On Thu, 2003-06-05 at 10:41, Russ Goodwin wrote:
> At 09:17 AM 6/5/2003, domainwhiz wrote:
> >Do YOU know what a CNAME record is? (Without googling it?)
> >
> >Do you know what a 302 response is?
>
> So in order to sell domains (or use OpenSRS, or be on this list) you seem
> to think one should be a techie?
>
> I know that both CNAMEs and 302s are aliases, like the one you are using to
> remain anonymous on this list, domainwhiz.
>
> I can use and sell cars without having a clue about how engines work. I
> can even sell upgrades and services on those cars and engines without
> knowing how they work.
>
> I can see how people who have made an investment in DNS services of their
> own might not like to see Tucows offer wholesale dns or email service,
> essentially lowering the bar for the less technically skilled resellers,
> thereby introducing more competition from other resellers.
>
> Now in order to succeed you'll probably need to do something you aren't
> already doing to obtain and retain customers, so you complain about Tucows
> and their confounded new services.
>
> To this I say: you are selling in a crowded and competitive marketplace,
> the barriers to entry are constantly being lowered, Tucows is just trying
> to remain competitive with other wholesale registrars.
>
> In the last Tucows conference call, Elliot reiterated that Tucows wants to
> provide services that simplify data management (or words to that
> effect). He went on to say that he found the new Apple music service
> interesting. If you had a music selling service, would you be on here
> whining that if Tucows rolls out the ability to sell music they'd be
> ruining your business - and anyone who can't hum a C-sharp shouldn't be
> allowed to sell mp3's?
>
> -Russ
I am saying that they need to understand why a move like this (one that
they gave implied assurances they would not make, not that you seem to
care about that point) will cause their better resellers to re-evaluate
their relationship with a company who is making more competitors for
them. This added to the fact that they are no longer cost competitive
on top of that, and there is very little reason for the best resellers
to stick with Tucows.
Like I said, if they feel they can live without that business, that is
their decision. But it needs to be said, and they need to understand
that what they are doing WILL cause harm to those resellers, and most
likely WILL effect those companies' decisions on whether to continue
their relationship with Tucows.
And yes, I am saying that if you don't understand those two terms, or
have people on your staff who do, that I do not believe you are capable
of providing the type of support that customers of those services will
need or require. One of the ways for customers to make sure they were
dealing with a company who knew what they were doing was the
availability of those services.
I said the very same things about the email service Tucows rolled out.
I made the same warnings then. But alone, the email service alone was
not enough to really cause these companies to act. This on the other
hand is a more direct hit, and will have an effect on their decisions.
You have already seen more than a handful on the list express serious
concern over this. Some of them have explained it much better than I.
For every one who speaks out, there are more who are watching silently,
and thinking along the same lines. As a rule, they will be OpenSRS'
better resellers. Good volume, with little customer service overhead
because they are of a technical proficiency level and customer service
conscientiousness that means they will have little need for support
unless something is seriously wrong. They do not need their hands
held.
Should Tucows cater to them or to the lowest common level? Those near
the lower levels obviously think they should cater there. It is no
surprise that those at the higher level feel otherwise. Tucows must
make the decision. If they feel catering to the lower level will make
up for the loss of business when the higher end decides to go elsewhere,
then that is the decision they must make. But they must understand that
this time there will be consequences to that decision, unlike when they
rolled out email over the same objections.
-- domainwhiz <domainwhiz@yahoo.com>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.3 : Tue Oct 19 2004 - 23:37:44 EDT