Pretty rough ride

This message was sent from: Suggestions and Proposals
http://forums.oscommerce.com/viewtopic.php?p=181433#181433
----------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the comments, Brian. I'd have to say that I've had a very very very tough time matching osCommerce experience with a host that meets my fairly simple requirements. My requirements may be "simple," but they are different from others, for example, I would really like the host to have a RealMedia server installed. I need about 10 domains, and I want the host to have osCommerce in their control panel, so that I can start working on my site instead of worrying about installation. 

Anyway, this forum has been great in suggesting places like Webhostingtalk.com, findmyhosting.com, and a couple other host search places, but then to find "osCommerce in control panel" as an option is pretty unlikely. Actually, even performing a search on my needs at those host-finder-type sites presents considerable difficulties. 

A couple of hosts have other shopping carts available free of charge, and, even though I am very excited about the Open Source philosophy, if a good package comes along with another shopping cart, I'm may have to take it -- especially if the host supports that particular cart. I've found a few hosts who've said that they actually help with osCommerce (and, of course I would rely on this forum as well), but then come the rest of my needs...

Frankly, I'm really tired of my "host search." I was ready to buy a shopping cart when I came across osCommerce, and I thought "this is very cool, I believe in this and would be proud to display the osCommerce text on my site..." I also thought that the community would help me find a host that has experience with osCommerce, that I could contact a bunch, send them a stock email, and basically work from my decision to use osCommerce outward. 

It hasn't happened that way, and I'm still looking for a host. This place: "great price, but only in business since this April." That place, "don't know anything about osCommerce, I'm on my own there." Another place, "we don't allow audio" (totally goofy, since I'm paying for bandwidth...), anyway, it goes on and on and on and on. 

So, I'm in the final stretch to find a host, wish me luck. Seriously, any suggestions are welcome, you can send me a private mail, but I find myself afraid of making enemies on this board by listing my complete hosting requirements. 

At any rate, I have to be honest and say that after about a week and a half of looking through about 1000 plans, I am finding my host search to be quite frustrating. 

All the best, wish me good fortune!
--Dainis