I could use a bit of geeky help.
I have been using BlueHost for my azahar-sevilla.com domain (which includes Sevilla Tapas) for two years now, and within two weeks I have to renew my contract. Or not. Last weekend I got a text message on my mobile phone informing me that the credit card payment had already gone through and, when I saw the amount, I got in touch with BlueHost and asked why I was being charged $8.95 a month when they are giving new customers a $3.95 a month special offer. And thus began my foray into searching for a new hosting service…
The name that kept coming up on Twitter, and by people I know in RL, was HostGator. So I checked them out and, while they wouldn’t end up being much cheaper ($7.95 a month, though on the same special offer it is apparently $6.95 for new customers), they seem to be very strongly recommended on their customer service. And to me that is quite important. They will also move all your stuff over for you from another host, which is also important to me, especially as I’ve been trying to move azahar natural clothing over to BlueHost for two years and haven’t been able to figure out how to do this. BlueHost doesn’t offer this service and the fellow who designed the page keeps telling me it’s easy but hasn’t offered to help.
So if you have any knowledge of or experience with either of these hosting sites I would appreciate any feedback and advice … thanks!
casa azahar 
I’m sure that there is a lot that a domain server does that wordpress does not — I went and looked at both links and knew immediately that I was in way over my head. I’d say that a host that has not been able to help you do something you want to do (move the natural clothing to the new domain) for two years is possibly not your best alternative. And if you have been hearing good things about HostGator, maybe the time is ripe for a move.
Sorry I have no real advice for you. . .
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Yes, HostGator has moved several sites for me and I’m amazed that it actually worked. I’m quite a happy customer.
The best thing is that they never make fun of me when I need tech service because I’ve done something stupid and screwed up my site. They just walk me through how to fix it with a smile.
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Thanks, techherding. I’ve pretty much decided to go with HostGator … just been trying out their patience with a few duh questions. š
Still trying to understand the difference between add-ons, sub-domains and re-directs, and which one might apply with regards to moving my online clothing store to the azahar-sevilla.com domain. The clothing store is temporarily dead in the water, but I paid a lot of mone for it (probably too much) and would like to still be able to use it at some point in the future.
So, just waiting to see what Ian at HostGator can tell me…
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Update!
It turned out that HostGator was only going to offer me a $7.95 a month deal, and then BlueHost matched it. Plus BH said they had support that would “hold my hand” while I transferred the clothing store over, though they wouldn’t do the transferring themselves. Which is good enough for me.
And I like the SimpleScripts WP updates that are available on BlueHost. And so I went with their one year special offer. BlueHost also gave me two and three year options that were even cheaper, but I think living one year at a time is about as much as I can commit to at the moment.
So, one less thing to worry about!
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