View Full Version : Reseller Points Question
Bob is known to have said ...
Note that when ordering a New Package it is discounted based on the points you have currently and NOT on the points you will have after adding the new package. And when renewing a package, it is priced based on the points you had when originally ordered and not the points you have now.
If one wanted to order 20 or 30 big honkin' (technical term) annual Platinum packages, it would make sense, from a business vantage point, to buy little dinky packages up front just to get your total points up to the dicount level you want. Then you can order the big packages with the big discounts. If you order the big packages up front you'd always be stuck paying 50% MORE (75% at the 0-5 level, versus 50% at the 30+ level) for the life of the package.
Is that correct?
So at renewal time, you could conceivable have various packages renewing at 6 different discount levels?
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BenV
Yes, you can be paying different rates for different packages. Annual fees are assessed using the current points at the time the fee is added so these tend to go down with each renewal date (assuming the reseller is continuing to grow) however monthly fees are not recalculated so they do not change. It could get ugly for not only us, but the reseller, if package prices were to change each month whether they go higher due to a loss of points of lower with the addition of points. Budgeting would be incredibly difficult, especially for those that charge their clients "cost" ;)
As far as the best route to the 50% mark....It seems resellers are split 50/50 on the best way to get there. Some like to order a few large packages first to hit the point requirements faster, and others rather a larger number of smaller packages to have a higher discount on the larger ones. I havn't stopped and done the math yet though to see which way makes more sense economically, with the assumption that all packages will remain and with a monthly vs annual table....
Deb
- Psssttt, give ya 10 bucks for those two points huh?
hobbes
09-05-2003, 12:06 PM
So, who wants to buy FQ reseller accounts on ebay :)
-- kidding, just kidding! --
We have actually had a couple of resellers that have sold out. With some the transition has been smooth as silk because the 'old reseller' and the 'new reseller' keep excellent communication between each other, with FutureQuest, and with their clients, while they transfer the account to the new one. With others it has been nothing less than a disaster because the communication between the resellers and their clients has been poor and the communication with FutureQuest nonexistent. In these cases, their poor clients end up losing their web sites or domain names due to transfer errors and misunderstandings about who is in charge of handling the details.
The key to a successful purchase of a web site/client/domain name is ensuring that the communication lines are opened up between all involved so that registrars, hosts, and the new site owners don't get left in the dark about who actually owns all of the pieces that make up the web site when it really counts ;) Don't forget script ownerships and leases as well.
Deb
- I bought the domain name from XYZ 2 years ago! What do you mean it's been registered by someone else?? Put it back I say! Put it back!
hobbes
09-05-2003, 01:06 PM
We have actually had a couple of resellers that have sold out. On ebay?
ROFL!! Well that I'm not so sure about %)
Deb
- Smart &*&% :P
Originally posted by Deb:
Yes, you can be paying different rates for different packages. Annual fees are assessed using the current points at the time the fee is added so these tend to go down with each renewal date (assuming the reseller is continuing to grow) however monthly fees are not recalculated so they do not change.
<snip>
Deb:
Thanks for the reply -- that makes sense.
For the monthly renewals the cost remains what the package was originally set up at but for yearly renewals the cost is based on the number of points you have as a reseller at the time of renewal.
That makes sense, because the accounting really could become a nightmare if the monthly rates weren't "reliable".
I will most likely buy everything at the yearly renewal and just charge clients monthly. It certainly makes my accounting easier.
Thanks for the answers (as always).
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BenV
Originally posted by hobbes:
On ebay? Right now Hobbes is thinking...
Do I actually OWN the points or am I leasing the rights to make use of the points?
If I paid for the points shouldn't I be able to do whatever I want with the points?
If I DO sell the points will the buyer be able to USE the points?
If they DO use the points, will it be a violation of the DMCA? Define "use"?
If the buyer buys the points does the buyer have to abide by FQ's TOS since the buyer never actually agreed to the TOS?
How much are the points actually worth? $16,000, $25,000 ...
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BenV
-- first time I wished there was an anonymous feature
-- first time I wished there was an anonymous feature ROFL!!!!! Well.... we may allow the highest bidder to determine the fate of your username... would that help? :hehe:
Monty
09-05-2003, 04:02 PM
One thing I have found that makes the whole reseller process much easier to handle is using FutureQuest's posted prices as my own. That way, if I decide or have to turn an account over to FQ, the pricing doesn't change the clients end. Another thing is make your clients aware of the TOS here. I am amazed at some of the things site owners will try to do and some of them will land you with a TOS email. And, finally, make FQ aware of what to do "just in case" which for me is to shut down the site if it's causing problems first and then we resolve it. Other considerations are what to do if a site is "slash dotted" (that happened when I was on the road, lol), or if you are going to be away for a while (vacation or former Enron exec). Being a reseller for FutureQuest is way kewl in my book, since I get the best web host out there, and my clients get personal service from me (not that you don't get that here), but you have to have a plan (and Bob for helping with billing ;) ).
Deb, what is the record for reseller points anyways?
hobbes
09-05-2003, 06:50 PM
Right now Hobbes is thinking... Actually, I was just thiking: "On ebay?" :D But seriously, I'd never part with my FQ reseller account; I'd be much more likely to sell my Deb and Terra avatars (personas?) instead if I needed some quick cash. (oops, shouldn't have let that one slip)
One thing I have found that makes the whole reseller process much easier to handle is using FutureQuest's posted prices as my own. I pass on a little of the savings to the client. Should they ever choose to go with FQ directly, it'll be a nagging little reminder of why tigers are great :)
Another thing is make your clients aware of the TOS here. I have them check a box stating they have read and agree to the TOS on my hosting signup page, or if the hosting is packaged as part of a proposal/contract, include language in the contract they sign stating they're bound to the TOS which is available online.
-- this thread makes me think it may be time for a reseller's only board in the forums --
Deb, what is the record for reseller points anyways? I hope you're sitting down Monty.... The largest reseller currently has 1,432 points. -- this thread makes me think it may be time for a reseller's only board in the forums -- I may try adding one again... we'll see what happens. Does it really need to be restricted to reseller's or can we have it public, and just label it for resellers?
Deb
- Uh Huh, it does work 8}
hobbes
09-05-2003, 07:35 PM
The largest reseller currently has 1,432 points. Hey, not fair letting Terra having a reseller account :D
Does it really need to be restricted to reseller's or can we have it public, and just label it for resellers? I like an open community, but do find myself at times wanting to raise issues and questions within a reseller-only board. Then again, anyone can become an FQ reseller with just a Silver account, so it's not THAT exclusive a club to begin with. Maybe we can have the forum restricted to 50% resellers only, that way you know the other members are really 8}. Of course some people would :waa: about it, while others will just be :mad:, but I'm guessing most would just be :\. Anyway, if somebody doesn't like it, I say :P to them. Now look at what you've done, people reading this post are looking %).
Monty
09-06-2003, 10:16 AM
LOL w/Deb, yes, I am sitting down, but I about fell outta my chair. That's a great mark to have hit. I wouldn't want to see a reseller's only board, it would seem to go against the openness of this place. Y'all have a wonderful weekend, I am on a driftwoodquest at the beach followed by offshore and am still wondering how Deb is going to get it to not float to the top if I do in fact find a suitable piece :\
Randall
09-06-2003, 11:09 AM
I am on a driftwoodquest Quick -- somebody register DriftwoodQuest.net! ;)
Randall
Hey, not fair letting Terra having a reseller account :) Somehow I struggle seeing Terra in that position lol Quick -- somebody register DriftwoodQuest.net! There's a lot of XYZquest available as of late.... Didn't anyone tell you I'm CURED :P still wondering how Deb is going to get it to not float to the top if I do in fact find a suitable piece :\ Well, after boiling it, sandblasting it, boiling it again, sandblasting it again, scrubbing it, and soaking it for a VERY LONG TIME at the bottom of the pond with a weight... it should be waterlogged enough to settle in the aquarium nicely. If not... I will simply silicone rocks to the thing and force it to do as it's told! :$
*ahem*deep*breath*
As far as an extra forum goes.. I think the potential of returning a forum that includes reseller's issues and possibly some things related generally in that area may be a nice addition in the name of organization but I do believe the number of reseller's that enjoy visiting these forums is low and keeping the forum closed would likely be against the openness of the community overall. I also think there's a lot us "non resellers" that could learn from, and assist, the resellers in the areas of how to handle service, support, finance etc. etc. etc.
There's just a wide variety of topics that could easily fit within the "reseller" category but that are not specific to resellers alone...
Deb
- Monty - Sender of puppies, bird toys, and now driftwood... hmmmm :N
Randall
09-06-2003, 09:33 PM
Well, after boiling it, sandblasting it, boiling it again, sandblasting it again, scrubbing it, and soaking it for a VERY LONG TIME at the bottom of the pond with a weight... Uh, wouldn't it be a whole lot easier just to glue it to the bottom of the tank?
If you're going to put that much work into it, you'll be needing a domain name for sure. :P
Randall
Uh, wouldn't it be a whole lot easier just to glue it to the bottom of the tank? But then I couldn't easily change my mind about the design later and the annual cleanings would be worse than they are now :P If you're going to put that much work into it, you'll be needing a domain name for sure. :P One of the first steps when recovering from an addiction is not hanging around others that share the same addiction. Randall, I luv ya man, but I'm not going to be able to associate with you any longer. Sorry Dude. :HIYA:
Deb
- :google: Domain Name Withdrawal :google:
OK, fess up. How many domains do you own know Deb!? Over or under 100 ;)
--I just hit 37 and realize I may need an intervention as the renewal mails seem to come in every day now...
Randall
09-06-2003, 10:23 PM
One of the first steps when recovering from an addiction is not hanging around others that share the same addiction. Oh, I'm no addict -- I only have two domains to my name. (Well, one of them isn't my name, but ... oh, never mind.)
I just like causing trouble, which is even worse. :P
Randall
OK, fess up. How many domains do you own now Deb!? Over or under 100 ;) You have no idea how hard this is for me to do! However, in the name of friendship I'm going to level with you...
I have allowed 178 domains to go back into the open market for registration. The problem here is that a good 150 of them got re-registered by spamming squaters who are trying to tell me how important it is that I pay them triple the cost to buy the domain name back. Some even have the nerve to expect a thank you, from me to them, since they were kind enough to scoop the domain names up for me ~#
I now have 77 domains with some more close to expiration :noddy:
Now before anyone *gasps*, and to help excuse this poor behavior 63 of those 77 domains are actually owned by FutureQuest. As were a large number of the ones I've allowed to expire 8}
Of the measly 14 remaining domains, 3 are actually for a friend, 1 is for a community that I do not monitor, and 3 are for my children (one each) so that only leaves 7 for myself which are split up between my pets and .com/.net variations. So if you think about it, I probably now have less domain names than most of you :N
Deb
- I have consolidated! :hehe:
I just like causing trouble, which is even worse. :P
Randall You're good at it too!!!!
Deb
- ..and we wouldn't want it any other way ;)
Monty wrote:
LOL w/Deb, yes, I am sitting down, but I about fell outta my chair. That's a great mark to have hit.
1432 points!!! Whew...if all those averaged out to Silver accounts (477 of 'em) and you charged FQ prices, that'd be pushing gross profits of $6k/mo. if my math is right. Not bad.
<drifting toward topic>
Having a public reseller forum encourages others to participate in the program, which is always good for business, in a viral kind of way.
<still drifting>
So I am thinking about this during dinner and it seems that it'd be best to pay monthly until you hit your point goal and then renew yearly to take advantage of your new point level. IOW, if your point goal is 30 (the 50% tier) then this scenario only makes sense if you are going to hit 30 points within about 9-10 months. For the 30% tier, that window falls to 4-5 months.
<back on topic>
I confess having 11 domains. I also confess that I constantly find myself thinking during casual conversations "oh!, I bet that domain is available...", which, in and of itself, isn't so bad. It's when you actually go and CHECK to see if its taken when you feel pathetic. For example:
www.DomainNameWithdrawal.*
www.DomainNameLust.*
www.DomainLust.*
...all available...
And I just HAD to check...
www.domainname.com <-- taken
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BenV
--Deb, you gonna answer Jeff?
Originally posted by myself:
--Deb, you gonna answer Jeff? I now see that you did...
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BenV
Originally posted by Deb:
3 are for my children (one each) Did you register .com or .name or what for them?
'Cause I have always wondered if, by the time my toddler is old enough to care, DNS (with it's TLD conventions) as we know it will be obsolete...?
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BenV
that'd be pushing gross profits of $6k/mo. if my math is right. Not bad. The key to many of our reseller's "real profit" is in the extra services they provide. This particular reseller offers his clients total solutions. His company does seem to be doing rather well by picking up where the host leaves off in the areas of web design and promotion etc... Having a public reseller forum encourages others to participate in the program, which is always good for business, in a viral kind of way. So you're encouraging us to start a virus of our own? Hmmm I'll have to think about that one... So I am thinking about this during dinner and it seems that it'd be best to pay monthly until you hit your point goal and then renew yearly to take advantage of your new point level. Just to quickly confirm this off topic hupla... Yes. You can do that ;)
Now back to the topic of this thread... It's when you actually go and CHECK to see if its taken when you feel pathetic BUT! As long as we manage to not register them, we're still ahead of the game right? Then again... was that Mr. Opportunity we just let pass by? Did you register .com or .name or what for them? Two have a .net (without a hyphen) and one has the .com (with a hyphen). 'Cause I have always wondered if, by the time my toddler is old enough to care, DNS (with it's TLD conventions) as we know it will be obsolete...? That I'm not sure about but I do believe .com will still be rather popular years from now... just don't quote me on that :P
Deb
- uh huh, I sure did ;)
Originally posted by Deb:
So you're encouraging us to start a virus of our own? Hmmm I'll have to think about that one... Actually, what I meant to say was:
Having the reseller questions out in the open like they are now encourages others to participate in the program, etc.
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BenV
Randall
09-07-2003, 12:03 AM
You're good at it too!!!! OMG -- I'm good at something after all! ;)
And absolutely apropos of nothing whatsoever, I happened to notice that imagineberry.com (and variations) is available. Just in case someone wanted to know.
Well, I did.
Randall
# I have no idea where that thought came from
I have allowed 178 domains to go back
< Insert Delayed Gasp... catching breath >
Just kidding... urm.... kind of.... still trying to breath
--dotster is having a 9.99 coupon sale today...
That I'm not sure about but I do believe .com will still be rather popular years from now...
I just hope Microsoft doesn't ruin the .net domains for us... I always liked the .net extension since it says "Internet" rather than "commercial" to me. Couldn't Microsoft have named their new product .microsoft or .micro or .soft :P
The largest reseller currently has 1,432 points.
Thinking back to this thread, I just did a very rough calculation in my head and figured that the above reseller is pulling in somewhere around $6k per month just from reselling hosting! Wow.
Dan
As with most things (especially in the IT industry), there's usually a bit more to it than immediately meets the eye. This particular individual has a LOT of clients to support so he too must endure additional expenses associated with the service industry in the area of payroll for support etc. He does a fabulous job either way you look at it though ;)
Interesting side note: A large number of our successful resellers openly disclose that they reselling FutureQuest Services....
Deb
- Are they Resellers or simply Travel Guides?
Well sure, there's definitely that component. I was looking at just the steady revenue stream from that one source, though. Once you start factoring everything in, I'm sure there's a pretty good source of income from related services, be it design work, consulting, or whatever is being provided. Probably a decent sized staff handling the various areas.
Dan
PaulKroll
09-21-2003, 05:29 PM
What, Dan, BenV's rough calculation just a couple of posts back wasn't good enough? :)
The thing I find amazing is that someone is doing at least 250 accounts, and hasn't got a dedicated server (unless there's some special arrangement at FutureQuest that I'm unaware of...) (I think it's been implied that it's possible to get a dedicated machine at FutureQuest, and it's been all but advertised that High Capacity hosting is available.)
- I've got one, count it, one reseller point. I'm so proud. :)
The thing I find amazing is that someone is doing at least 250 accounts, and hasn't got a dedicated server (unless there's some special arrangement at FutureQuest that I'm unaware of...) Nothing special in this case, outside of the very special 50% discounts and the preference to outsource all of the server/network operations rather than paying an admin to keep up... (I think it's been implied that it's possible to get a dedicated machine at FutureQuest, and it's been all but advertised that High Capacity hosting is available.) Yes, I would have to think the same. ;) It is currently restricted, however, to private requests from established FutureQuest Site Owners - I've got one, count it, one reseller point. I'm so proud. LOL and proud you should be !! :QTthumb:
Deb
- Every one really does count in a big way!
BenV's rough calculation just a couple of posts back wasn't good enough?
Oops, I missed and/or forgot about that.
1432 points!!! Whew...if all those averaged out to Silver accounts (477 of 'em) and you charged FQ prices, that'd be pushing gross profits of $6k/mo. if my math is right. Not bad.
Well, I based my calculations on Gold accounts and did so while unloading the dishwasher. :P
Dan
Originally posted by dank:
Well, I based my calculations on Gold accounts and did so while unloading the dishwasher. :P
Dan I was burping a two month old, changing his diaper, giving my wife a massage (with the other hand), putting a toddler in the corner (with my, uhm ...foot) and ... AND, I say, thinking about FQ reseller point with the remaining 3 brain cells.
In case your wondering how I typed the post. I gave the clean baby back to my wife.
:)
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BenV
- DISCLOSURE: my wife did NOT proofread this post for factual errors.
Randall
09-21-2003, 09:27 PM
I was burping a two month old, changing his diaper, giving my wife a massage (with the other hand), putting a toddler in the corner (with my, uhm ...foot) and ... AND, I say, thinking about FQ reseller point with the remaining 3 brain cells. Slacker! :P
Randall
cybercrone
10-02-2003, 12:09 PM
I think the potential of returning a forum that includes reseller's issues and possibly some things related generally in that area may be a nice addition in the name of organization but I do believe the number of reseller's that enjoy visiting these forums is low and keeping the forum closed would likely be against the openness of the community overall. I also think there's a lot us "non resellers" that could learn from, and assist, the resellers in the areas of how to handle service, support, finance etc. etc. etc.
I am DELIGHTED to have a forum devoted to reseller issues instead of having to search for topics in other forums. And if I didn't find what I needed to know readily, I'd be apt to bother service desk with questions that might already be answered somewhere in a forum, because (1) I would be pessimistic of getting an answer on a forum that wasn't targeted for such topics, or (2) frustrated trying to decide, Where should I post this?
I also enthusiastically agree with keeping the forum open. I'm sure there are people who are thinking about being resellers who want to get informed about issues involved and who will benefit from "lurking" on this forum -- they wouldn't be able to do so on a closed forum.
Good decision, Deb!
Toni
Just remember to wipe your feet at the door so we keep this place sparkling clean. Remember, I don't do windows :P
Deb
- Can we just call this addition the holiday treat and stop there? :QTtongue:
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