GoDaddy Auctions API Removed

[Brandworthy]

I've just been told that Godaddy's Auction API is no longer available. It's not clear if this affects current as well as new users. No announcement from Godaddy.

@Joe Styler it would be great to get some information about this change please - why it was made, who it affects, and whether it is permanent please.

 

[FPForum]

Interesting. I'd be curious why they removed it as well.. Surprised they didn't release some kind of pre-warning or even an announcement once it was taken offline.

 

[Joe Styler]

The API was not removed. If you had access to it you still do. If you didnt you cannot get new access as we are working on a new improved API. I am not sure where you heard this. It is true we are not giving anyone new access to the API at this time. If you have a premier account you can contact your premier agent for more info on the API and to be alerted to when the new one is released.

 

[Brandworthy]

It is true we are not giving anyone new access to the API at this time. If you have a premier account you can contact your premier agent for more info on the API and to be alerted to when the new one is released.

I do, and this information came from my account manager. What he told me and what you are stating here doesn't align well at all.

Do you not think it would be useful to announce this, especially since the current API uses the authentication tokens that any user can create at https://developer.godaddy.com/? The old API had no stated requirement to request or get access beyond tokens at the developer site?

 

[Joe Styler]

If you are speaking with your account rep you can continue to work with them and they can contact the auctions team on your behalf to clear things up.

 

[Brandworthy]

If you are speaking with your account rep you can continue to work with them and they can contact the auctions team on your behalf to clear things up.

The response I got from my account rep:

I wish I had more to tell you, but at this time no new information is available. We still don’t have an expected release date for any new API system. I’ll keep you in the loop whenever there is new information I am able to share.

Not sure how that "clears things up"? Sorry, but right now Godaddy seems to have a real problem with communications and unannounced changes.

 

[Joe Styler]

Sorry if I am misunderstanding you. If you want to follow up with your account rep they can contact me and have me take a look at your account or you can pm me your account information. We haven't made any unannounced changes to the API to my knowledge.

 

[Brandworthy]

We haven't made any unannounced changes to the API to my knowledge.

I'm sorry if I'm not being clear. I was previously provided with the Auctions API documentation. That API requires use of the authorization protocols used for all GD APIs. I would think that removing access for all new users is a pretty significant change to your API? If I missed the announcement I apologise in advance.

 

[Joe Styler]

If you had access you should still be able to access it except in rare cases. If you reach out to me with your info I can look into it for you. Or have your account rep come see me with the info. They can easily get it over to me.

 

[Brandworthy]

So godaddy didn't announce that they were sunsetting the current auctions API, the same way that they didn't announce that they'd start charging EU customers vat this month, regardless of whether the customer was a vat-registered entity.

I'm sorry, but there's something fundamentally wrong with your communications when you fail to disclose such changes to your customers.

 

[Brandworthy]

And now the godaddy app just announced on start up "This app is going away". No longer works, without warning.

 

[Kuffy]

I understand why they are called "go daddy".

 

[Joe Styler]

And now the godaddy app just announced on start up "This app is going away". No longer works, without warning.

which one? we have several.

 

[Brandworthy]

which one? we have several.

Main Godaddy app on Android. Includes all your GD products (AFAIK - I only use Domains and Auctions).

 

[Joe Styler]

I asked around, the app is going away on Android and IOS. The app was built a few years ago on an older technology. We made a choice to spend time working on a newer app on new technology that will be an improvement on the current app instead of continuing to work on updating the current one. The new app will be released at some point in the future but in the meantime we have spent time working on our site to make it mobile responsive, this includes some major work on the auctions site as well. I was just involved in a second round of feedback on the new mobile interface this week so we are close to releasing that as well. We are always working on changing things to keep up with the new technologies and requests from our customers.

 

[Brandworthy]

Thanks @Joe Styler for continuing to provide feedback here. I do appreciate that.

But surely someone at management level in GD should be questioning:

1. Why no announcements are made before or after the fact, even to your VIP customers, of these changes which materially affect their business?
2. Why are current working applications being shuttered before replacements are ready to roll, especially for mobile clients?

It's great news that the Auctions site will be mobile responsive, but exceptionally unfortunate that this wasn't released BEFORE you shuttered the Android/iOs mobile app.

A monthly newsletter to your VIP customers alerting them to forthcoming changes would go a long way towards building rather than knocking down goodwill IMO.

 

[Joe Styler]

Some VIP agents do send out newsletters. You can ask yours if they do. We are working on some other things as well to help with communication to domain investor customers coming in the near future. I think the old app still works (it is working for me but I have an IPhone not sure what you are using). They try and time things as well as they can and hopefully there will be an overlap but it may not happen so I won't promise it. They are of course trying to get the service out with no interruption.

 

[Want2learn]

Some VIP agents do send out newsletters. You can ask yours if they do. We are working on some other things as well to help with communication to domain investor customers coming in the near future. I think the old app still works (it is working for me but I have an IPhone not sure what you are using). They try and time things as well as they can and hopefully there will be an overlap but it may not happen so I won't promise it. They are of course trying to get the service out with no interruption.

iPhone app worked for me this afternoon.

 

[Brandworthy]

Seems android users are second class citizens so...

 

[ResoluteDomains]

iPhone app worked for me just now.

Is there a definition (or URL) where we can find out who qualifies for an account rep? Also what defines a "VIP" customer at GoDaddy?

Is it a $ amount in sales per year or # of domains?

 

[Arca]

@Joe Styler - Will the "Investor" app (for gd auctions) be discontinued or replaced, or will the current app remain available?

 

[Joe Styler]

@Joe Styler - Will the "Investor" app (for gd auctions) be discontinued or replaced, or will the current app remain available?

The investor app is staying around - the main GD app is the one being updated to a newer technology.

 

[Joe Styler]

iPhone app worked for me just now.

Is there a definition (or URL) where we can find out who qualifies for an account rep? Also what defines a "VIP" customer at GoDaddy?

Is it a $ amount in sales per year or # of domains?

No url, we typically look at people who spend $5k USD a year and have more than 300 domains as a starting point.

 

[Arca]

The investor app is staying around - the main GD app is the one being updated to a newer technology.

Can you please forward this note to the team in charge of the app?: Turning notifications on/off on the android version of the "investor" app is not working. Even though I turn off notifications for certain kinds of auctions (there are notifications for 3 different kinds of auctions), the notifications are not actually turned off, and the notifications continue after they are turned off. Would be great this could be fixed.

 

[trelgor]

Iphone app is gone. I can't access domain management through the "responsive" mobile site. I've been relying on the app as I'm always on the move. This sucks. I just paid for transfer request for 100+ names to GD (mine) to benefit from the alleged sales reach of Afternic. I'm going to have to rethink that move. I'd like some info.