Thread

So… I’ve been using GoDaddy for about 10 years mainly because it’s so cheap. And I continue to use them despite their website and user experience, which is an info-overload-trainwreck continually trying to upsell me.  But I ignore it, because it’s so cheap and it gets the job done.

But they have this policy where they continually change the password to your account every 6 weeks or so.  No warning, nothing:  one day you try to log in and you can’t.  I try to get a password-reset sent to me, but half the time the email never comes through, or I need to get in immediately and end up having to call customer support to get it done.  This is exceedingly aggravating.

Well, it just happened again and for the last time.  Anybody out there have any other recommendations for a registrar?  Ideally anyone about the same price per domain (I’m willing to pay a little more, if it means better service) that’s a smaller company with a solid UI and well-designed site.  I’ve got about 3 dozen domains and I plan to transfer them all.  Thanks in advance!

Have a look here for starters:

http://nodaddy.com/#alternatives

But they have this policy where they continually change the password to your account every 6 weeks or so.  No warning, nothing:  one day you try to log in and you can’t.

I’ve never had this happen. I go to GoDaddy.com, and the cookie puts my userid and password in the login boxes, I click, and I’m in.

It may be that they don’t interfere with my password because I chose it myself. 🤷

I’ve happily used directnic.com for about 7 years.  Not the cheapest, but has tight self-management of domains, and from my experience, good business practices.

I’ve never had this happen. I go to GoDaddy.com, and the cookie puts my userid and password in the login boxes, I click, and I’m in.

Sorry, I should clarify:  one day I return and I can’t log in.  I realize this may not be other people’s experience, but when I called to inquire the support tech told me it was a standard security practice. I’ve probably had to change it 4 times…

Re: NoDaddy.com alternatives, thanks, but I’m more interested in the forum members’ personal experiences and testimonials.  Right now I’m leaning toward 1and1.com because a) they appear reputable, b) the price is extremely competitive, c) they include private registration for free (big plus), and d) the site is not a complete design disaster, as 90% of registars strangely appear to be.  Jury’s still out, any other recs?

Thanks.

I’ve never had the problem with the sign-in either.
Biggest complaint I know of about godaddy is if your email is out of date, you won’t be contacted when your domain is set to expire. Sign-up for their upsell junk newsletter, and you’ll know you are getting their emails, solves that.
Just using it on the cheap for my own domains.
I used Dotster before that, but it was twice as much as godaddy then.

This would be the perfect time to use the old: Godaddy Vs. whoever google trick.

On another registrar topic, I know there is a thread somewhere here on the EE forums where they mention registrars that take your new domain searches and somehow temporarily register them right away so you have to pay extra to get them somehow, anybody remember that one?

On another registrar topic, I know there is a thread somewhere here on the EE forums where they mention registrars that take your new domain searches and somehow temporarily register them right away so you have to pay extra to get them somehow, anybody remember that one?

I don’t know the EE forum thread you’re talking about, but I know that it refers to the nefarious Network Solutions.  They are definitely not under consideration.

I need to check with my boss on that, I think we’ve had dealings with them, maybe we’ve been duped by those dupers, thanks mac

The practice of sniffing domain name checks and “grabbing” them right before you could is called ‘front running’ and the practice of reserving a domain for a short period is called ‘domain tasting.’

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/01/30/0347216
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_tasting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_name_front_running

Both are pretty nefarious.  :shut:  😕

On that nodaddy.com, it sounds like you need to be prepared to fight to take your domain elsewhere. It looks like they try to discourage transfer and then extend payments for two 60-day periods, if I read it right.

Thanks alot Jared, knowing the terminology helps to track down registrars who would do that. It really is on topic here huh, esp. when it comes times to look for some new ones for client sites.

I’ve heard that it’s really pretty difficult to prevent either if the situation comes up (look up domain sniping as well, which if your registrar just dumps you instead of transferring, can actually be worse than anything, since that would mean you have a live site and a registrar who will demand exorbitant compensation).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_sniping

Speaking of domain tasting, not many registrars make it cheap or easy for just anyone.  With Dynadot anyone can do it and it is free.  When you cancel a domain the money is credited to your account rather than refunded though, so you have to set aside a fund for it.

Dynadot also has a simple interface with no advertising.  The interface won’t win any awards but it is no worse than most other interfaces from other crappy registrars.  You can do all the things that you would expect from any other registrar including using their DNS servers which I heavily use.

They aren’t perfect.  They go down seemingly every night for maintenance which is frustrating if you are screwing around with your domains at add hours.  That imperfectness actually appeals to me though.  I dig the smaller players that can still hang in there.

By the way, I don’t taste domains but the feature can be useful.  Mistakes on picking up domains are easier to fix and if you are unsure about a domain you can just pick it up and sit on it for a few days while you decide if you really want it.

Can dynadot work with PayPal then?
They have a forum, I’ve got to like places that offer a service and aren’t afraid to make their forums public.

Yes, Dynadot accepts Paypal.

Indeed they do. Been with them for a few domains so far, no complaints.