GoDaddy has become the new VeriSign

It’s been determined that GoDaddy.com, one of the largest domain registrars, has begun some shady practices to gouge people looking for domains.(SlashDot story) If you go to GoDaddy.com and put a domain in your cart, then cancel the transaction, they will snag the domain and put it on “hold” in order to make the person wanting it pay an inflated fee to “backorder” the domain – or, more accurately, pay more to get GoDaddy.com to release the domain for registration. I can also attest that they will not release a domain properly when it is not renewed. We’re using PervPatrol.net because GoDaddy.com would not release pervpatrol.com for us to renew when the lease lapsed. Not releasing domains, snatching domains that have had an enquiry, basically holding domains hostage is exactly what VeriSign got in trouble for doing and it’s a damn shame that GoDaddy.com feels they must use such tactics to force people to use them.

I wonder if my registrar Bargain Name snatches up domains like GoDaddy.com does? I’ve not had it happen to me, but I did just release a few domains that I never used… Hmm, wonder if they are still being held by bargainname? Let’s see… Nope, it appears that the domains I just released are available. Well, I’ll never recommend GoDaddy.com again. I’ll just stick with Bargainname.com, whom I’ve used for years.

Another HUGE problem that is getting bigger is the search engine companies who buy up every conceivable domain just to point them to their search pages, like this one for herbcellar.net. It sucks and it totally screws up availability of domains. I was looking for a domain for a client the other day and the ones that they needed were ALL being held hostage by a search page or splog (spam blog). I think those people should be hunted down and booted off the internet! They inhibit internet usage and they inhibit many businesses from having a site because they can’t get a name even close to what they need.

The moral of the story is this: use companies that are recommended by your friendly web professional. Just because you can save a dollar doesn’t mean it will benefit you in the long run. Don’t go to a domain registrar until you are ready to buy your domain. Don’t buy random web hosting. If you get a referral, use it!

I use bargainname.com for all my domain leasing/management. I use ITXdesign.com for my hosting. I use IndigoDragon Enterprises for all my web design. Heh. :-)

[updated 6 Feb 09]