Why should you try to contact the technical support staff of a web hosting provider before you become one of its customers?

Contacting technical support can give you a general idea of the responsiveness of the web host provider to issues and problems. If the technical support staff is slow getting back to you at this point, don't be surprised if you get the same type of service when you have a problem and need immediate help. While not fail-safe, a quick response to a simple question at least gives the appearance of a well-organized, professional, and responsive technical support staff.