Some consumers tend to wrongly view reseller hosting as a bad thing, even though they often don’t understand what a reseller host actually does. As middlemen, resellers offer hosting services, but typically lease time and space from another Web host’s server rather than owning their own. It can be very difficult to actually recognize a hosting firm from one that is simply reselling the services of another company, because reseller hosts usually promote themselves as regular Web hosting firms to prevent confusion.
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In many cases, people who think they’ve had a bad experience with a reseller host may not have been dealing with a middleman at all – it’s that hard to tell. Invariably, the services are identical, the hosting plans are comparable, and the technical support is always present, regardless of who is offering it. In many situations, choosing a reseller host can actually be advantageous to a client. Since the reseller is leasing time on a server, this means they can pick and choose a server that will do well for the customer, both in terms of price and stability. This kind of brokering is usually beneficial to the client.
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Additionally, troubleshooting servers is usually a matter for the Web host, not the middleman. Therefore, the reseller can concentrate on issues like customer service and consulting, rather than having to dedicate time to server administration. This can result in savings for the client. Strange as it might sound, there are also times where a reseller can also be more scalable than a typical hosting firm. A true Web host is limited by its hardware; if a client suddenly requires an upgrade the host is not prepared for, the only way the host will be able to satisfy the customer is by upgrading its hardware – expensive and time consuming for both sides. The reseller host, however, can simply choose to locate with a different Web host that will better suit the customer’s needs. On the other hand, a reseller host is only as good as its partnerships and staff, as is any typical Web hosting firm.
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Most resellers begin their lives as small organizations, contracting out many of their services to other companies. As the host becomes larger, the range of services offered in-house increases, allowing the reseller more control over these aspects of its business. In the end, the only noticeable difference between a reseller host and a true Web host is the business model. They both offer the same services, but a true Web host owns its own servers, while the reseller acts as a middleman.
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