOptions();
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RandyT
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« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2007, 09:59:33 PM »

Hey iamamy , Welcome to Lunarforums    Welcome
Thanks for your interest in Lunarpages hosting.

Our reseller plans are designed for folks to sell to clients not needing as much space/bandwidth as the basic plan and getting a cheaper cost for the more plans you resell. You can charge whatever you wish for these plans. These can include custom nameservers and branded control panels to mask the fact that the accounts on actually on a Lunarpages server.

You can not purchase a basic plan and charge anyone else for it, that would be against our TOS. If you purchase it, it has to be used for your sites.

Feel free to ask any other questions you may have.

I hope this was helpful,
RandyT
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Randy T.
iamamy
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« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2007, 09:38:03 AM »

Thanks for the information Randy!  I appreciate it!
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RandyT
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« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2007, 03:34:28 PM »

You are very welcome, Feel free to drop by again if you have any other questions !

RandyT
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Randy T.
Dan
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« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2007, 07:58:59 AM »

I am also a web designer and after designing a site, charge clients a maintenance fee which includes software updates, support and hosting. I have emailed Customer Service Support about the inadequacy of the storage on the reseller account. I was told by Customer Services Supervisor Matt Boster "You can purchase basic accounts for clients." In this thread, you seem to be saying I can't. I am working on a business plan and need LP to figure out what their policy is. It seems to me that your concern is to only have one client per basic hosting account, which is what I want to do. Who actually pays the bill seems irrelevant. I like LP and want to host my clients here. As I am already charging them a maintenance fee, it doesn't make sense to make them personally sign up for the LP account. They are paying me to offer this service to them. As I am paying LP, should I sign up in my company's name or in my client's name? Please think this through and talk to management before answering this question as designers like myself want to work with you to give you business, but you seem to be concerned about working with us. Please clarify the terms under which you can work with us regarding basic accounts.
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tsp
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« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2007, 09:02:49 AM »

Yes, I'd like to hear the response to Dan's question, too.
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Mitch
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« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2007, 09:40:30 AM »

Hello, here is what the Acceptable Use Policy says on this issue:

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You may not make your account (including but not limited to web space, email accounts, bandwidth, storage space, or reseller rights) available to any third party in any way, including but not limited to the use of Sub Domains, Add-on Domains, Sub Directories, or by any other means.

I would suggest having the person paying for the Web hosting to be in control of the Web site, then if they would like for somebody else to do the designing or work on the Web site, they can provide the information needed to the person in charge of that. (That would be if you wanted to use a non-reseller plan).  The reseller plan makes this much easier, because then you can resell directly to your clients.  Hope that helps!
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Dan
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« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2007, 12:59:28 PM »

Your suggestion really does not address my needs. Here is an alternative suggestion, that I believe is in keeping with the LP AUP. Acting as an agent of my client, I will open a basic account for them. The client will be the owner of the account. I will pay LP for their account, as there is nothing in the AUP about who can pay for an account. My client will authorize me to work on their website. I think that this is probably what Customer Services Supervisor Matt Boster had in mind in our previous discussion. Let me know if this is acceptable.
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heyguy
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« Reply #8 on: April 16, 2007, 05:50:17 PM »

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that what the AUP is trying to prevent is somebody purchasing a shared hosting account and then selling off all that extra space to various people to store files or create websites or whatever - i.e. "I have 249.7GB of space I'm not using, so I'll become the next rapidshare."

If you design and build a website, purchase a shared hosting account, upload the site, and maintain the site going forward, all in the name of a customer, I can't imagine anyone would have a problem with that.  Like Dan says, you're not really reselling, you're just acting as the agent for your customer.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

To answer the original poster's question, it's not really about more space and bandwidth.  How much do most of your customers really use anyway?  I'd be hard pressed to come up with 250GB of content.

The advantage to you in having a reseller account is the ability to quickly add/edit/delete accounts without waiting for sales or support staff to do it for you.  Not to mention if you manage the resources well, you stand to make some money off it.
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tsp
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« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2007, 02:46:00 PM »

I'm hoping heyguy had it right since there was no response contradicting him.  After looking at some other comments, here is what I have concluded.

Like Dan also said, you can sign up a client, with their name, but you can pay LunarPages and charge them a "fee".  This should work.  However, there is a question of, why do this?  Not understanding how everything works is one reason.  For example, thinking you have to pay a large amount of money when one really doesn't want to get into the business of reselling, but only wants to set up clients. 

Now, I think I understand a little more.  There is the page, http://www.lunarpages.com/desc/costreseller.htm, which says "purchased accounts", and since it is on the reseller account page, it seems to say it only costs $7.95/mo for one reseller account.  Then you can resell it to as many people as you want and as long as they fit into one account, you are only charged $7.95.  (LP may wish to change some wording about "accounts" there, or explain it as each resold hosting account)
This situation is what I think Randy was trying to prevent.  Each person/company must pay the $7.95.  As long as LP is getting that for each hosting account, they should be ok.  One "account" could have multiple names, as long as it's the same company (not yours reselling to others).

However, this thread, http://www.lunarforums.com/index.php/topic,38882.0.html, probably clears everything up good enough.  You are only charged the standard fee for each client.  If you have enough clients, your costs become less, but you could keep on charging your clients the same amount.

$7.95 to sign up as the client, or $7.95 to sign up as a reseller.  So, I see no reason NOT to use the reseller account idea.  Then you can be in control of adding/deleting accounts and maybe some other options and advantages.  AND you have 3 free domains for yourself or special clients.  (I'm a little concerned how much harder this is, but do see a tutorial so probably not a big deal)  One thing I notice different is 1GB of space for the reseller verses 350GB.  I don't know if this is 1GB split between all accounts, or each hosted account gets 1GB.

When I think of the word "reseller", I think of someone selling 1000s of accounts, but not really knowing nor caring much about programming.  Which this could allow, given enough space available.  But, it's not something I would have any interest in doing.  However, if it were called something like a "developer" account, I think people like Dan and myself would think it may meet our needs.

Am I understanding "reseller" right?

If so, now that I've allready set an account up, is there a good way to sign up for a reseller account and put that account under it  - at least when it comes up for renewal? 

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RandyT
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« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2007, 04:42:00 PM »

Heyguy is correct in that you would not be able to purchase a basic plan and sell off the unused space for others for their websites, file storage etc.

Dan is correct too in that you can sign up a client, with their name and you can pay Lunarpages and charge them a "fee" to manage and do the webmaster work for them as it isnt sharing anything. We have alot of customers who have accounts that are purchased and managed by others since they know nothing of designing and building websites, but they are the only one using the site it isnt being shared or space sold for others to use.

On the reseller plan, you buy the first one and use it for the master account for your site and to have the WHM to control all the clients to come. It has 1000mb of space but no other accounts or clients are put onto this space. Each time you resell to another client you get another one at $7.95 with another 1000mb of space etc. This happens each time you add another client and the more you sell the cheaper they cost you. You can charge your clients whatever you choose.

You can move your current plan over to a reseller at any time.

Feel free to ask any other questions you may have.
I hope this clears up a few things.

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Randy T.
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« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2007, 07:50:41 AM »

Yes, thanks Randy, that does clear it up.  It took a while, but I think I understand it now.

I don't know if I'm just one of the few who were unclear on it, but I think you should write a few paragraphs for linking from the reseller page.  It could prevent others' confusion or their improper use of LunarPages.
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