GoDaddy customer service email: Tired of waiting for a reply?

Office 365... You know your company needs it, but you don't know where to purchase it from. You already purchase your domain and website through GoDaddy, and you know that they offer Office 365 licenses, but is purchasing through them really the best option? That depends on what your company's needs are, and what type of support & expertise you might need in the future. In this blog, we will dive into one of the main reasons why I've had people come to BEMO to help them migrate off of Godaddy; their Office 365 support.

I could go on and on about the overall differences between Godaddy and Microsoft partners, but in this blog, I will be focusing on the differences between the Office 365 support provided by Godaddy and Microsoft partners and what to expect from each.

GoDaddy Email and Office

Office 365 has been a must-have staple for businesses for quite a while now and this golden software standard was made even more important with the recent push for remote work. Whether you're thinking about purchasing it or just want to learn more, there are some things you should know before making your decision. While the product seems like it would be the same across the board, one huge factor that affects this is where you purchase your Office 365 licenses from. It may seem like a minute detail (isn't Microsoft from X vendor the same as Microsoft from Y vendor?!) but it actually changes everything.

Many people think purchasing their licenses through Godaddy is the best option. I mean, you already purchase your domain through them, right? Who wants another bill?! But that little bit of ease bill consolidation may provide can cause a lot of heartache in the end, depending on what type of support & expertise you might need in the future. If your company needs someone with advanced knowledge of Office 365 and its plethora of security features and add-ons, then you will most likely need to purchase Office 365 through a Microsoft partner who offers this level of knowledge, not GoDaddy! This means if your company doesn't have someone who’s a bit Microsoft savvy on staff at the moment (which many don't), then you will be at the mercy of Godaddy's Office 365 support. 

GoDaddy live chat support (and other GoDaddy Pros)

You might think purchasing office 365 through Godaddy is a great option but all it takes is one call to support, and you'll want to switch providers (trust me). Why? Well, for one thing, if you run into anything more complicated than your Outlook client not loading, then you may find yourself getting frustrated with the level of “support” you get from GoDaddy. But it's not all bad, and again, it depends on what you expect and what you need. Here are a few GoDaddy support pros.

➡️The Office 365 support help desk is live 24/7. This means you can get support resources at any time of day or night.

➡️You can get Office 365 support through the chat feature on godaddy.com, which is a great alternative if you prefer not to call in.

➡️Godaddy offers an Office 365 setup wizard that walks you through the basic installation process for Office 365 and all of your Office programs--which can save a lot of time and energy.

➡️Godaddy DOES offer phone support for those of you that would prefer to call in and speak with someone.

However, while these Pros are positives, there are some real Cons that go along with GoDaddy.

➡️For one, GoDaddy Office 365 support simply is not as knowledgeable as actual Microsoft Partners, whose entire job it is to know all the ins and outs about Microsoft products and services. 

➡️Because of this knowledge gap, you may find yourself getting stuck with Office 365 issues that need to be resolved by a third-party Office 365 support team. One example, which is a somewhat common occurrence, is that you may find your outbound emails are automatically being sent to peoples' spam folders. This usually happens when your basic email security features (DKIM, DMARC, & SPF) aren't set up correctly. If this happens, Godaddy will not be able to help you out and you will be required to find a 3rd party to assist you which can be VERY costly. 

➡️The Office 365 support help desk is available 24/7... but the wait time is high, which means it may only take 30 seconds to get someone on the phone, but then you will have to wait on the line for 20+ minutes time just to speak with them. In fact, at the time of this writing, there are several disgruntled GoDaddy customers on their official forums that are complaining about wait times of over 90 minutes to speak with someone! That's just for tier 1 support. If your issue is even remotely complicated (and again, that bar is set relatively low), you'll have to wait for someone from higher tier support to reach out which can take several days.

Don't take our word though, hear it from real GoDaddy customers who have switched to a Microsoft Partner.

Office 365 Microsoft Partner Benefits

If you're looking for a more reliable and knowledgeable option, purchasing Office 365 licenses from a Microsoft Partner could be the best way to go. Microsoft Partners are experts in Office 365 and offer a wide range of services to support you and your company. This includes everything from turning on security features in Office (what's the point if they exist if they aren't turned on?!) to migration assistance, to help desk support. Most partners also have a staff of certified Office 365 professionals that can help you with any issue you may encounter.

One thing to keep in mind when choosing a Microsoft partner is that not all partners are created equal. Make sure you do your research and find one that has a good reputation and offers the level of support you need. 

While we can't speak to the support offered by ALL Microsoft partners, we CAN speak to the support we offer here at BEMO.

Microsoft Partner Center: Support Pros and Cons

There are several reasons you may want to purchase your licenses through a Microsoft Partner, and awesome support should probably be at the top of the list. Not only are Microsoft Partners required to provide break/fix support for all of the licenses they sell to customers, but most certified Partners will also have a team that specializes in most if not all of Microsoft's expansive tech stack.

A few things pros of support from Microsoft Partners are: 

➡️Most Microsoft Certified Partners will have specialists on staff for various aspects of the Microsoft Techstack. So if you have a very specific issue, there's a good chance someone will be able to help.

➡️Microsoft certified partners will have knowledge of Microsoft’s more advanced security features such as advanced email security, identity security, device security & Intune, and document security, to name a few. Curious how your current security stacks up? Take our free quiz here:

➡️Microsoft Certified Partners are able to help you with any migrations or upgrades you may need. Whether it's migrating from Godaddy or Gsuite into Office 365, migrating from on-premise to the cloud, or migrating from one Office 365 tenant to another due to a merger or acquisition. They can even help switch your business from a traditional phone system over to Microsoft Business Voice. 

➡️Microsoft Partners are REQUIRED to provide break/fix support for the products they sell. So if you purchase licenses or add-ons through a partner, you can rest assured that they will be able to assist you should any problems arise.

➡️Most Microsoft Certified Partners also offer services outside of Microsoft licensing such as cybersecurity and Managed IT services.

Of course, there are a few cons, but they are dependent on the Partner so...all you have to do is find the Partner of your dreams. Is your Partner not holding up their end of the deal? Read how to break up with yours below):

➡️Not all partners offer 24/7 support

➡️Some partners can only work with customers based in specific countries

➡️Some partners require contracts in regards to licenses and services 

GoDaddy customer support vs. Microsoft Partner support: Which should you go with?

So, now you're probably asking yourself whether you should go with GoDaddy or a Microsoft Partner for your Office 365 licenses. Honestly, it really depends on what type of support and specialized knowledge you want out of your license provider. If you think your company will stay small (5 or under) and you don't need the additional power of Microsoft to track your company's growth, provide better security, etc. then GoDaddy might be sufficient.

However, if you’re looking to fully utilize the power of Office 365 and expect great support to accompany your Office 365 licenses, it might be worth considering purchasing them through a Microsoft Partner. Their expertise in Office 365 and other aspects of the Microsoft stack makes them well qualified to help you troubleshoot any issues that may arise and will help you unlock the potential of your licensing.

If you have any questions about licensing or support, please don't hesitate to reach out! We're happy to answer any questions you or your team may have.