Greetings to all photography enthusiasts and followers of my creative journey! Today I’m sharing a candid account of my recent experience with HostPapa, a web hosting provider that has been a part of my online presence for years. In this post, I’ll delve into the recurring downtime issues I faced, the persistent upselling tactics of an accounts manager named Cesar, and the unexpected help I found on social media.

A Long-Term Relationship Turned Sour

My association with web hosting began way back in the early 2000s when I signed up with Lunarpages. A solid start, it all changed when HostPapa took over. While my loyalty remained steadfast, my experience evolved, and not always for the better. This evolution made me wonder if HostPapa’s commitment to customers had shifted over time.

The reality is that they sort of see legacy accounts such as mine, as a pain to handle and ever since they took over, there was a push to upgrade and send them more money for not a lot in return. Hostpapa treated me more like an unwanted house guest than a loyal subscriber.

Dealing with Recurring Downtime

As a content creator and photographer, maintaining a seamless online experience is vital. Unfortunately, my journey with HostPapa’s shared server was marred by frequent downtimes due to excessive resource usage from my site, according to them. These unexpected surges in resources and failures not only frustrated me but also lead to frequent snotty emails from their accounts manager.

I was shocked to see the lack of understanding and fake empathy coming from the HostPapa team. Nothing at all sounded sincere or like they were really trying to help solve this problem together with me. It just sounded to me like they were sick of dealing with my issue because it was from a legacy account left over from LunarPages and they they just want me to pay more so that they could be done with this old account.

Cesar: The Persistent Upseller

Amidst these challenges, I encountered Cesar, an accounts manager at HostPapa. While an accounts manager typically offers support, Cesar’s approach often felt like a continuous sales pitch with a side of uncaring frustration. The insistence on upgrading to higher-tier hosting plans, even when I questioned the necessity, left me feeling cornered and pressured. This misalignment between my needs and the proposed solutions was disheartening. Repeatedly, I had told them that I was not in the position to upgrade financially but, it fell on deaf ears.

Some of the emails left me annoyed especially when he replied in an email stating that he didn’t have any further optimization tips for me. A comment that really sounded snarky as I was desperately seeking solutions to an ongoing problem that kept resulting in my site being shut down for extended periods of time.

I wasn’t looking for “tips” on site optimization or how to get more followers on TikTok, I needed support. Sadly, all I was getting was a constant push to upgrade. Albeit at a discounted price, it was still coming off sleezy to me.

Twitter: Unconventional Problem-Solving

Interestingly, my pursuit of assistance took an unexpected turn when I turned to Twitter (or X as it is now known) for advice. Surprisingly, my plea grabbed the attention of HostPapa’s social media team. Suddenly, my issues were being addressed with a sense of urgency. This experience highlighted the power of public platforms in escalating concerns.

They jumped up and got a support ticket made. Suddenly what was seemingly out of the scope of tech according to Cesar, support was now swiftly being handled. I was surprised at how fast they got my site up again and friendly the other HostPapa team members were.

Persistent Upselling: A Familiar Tune

What struck me the most was how my HostPapa account, which dates back to the early 2000s, had evolved from a partnership to an ongoing upselling push. This shift in focus raised questions about the true intent behind these interactions.

It started with a push to upgrade simply because my email was getting full. Then, they took to shutting down my site. For a small photography website, it really made me question my loyalty to this hosting service. Their tech support came up with only temporary solutions but weeks later, Cesar was back with another 48-hour shut down notice. The solution: upgrade my hosting package.

It wasn’t until my twitter post that I really found some honest support. That to me is a huge red flag. When you have to make an issue public to get some solid help that shows where a company’s priorities are.

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The Bottomline

Reflecting on my HostPapa journey, I’m reminded of the need for reliable and supportive hosting solutions. As a photographer, my energy should be directed towards capturing beautiful images and sharing stories behind them, rather than dealing with technical hiccups. While I cherish the relationship I’ve built over the years, it’s essential to assess whether the current path aligns with my goals.

In the pursuit of better hosting options, I’ll continue my quest for a platform that values customer support, reliability, and the growth of creative ventures. Thank you for joining me on this open exploration of my web hosting experiences. Your support fuels my determination to find the best path forward for both me and my audience.

The post HostPapa Hosting Woes: Navigating Downtime and Upselling Challenges appeared first on The Sajin.