By Dennis A. Smith
Go Kiwi Internet has recently been the target of somewhat dubious marketing efforts from an opposition company seeking to secure new business.
A recent email supposedly sent from a Willy Musgrave, from NZ Barter Hosting to a Go Kiwi Internet client raises questions in regard to their ethics in marketing to competitors client bases. Aside from the fact that the company hides the true identity of the Domain Name Registrant (the owner) in the WHOIS register, neither does it exist in the New Zealand Companies Office, it also claims to have developed half a dozen offshore websites - a couple in America, and a couple in Mexico.
Go Kiwi Internet is clearly a prime target for opposition companies to poach business from:
- We've been around longer than most
- We have more clients than most
- The principal of Go Kiwi Internet has built a strong relationship with almost all Go Kiwi Internet clients over some 10 years in business
- The Go Kiwi Internet offering is unique
- Customers do not choose to work with Go Kiwi Internet because of price alone
THE MARKETING MATERIAL:
> From: Willy Musgrave [mailto:willy.musgrave@nzbarterhosting.com]
> Sent: Saturday, 14 February 2009 5:26 p.m.
> To: *******
> Subject: Re: Enquiry
>
> Hi,
>
> WE ACCEPT BARTER FOR OUR WEBSITE DESIGN, MAILING LIST, ECOMMERCE
> DESIGN & HOSTING
>
> STOP PAYING CASH to host: www.*******.com
>
> I noticed that you host with Dennis Smith of GoKiwi who has recently
> stopped accepting Barter and, despite unbundling, has refused to
> lower his prices.
>
> New Zealand Barter Hosting is alternative hosting provider offering
> the most competitive rates for website hosting in the industry. We
> can host your website together with webmail, free website design,
> blogging software, anti-virus software, spam filters, content
> management, online control panel, mailing list manager and more for
> only $20 per month - saving around $240 per annum off what GoKiwi
> charge you today. Unlike GoKiwi we also do free website design and
> we can move your current website at no charge.
>
> We accept barter [either Bartercard, BBX, Ormita or direct swap] and
> can get you set up in 24 hours with little / no downtime.
>
> Compare us against other leading providers:
>
> 2day . . . . . . . . . . $70 per month
> Callplus . . . . . . . $60 per month
> Freeparking . . . . . . $67 per month
> Gokiwi . . . . . . . . $55 per month
> Iconz . . . . . . . . . $100 per month
> Igrin . . . . . . . . . $40 per month
> Orcon Internet . . . . . $60 per month
> Tech1 . . . . . . . . . $65 per month
> Telecom . . . . . . . . $50 per month
> TelstraClear . . . . . . $45 per month
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> NZ Barter Hosting . . . . $20 per month
> ---------------------------------------------
> Savings on GoKiwi . . . . $300 per annum!
> ---------------------------------------------
>
> I would be pleased to be able to assist you if at all possible. As an
> added bonus I can also throw in some software when you sign up and,
> as I mentioned, can do everything on barter with the exception of
> domain names [they cost around $35 per annum - which GoKiwi also
> charges you extra as well and is not included in the above comparison]
> .
>
> Our website is www.nzbarterhosting.com. We have staff available 24
> hours a day, 7days a week to take your call.
>
> Regards,
>
> Willy Musgrave
> Account Executive
> New Zealand Barter Hosting
>
> T: (09) 280 3465
> F: (028) 897 064
>
> Corporate Headquarters
> 369 Queen Street
> Auckland
> New Zealand
SAMPLE WEBSITE CONTENT
Downloaded 14 February 2009 from www.nzbarterhosting.com"In fact, we think GoKiwi are crooks. For $500 they "include" a Content Management System which is free for them to license and use. They charge huge fees for "setting it up" and huge ongoing fees for each and every additional service. A Gokiwi "package" of just 1/2 the things we offer would cost approximately $4,000!"
OUR COMMENTS:
- Any web development or hosting company is perfectly welcome to approach any other provider's customer and solicit for their clients. This is simply commercial reality, however it should be done legally. Willy appears to have approached a prospect cold, via email, with a commercial offering. No prior relationship existed. This is called SPAM and it is illegal in New Zealand. Anyone in the web industry should really know this by now. All he has to do is phone the prospect and ask for his email address to send his offer. Simple and legal. Not hard to do.
- Comments on the NZ Barter Hosting website and the spam email are factually incorrect and naive. Most clients do actually check sales and marketing materials and they will work out the facts so it is always best to be honest up front. Claims of $4,000.00 for a website and $500.00 for setting up hosting are . . . well . . . to put it politely, not quite accurate! We understand the desire to secure new business, but encourage others in the industry to at least have some degree of accuracy in their comparisons. For the record, most Go Kiwi Internet websites cost in the order of $500.00 and very occasionally with additional modules, may cost in the order of $1,000.00 for website functionality many times more expensive from many others in the industry. Claiming that Go Kiwi are crooks and overcharge, then claiming incorrectly that there is a large setup cost for a Content Management System is unnecessary and just silly!
- NZ Barter Hosting advertises that they develop websites free. There's no free lunch in this world and you always get what you pay for, but we wish NZ Barter Hosting all the best. There's plenty of business out there and for people who want free design and discount hosting from an anonymous company, you NOW know where to go!
Our advice to people looking for potential web solution providers - look very carefully and deal with people you know and can trust!
