Jaguar PC VPS Review
No, this is not a paid review. Yes, I will be dropping affiliate links. To quote NickyCakes (via Twitter), “I always chuckle when I get accused of using affiliate links on an affiliate marketing blog.” Nonetheless, this is my honest review. Like it or not.
I opened a VPS hosting account with Jaguar PC about six months ago. Although their dirt cheap prices had me skeptical about the quality of service, I decided to give it a shot anyway (yes I realize that sounds like a scammy review site review comment). I needed a home for some new phpbay sites.
I was referred to Jaguar by a friend who told me they were the best host I would find at such a cheap price, even though his account had been terminated for some shady shenanigans. Because of this, if you’re looking for a new host to facilitate your unethical ebony hat business practices, I regret to inform you that Jaguar PC may not be your best option.
Not for Noobs
Although the sign up/payment/setup process was relatively easy, they don’t hold your hand and walk you through it. No colorful advertisements, no hard upsells, no laymen step by step tutorials, no GoDaddy.
I purchased the cheapest Linux VPS package with Fantastico ($2/mo) plus 5 additional IPs which runs me about 28 bucks a month. Right now, if you sign up for the same fully managed package using coupon code VPS10YEARS, it includes the following:
- Root Access
- Unlimited Domains
- 320mb Guaranteed Ram
- 25gb Disk Space
- Choice of cPanel, Interworx, DirectAdmin, Plesk
- Some other crap I can’t remember
Extra IPs are $1 a piece (billed annually) and come in blocks of five. There are plenty of other add-ons available as well.
Support
I was expecting support to suck ass because of the affordability of this host. They do not offer phone support, but they are pretty freakin’ quick when it comes to responding to tickets, and they seem to know what they’re doing. Most issues are resolved in 1-2 tickets (in my experience).
Customer Service
Fine and dandy. When an attorney from a rather large company contacted my host about one of my infringing sites, Jaguar PC was kind enough to contact me and let me know about the situation FIRST, before going and deleting my shit. I’ve had experiences with other hosts where they will not only fold like little bitches and delete my entire site and its associated databases, but they will also delete every single other site on the account. Since Jaguar PC was courteous about it and disclosed everything to me without revealing any of my personal info to the attorney in question, I went ahead and moved the site to a different host (overseas) to alleviate them of any further headaches. This extension of courtesy is one of the main reasons I decided to write this review in the first place.
Why You Need a VPS
If you’re still using shared hosting, consider that a problem. If you don’t want to spend the money on a dedicated server, VPS is the way to go.
The problem with shared hosting is that you are sharing an IP address with a bunch of random sites. If there are a ton of shitty spammy sites on the same IP as yours (which is very likely since you’re on a shared host), it is my belief as well as that of several other SEOs (first and last time I ever refer to myself as one) that Google penalizes all the sites on the IP it knows is notorious for bullshit. I’ve had legitimate sites that just couldn’t rank no matter what I did on shared hosting accounts that leaped to the front of the SERPs after moving them to a dedicated IP (or at least an IP I controlled with few sites on it).
Now that I think about it, this site (offwhitehat) is on an old shitty GoDaddy shared hosting account. There are probably tons of worthless sites on this IP. I just don’t really care all that much about it to bother moving it. Maybe one day.
Well, there you have it. That’s my review. I’m outta this nerd fest.
EDIT: I should also mention that in the six months I’ve been with Jaguar PC, I haven’t experienced any downtime whatsoever. Granted I don’t check my sites every 10 seconds, but there have been no major outages that I know of (or minor, for that matter).
whats the best server to use for phpbay (lighttpd, apache, nginx)? Does jaguar have choice of OS/server like vps.net?
HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. They think we’re stupid. Follow up!
Just note how polite they reply not having a single idea. It is supposed to be 24/7 hour service but check the times. Note as well how they don’t have a clue and can’t answer properly to no question. It’s shit, bad, problem time expensive, nerves tiring customer service. And after 5 days my clients’ still with no mail, his main selling tool. TOTALLY ANGRY ABOUT JAGUAR PC. RUN AWAY!!!
ME +++ Client +++ : Hipolito.Rosa 2011-04-05/11:07:35
sample URL:
Hello.
I would like to let you know how unsatisfied I’m feeling lately about Jaguar. For the last years I had a good service and a quite good support response whenever any problem occurred.
Lately it is getting worse and worse, though. There more server problems more often and, what I find it is even more negative, support service gets worst everyday.
My clients server is having serious problems (ticket #13291488) for 3rd time in 3 months and despite opening HIGH priority tickets some 12 hours ago, they don’t even show as being assigned.
I’m seriously thinking of moving all my sites somewhere else and tell my friends, clients and work mates to do the same.
I’m sorry to say it this way but it’s the ony acceptable move.
Yours sincerely,
H. de la Rosa
PD. It’s just been replied while writing this ticket but I still hope to receive some serious explanation from Jaguar
Login credentials required to troubleshoot the issue:
THEM – - – SYSTEM – - – 2011-04-05/13:42:56
A customer service representative has begun working on this issue.
THEM — Tech — : Nasir. 2011-04-05/16:05:58
Hi,
Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience, we have been having quite high work load now a days due to which our response time is badly affected, we are aware of that and already in the process of deploying more resources to improve the service.
I have checked and the ticket 13291488 has already been replied by the senior tech (as you have also mentioned).
Despite of all these things you will be seeing an improvement in the support work very soon, we are working on so many projects internally to improve, standardize, document, automate and give the entire system a complete new look. Soon you will feel the difference. Having said all this I again apologize for the inconvenience you are currently facing.
Feel free to contact us if you need further assistance.
Regards,
Nasir
ME +++ Client +++ : Hipolito.Rosa 2011-04-06/04:15:45
Replied but NOT D+SOLVED!!!
That’s typical lately in Jaguar. Answer anything, add a polite good bye, and the problem persists!
There’s sure better service out there on which I can sustain my business.
Bye Nasir,
H. de la Rosa
THEM – - – SYSTEM – - – 2011-04-06/10:27:44
A customer service representative has begun working on this issue.
THEM — Tech — : Shaun.S 2011-04-06/10:31:04
Hi;
We are checknig this and will be back to you soon.
Thanks for the cooperation.
Feel free to contact us if you need further assistance.
Regards,
Shaun | Technical Support
THEM — Tech — : Shaun.S 2011-04-06/11:29:47
Hi;
We are sorry for the delay in response time. I have updated you in TID 13291488 , you are requested to please follow up in that ticket and avoid updating duplicate tickets as this also increases response time of the support and can cause alot of confusion at the end.
Thanks for the cooperation and the patience.
Feel free to contact us if you need further assistance.
Regards,
Shaun | Technical Support
HIP +++ Client +++ : Hipolito.Rosa 2011-04-06/12:22:42
Well, I don’t think I’m updating no duplicate ticket. I opened one for an urgent problem (#1), after 12 hours without a response a opened a new one (#2) to make sure you recieve it (I can’t believe a High Priority ticket can’t be even answered in that time by your 24hours ticket team).
Then I opened a ticket (#3) addressed to sales to complain about a very bad ticket sytem and customer attention.
I’ll keep opened #1 until the problem with web and mail is solved, and #3 as long as I don’t get a credible excuse from you for not being efficient and trusty for the last months.
I think it is very fair and that’s what your company advertises. May I remind you something?
#####
Web Hosting Plan – Features: Servers & Network:
100% Network Uptime Guarantee
#####
‘What kind of guarantee?’
or
#####
Satisfaction Guaranteed
The bottom line is because we truly care! We have been in this industry since 1998 and know we owe that all to our loyal clients. We put the client first in everything we do from tightly controlled and monitored machines to overall network performance. We don’t sell the cheapest services on the market but we do sell the best!
####
‘You trully care?’
Well, I’m really sorry if this is not the more polite way but I’m really pissed off of working hard to keep my work up and be fooled by my host company.
First time error maybe acceptable but again and again the same, no way. Then I get nice late words but no solution and finally someone tell me ‘avoid updating duplicate tickets as this also increases response time’ as if I were the cause of the delays.
Someone is doing some wrong here. At least Nasir was polite, Shaun.
THEM – - – SYSTEM – - – 2011-04-06/17:58:55
A customer service representative has begun working on this issue.
THEM — Tech — : Shaun.S 2011-04-06/18:03:17
Hi;
I sincerely apologize if you feel that way and if it sounds impolite and non-courteous to you. My intention was never ever like this.
If you still experiencing some issues please let me know I shall investigate it further for you in detail.
Thanks for your cooperation and the understanding.
Thanks for choosing JaguarPC.
Feel free to contact us if you need further assistance.
Regards,
Shaun | Technical Support
ME +++ Client +++ : Hipolito.Rosa 2011-04-08/07:02:31
I’ll feel free to contact you if I …
If you can explain why you are having such a horrible service and what are you doing to repair all the trouble instead of using the same polite sentences again and again, I won’t feel as needing any further assistance.
THEM – - – SYSTEM – - – 2011-04-08/09:51:32
A customer service representative has begun working on this issue.
THEM — Tech — : Zishan. 2011-04-08/10:13:27
I have identified the problem and updated your other ticket with the details. Please check it and reply back so that we can fix the issue permanently.
Let us know if you need further assistance.
Regards,
Zishan
ME +++ Client +++ : Hipolito.Rosa 2011-04-11/11:30:03
Not replying to my questions. Over 5 days and my (ex)client still has no mail. Of course he knows it’s not in my hands to solve it but may think I’m so stupid to trust someone as Jaguar.
BTW, if you can’t keep it responding without an answer to my questions you better don’t say anything. Unless, despite all, you really feel so bored.
Again: politeness is not dealing with your customers as if they were stupid.
@eric B, I’m not the right person to ask, but I only use apache servers.
@hip Thanks for the dup content!