Joe Caruso – New Media Producer

I was using Blue Host (www.bluehost.com) to host a few of my sites this past year. In any event, I went to renew one account and noticed a steep increase in price. It was $3 more a month than I was paying. I went to the site and it was advertised as such: $6.95/mo $5.95/mo When you see this, you automatically think $6.95 is the regular monthly rate. 

When I went to renew, the price was $9.95/mo. I thought there was a huge price increase, so I called Blue Host’s customer service. The customer service agent assured me there wasn’t a price increase. The way they advertise their pricing is very deceptive to me. The only way to get the $6.95/mo rate I was already paying was for me to lock in for 3 years.

I asked if there was any discounts that she can offer, but she said she could not do anything about it. Eventually I spoke to her manager. I once again explained that their advertised pricing seemed deceptive because one naturally thinks their monthly rates top out at $6.95/mo. He made all sorts of excuses and said that this only for 3 years. He did eventually drop the price from $9.95/mo to $7.95/mo. (He should’ve offered it for $6.95, which was what I was paying and how it’s advertised.)

I declined his offer, and unless they change the way they advertise their pricing, I will no longer use them in the future or recommend them.  A the very least, Blue Host should use an asterisk…