discuss Challenge Transferring High Value Domains to Other Registrars?

[LoveCatchyDomains]

Has anyone ever had a challenge trying to transfer a higher-value domain from one registar to another?

One domain recently in my portfolio started being cited by the registrar for potential to be sold for "XXXX" on their site. It was one of those big notices at the top of the domain list, suggesting that this had a great potential. Renewal was coming up in several months, but I had already decided to transfer this one, along with many others, to a different registrar with lower cost renewals.
After multiple phone calls and emails, including manual verification, I was able to get the previous registrar to release the domain. There seemed to be so much difficulty with this one particular domain transfer, compared to over a dozen of other ones that I also did in the same transaction.

Has anyone had this experience? Did it turn out that the domain did have potential buyers, and that you were able to sell it fairly quickly after the transfer? Any other thoughts?

 

[Future Sensors]

@Joe Styler, I also experience it as a hurdle. The algorithm for this could be so much smarter, especially if I always approve transfer outs from the same fixed IP address. What bothers me the most, however, is the total lack of useful information in the Transfer dashboard when something like this happens. There will be an error code and you can then google what is going on. So my two suggestions today are: 1) make the algo a bit smarter, and 2) better describe the error codes in the dashboard.

 

[SuperBrander]

Godaddy added security measures awhile back that require for domains that their system recognizes as high value (it seems to be for domains that are above a certain valuation in their appraisal tool) to go through verification via their transfer verification department. So for any domain that's "flagged" as such, the process can't be expedited until their department sends an email requesting to verify the transfer. After they get an affirmative reply, expediting it is possible. Ultimately, while it can be annoying to wait a bit further, it does provide extra security for domains that are (or might be) high value, so all in all- waiting a bit more isn't a terrible notion.

 

[Future Sensors]

Another suggestion: automate this thing where possible for customers already using 2fa. A 'risky' transfer can be confirmed (or better, 'expedited') with a code. I'm sure you can come up with a smart solution.

 

[karmaco]

Serious over reach by GD. Any other platform pulling this “we decide if it can transfer easily” would be lambasted and there would be hundreds of threads of complaints.

For example look at the countless gripes on the DAN thread. No one holds GD feet to the fire about anything.

Its not ok for a registrar to decide you need to jump through hoops to transfer your domain. The only way its ok is if it is an option that the owner gets to choose extra measures. Not some arbitrary decision by GD.

Any justification is bullshit. They just don’t want you to take your domains elsewhere.

Can you imagine if the thread starter had sold and the buyer wanted that transfer? Or you had only a few days left to transfer it out? Would a week of hassle still be ok? Not in my book.

 

[bmugford]

You're clearly a pro at it, and I can reassure you that I've learned to take some of the registrar appraisals with a sense of humor. This one also had a decent 4 figure estibot valuation and traffic stats, so I had little doubt about there being some reasonable value there.

I still use appraisals to help sort through long lists of domains. While the prices themselves are largely meaningless, they can at least help parse large amounts of data in a potentially useful manner.

Brad

 

[alcy]

I still use appraisals to help sort through long lists of domains. While the prices themselves are largely meaningless, they can at least help parse large amounts of data in a potentially useful manner.

Brad

parse yer domains by their astrological signs and u will get same results

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

Thank you for clarifying the GD estimated value threshold.

The goal was to wrap up all the transfers within a matter of days. With the transfer verify issue, it took over a week. And there was much confusion, including to the other registrar and me.

What would help in the future is to have an alert up front. For example, when getting the authorization code from GD, they could clarify with an message that the additional manual approval will be needed for that high estimated-value domain. That might have averted the multiple phone calls and emails.

 

[Joe Styler]

@Joe Styler, I also experience it as a hurdle. The algorithm for this could be so much smarter, especially if I always approve transfer outs from the same fixed IP address. What bothers me the most, however, is the total lack of useful information in the Transfer dashboard when something like this happens. There will be an error code and you can then google what is going on. So my two suggestions today are: 1) make the algo a bit smarter, and 2) better describe the error codes in the dashboard.

good suggestions. I will pass them on.

 

[branding]

Yes, GD. They have a great feature of the 15-30 minute transfers, which went well the last time I did a bulk transfer out. This time, there seemed to be three domains initially that I had difficulty with approving those. The highest valued one proved to be the greatest challenge.
They do use the manual verification for additional security for "high-risk" domains. My previous experience with that process, with one of my higher-valuation domains, went fine. They had automatically sent out the manual verify email, and I sent it back. This time, it seemed that no initial manual verification request was sent. It took a while, but finally did get sorted out.
In contrast, there is another registrar that I used that requires the 5-7 day wait. That registrar appeared to be processing it after all the proper authorization codes were submitted. Unfortunately, a second inquiry had to be made later that week, to have the transfers reinitiated.
Namecheap did a good job staying on top of matters, and following through.

They're pretty random about when they require additional confirmation... I don't have a link but there are threads about it on the forum.

I don't use GoDaddy much but do run into the same issue from time to time. Just GD being GD I guess

Annoying, most definitely.

 

[bmugford]

Godaddy added security measures awhile back that require for domains that their system recognizes as high value (it seems to be for domains that are above a certain valuation in their appraisal tool) to go through verification via their transfer verification department. So for any domain that's "flagged" as such, the process can't be expedited until their department sends an email requesting to verify the transfer. After they get an affirmative reply, expediting it is possible. Ultimately, while it can be annoying to wait a bit further, it does provide extra security for domains that are (or might be) high value, so all in all- waiting a bit more isn't a terrible notion.

I noticed something about this in the past, but it kind of slipped my mind. I do remember some domains being classified as this, but the list seemed rather random and some domains I would not really consider high value were included.

Maybe @Joe Styler or @Paul Nicks could explain more about this.

How does GoDaddy determine these high value domains?
If they are classified as that what does it mean for the domain and process?
Is there any way to remove the classification?
How does this work if someone already has security like DTVS on their account?

Anything else to know about it?

Brad

 

[alcy]

Has anyone ever had a challenge trying to transfer a higher-value domain from one registar to another?

One domain recently in my portfolio started being cited by the registrar for potential to be sold for "XXXX" on their site. It was one of those big notices at the top of the domain list, suggesting that this had a great potential. Renewal was coming up in several months, but I had already decided to transfer this one, along with many others, to a different registrar with lower cost renewals.
After multiple phone calls and emails, including manual verification, I was able to get the previous registrar to release the domain. There seemed to be so much difficulty with this one particular domain transfer, compared to over a dozen of other ones that I also did in the same transaction.

Has anyone had this experience? Did it turn out that the domain did have potential buyers, and that you were able to sell it fairly quickly after the transfer? Any other thoughts?

remember domaining takes 1000s of hours of hard work to master. one of earlier signs yer getting there will be when u will never ever pay any attention to valuation tools or registrar value numbers. as they all mean nothing. domainers who did not put the needed work yet have no clue what a valuable name even is.

 

[alcy]

You're clearly a pro at it, and I can reassure you that I've learned to take some of the registrar appraisals with a sense of humor. This one also had a decent 4 figure estibot valuation and traffic stats, so I had little doubt about there being some reasonable value there.

whether I'm pro or not is irrelevant.. its about u not me... for record my point was that u are supposed to laugh or ignore all their values..not some. have fun. p.s. i just say all this cause too many newbies seem to think domaining is magically somehow the only money venture in world which is easy quick cash and needs no effort. when the exact opposite is true. like basically all things in life.. no effort no gain.

 

[AEProgram]

SinglesUnited.com is the domain in question--one of my favorites. The domain was not mentioned earlier, in the hopes of trying to keep the focus on the general issue.
I appreciate GD's added security regarding transfer of domains valued over a certain amount. My hope is that their transfer process is smoother in the future.

amazing 22 year old domain!

 

[alcy]

I keep away from gd.. it would be an amazing registrar if it was the only one on earth. now it's about number 5 on my list.

as for this op topic.. seems gd has this extra security for older names.. so more age than value they may give it. which is good. cause value is random and age real.

this extra security is anything but a bug. but like a bug can be annoying.

well that does settle that then. remember flush all valuation tools down toilet.. gently or u clog it.. so many there are around.

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

Another suggestion: automate this thing where possible for customers already using 2fa. A 'risky' transfer can be confirmed (or better, 'expedited') with a code. I'm sure you can come up with a smart solution.

Great idea! At a minimum, provide a text alert to the "high-risk" domain transfer, citing that a "transfer verify" email has been sent. This would provide an additional layer of security.

Adding the automation with a two-factor authentication would probably be very smart and more efficient.

 

[bmugford]

Not really. What was the registrar?

Brad

 

[branding]

Sounds like GD... Could be wrong.

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

Yes, GD. They have a great feature of the 15-30 minute transfers, which went well the last time I did a bulk transfer out. This time, there seemed to be three domains initially that I had difficulty with approving those. The highest valued one proved to be the greatest challenge.
They do use the manual verification for additional security for "high-risk" domains. My previous experience with that process, with one of my higher-valuation domains, went fine. They had automatically sent out the manual verify email, and I sent it back. This time, it seemed that no initial manual verification request was sent. It took a while, but finally did get sorted out.
In contrast, there is another registrar that I used that requires the 5-7 day wait. That registrar appeared to be processing it after all the proper authorization codes were submitted. Unfortunately, a second inquiry had to be made later that week, to have the transfers reinitiated.
Namecheap did a good job staying on top of matters, and following through.

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

remember domaining takes 1000s of hours of hard work to master. one of earlier signs yer getting there will be when u will never ever pay any attention to valuation tools or registrar value numbers. as they all mean nothing. domainers who did not put the needed work yet have no clue what a valuable name even is.

You're clearly a pro at it, and I can reassure you that I've learned to take some of the registrar appraisals with a sense of humor. This one also had a decent 4 figure estibot valuation and traffic stats, so I had little doubt about there being some reasonable value there.

 

[biggie]

parse yer domains by their astrological signs and u will get same results

Hi

lol, that made me chuckle

This one also had a decent 4 figure estibot valuation and traffic stats, so I had little doubt about there being some reasonable value there.

Hi

it seems like you took some valuations and initially applied them as a possible reason for a delay in transfer.

of course, to us... this is all a guessing game,
while particularly noticing, that you never mentioned a specific name.


imo..

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

it seems like you took some valuations and initially applied them as a possible reason for a delay in transfer.

of course, to us... this is all a guessing game,
while particularly noticing, that you never mentioned a specific name.


imo..

SinglesUnited.com is the domain in question--one of my favorites. The domain was not mentioned earlier, in the hopes of trying to keep the focus on the general issue.
I appreciate GD's added security regarding transfer of domains valued over a certain amount. My hope is that their transfer process is smoother in the future.

 

[biggie]

I appreciate GD's added security regarding transfer of domains valued over a certain amount.

Hi

is that statement one that was provided to by godaddy,
or is it an assumption on your part alone.... simply because of this unique situation?

imo...

 

[likemike]

Hopefully GD will work the bugs out!

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

amazing 22 year old domain!

Yes, I wanted to eventually create a site for singles to join in activism, as well as potentially dating. Or, alternatively, I was hoping to find a like-minded end-user. Never got around to developing it and never seriously tried selling it before.