CAT Tracks for July 13, 2009

CAT Tracks for July 13, 2009

That would be CAT...

For months, Yahoo! has been advising its Geocities' customers that the end was near...that it was shutting down that operation and if you wanted to continue with your website, you would have to sign up for and switch to their Small Business Web Hosting.

Thus the scrolling warnings from CAT to you for the past few months...the promise from Yahoo! of immediate transfer that turned into a promised 3-5 business days delay...that ended up being two weeks...and FINALLY, "mission accomplished".

Funny thing happened on the way to the new website address this morning...

Made a visit to the old site...to post an announcement of the move and to tidy up the Home Page for final viewing.

Guess what...a brand new announcement from Yahoo!:

GeoCities is closing, but your site will not change.

We're closing GeoCities on October 26, 2009, but as a valued GeoCities Plus customer, you won't experience any change to your site. After we close, you can upgrade your GeoCities Plus account to Yahoo! Web Hosting at no extra charge for five years.

When you move to Web Hosting, you'll gain some great features, including a personalized domain name (like widgetdesigns.com), matching email, our easiest-to-use site building tool, 24-hour phone support, and more.

After October 26, when you sign in to your GeoCities Control Panel, we'll ask you to choose a domain name. Then you'll sign in to your new Web Hosting Control Panel much like you signed in here today.

You don't need to do anything to prepare. For more information, please visit the help center.

Well, now, ain't that a coincidence!

It would appear that CAT was on the cutting edge of technology...technology that the yahoos at Yahoo! had not gotten around to "inventing". My telephone conversations of two weeks ago clearly revealed that Customer Service and then Tech Support didn't have a clue as to how to transfer my files to the new address. Months of advertising the switch...evidently months of procrastination. You woulda thought we were switching from analog to digital!

And, you most likely didn't notice the best part...

As a special incentive to Geocities customers, if/when they make the switch, they will be able to purchase their new and improved website for the old lower price...for the next five (5) years!

That's what being first will cost ya! I was "allowed" to pay full price!!!

Oh, well...CAT did put them to work...made them figure out how to do it! It will be easier come October. Easier equals cheaper!

Guess it's like all those folks that stand in line to be the first to buy the new iPhone or whatever…take my money…PLEASE! Whereas folks who don't mind waiting can get one for half-price and don't even have to stand in line. Take our phone…PLEASE!

Just goes to show, the old adages hold true...

Good things come to those who wait!

POSTSCRIPT:
Speaking of adages...
Word on the grapevine for the past two weeks has been "What's happened to CAT Tracks? When will the new site be up? I've looked for the new site and can't find it!"
You know what they say...

Be careful what you ask for!