Switching servers and repointing domain

Hello,

I've bought new hosting due to the terrible performance of my old/current host.

Once ready to switch and repoint the domain to the new hosts DNS. I have been told to put my current/old site under maintenance and it can take between 24-72 hours before ISP's are directing traffic to my new host.

If i do not put the old site under maintenance, i understand i might get duplicate order numbers. This isn't really a problem for me, also new customers address details will not be on the new server if they get sent to the old while the ISP's are catching up. Again not too much of a problem as I can enter them by hand and inform the customer.

What does worry me is that I'm not sure if I will get sent order notifications from the old server. I can't see why i wouldn't as the email should still be active right?

What i really dont want is customers not being able to access my site for upto 3 days if their ISP hasn't caught up.

Ideas??

as someone that does these moves for a living,
DONT tempt fate

usually propagation takes 15 minutes or so....

but there are SO many interdependant tables that its inevitable that something will be missed.

Merlinpa1969:

as someone that does these moves for a living,
DONT tempt fate

usually propagation takes 15 minutes or so....

but there are SO many interdependant tables that its inevitable that something will be missed.

Ok thanks, so you are saying just bite the bullet and put up the closed for maintenance sign on the old site as soon as ready to repoint DNS. That the whole propagating time taken is fairly negligable. Not as serious as upto 3 days without customers getting on to my site?

Its all a bit of a worrying prospect as i've never done this before, so thankyou for any advice.