Zombie websites

[88V8]

This website has some tools I'd like to order, but the site has not been updated for eleven years and the prices are clearly out of date.

Is it a zombie? Has the owner passed on? How can one tell?

In this case, I can email or phone, but one does come across sites that look as if they might be live, but aren't.

How can one tell?

V8

[Mike4]

Well one thing we DO know is 'someone' is paying the domain name hosting fees and the hosting fees, so it can't be totally moribund.

What happens if you place an order? It says they will send you a Paypal request for payment.

If nothing happens then probably the best avenue to explore would be to investigate the domain name registration and look up the owner or technical admin contact details.

[BigB]

I'd send an email to one or both of those contact addresses with a simple question that involves response.

[Infrasonic]

https://mxtoolbox.com/SuperTool.aspx

Just stick the domain into the super tool and run various tests.

[GrahamPlatt]

Why not just ring them up - number’s on the “contact us” tab.
Edit: Oops - re-read your post & see that you’re aware of that.

[kempiejon]

Clicky on the icon next to the web address in the bar and you can check a certificate (on my chrome browser it used to be a padlock but now looks like a pair of drum beaters) - if that means anything I have no idea.
Common Name (CN) *.rnhorological.co.uk
Organization (O) <Not Part Of Certificate>
Organizational Unit (OU) <Not Part Of Certificate>
Common Name (CN) Encryption Everywhere DV TLS CA - G1
Organization (O) DigiCert Inc
Organizational Unit (OU) www.digicert.com
Issued On Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 12:00:00 AM
Expires On Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 11:59:59 PM

[88V8]

Thankyou, some useful tips there.
Applying them to a site where I ordered a CD a few months ago, I see it's long dead, oh well.

The site in the OP, is alive! A living dinosaur.

An email arrived and later a Paypal invoice which I paid, and now the item is being shipped.

Not every day that one can buy from a site that apparently has not been updated for eleven years.

V8

[Mike4]

Thankyou, some useful tips there.
Applying them to a site where I ordered a CD a few months ago, I see it's long dead, oh well.

The site in the OP, is alive! A living dinosaur.

An email arrived and later a Paypal invoice which I paid, and now the item is being shipped.

Not every day that one can buy from a site that apparently has not been updated for eleven years.

V8

Excellent news! But how do you know it hasn't been updated? Just curious.

I still get a trickle of emails etc asking if I'm still in business, despite me putting "First published" and "Last updated" dates in the footer of every one of my web pages!

[GrahamPlatt]

…and the prices are clearly out of date.

An email arrived and later a Paypal invoice which I paid, and now the item is being shipped.

Not every day that one can buy from a site that apparently has not been updated for eleven years.

V8

So the prices were current?

Lovely!

[88V8]

The site in the OP, is alive! A living dinosaur.
Not every day that one can buy from a site that apparently has not been updated for eleven years.

Excellent news! But how do you know it hasn't been updated? Just curious.

I'm presuming, from the last update footer being 2012. And the antique feel of the site and the invoicing.
The owner must think 'well it ain't broke...'

…and the prices are clearly out of date.

So the prices were current?
Lovely!

They were. But I bet they weren't sourcing stuff from China eleven years ago

V8