Is GoDaddy a thieving con scam company?

[GoPC]

Get this... I found a domain that was dropped. It was not listed yet anywhere. I called, spoke to a rep. Asked with the process was. Confirmed that there was nobody in line for the domain and PAID FOR IT through their backorder process.

I was told about the process... the previous owner had X number of days to relaim it and then it was locked from their renewal. Then it had another period that it needed to sit for their "Second Chance" to repurchase the domain at the inflated nearly $100 price point and then it would be transfered to me as the new owner since I was first and paid.

THEN... I see the domain for AUCTION on their site!!! I've already PAID for it!!!

So I write the rep and he says that it's formality and doesn't mean anything. I say "but you never TOLD me about this". He says he's sorry but that's the way it is... It won't sell though so don't worry.

TODAY somone bids on it. Now I've already Paid for the B.O. and was assured I owned it except for the possibility that the previous owner still has the right to repurchase during the extended grace period...

BUT I'M IN A BIDDING WAR FOR MY OWN DOMAIN!!!

WTF!!!!

What to do?

GoPC

 

[2knew]

I might be wrong about this, so anyone feel free to jump right in and correct, but I believe the BO comes last in line. IE if TDNAM can't generate any bids it falls through to the BO.

(And regarding the title of this thread: a little inflammatory don't you think? Godaddy is guilty of having a garish website, but scammers? no. I like GD.)

 

[drifta]

ask for your money back then never use godaddy again...
or you could try reporting them to icaan or whomever over the phone..
i have had tons of problems with godaddy too
one of them that pops up is them renewing domains in my account automaticly with my Creditcard when i didnt have autorenew on...

 

[2knew]

i have had tons of problems with godaddy too
one of them that pops up is them renewing domains in my account automaticly with my Creditcard when i didnt have autorenew on...

Anyone else have this happen? I'm curious.

 

[JMJ]

Backorders are last in line. If the owner doesn't renew and the auction process doesn't get a bid then you get the name if you have the backorder on it. Really the only reason you would use their backorder now is for names outside of GD.

 

[GoPC]

If the BO policy is as you described here, why wasn't I told? Why did they specifically LEAVE OUT that part? Just to get my money?

They told me specifically that my backorder assured me that I would own the domain providing the previous owner didn't renew their account.

They led me to believe this was done... no problem, no risk, no concern.

Now I'm outbid on what I was told was MY domain.

That's just plain lying.

My esperience up to now has been pretty good with them but this just blows me away.

GoPC

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Your rep was wrong:

Q) I had a backorder on a domain name that went to auction. How did that happen?
Backorders placed on GoDaddy.com-registered domain names after May 2, 2005 automatically go to TDNAM for auction, using the cost of your backorder as the opening bid.

If there are no other bidders, you will be awarded the domain name, subject to the current registrant’s rights. The cost of the domain will be $18.95, which is the amount you paid for your backorder (your initial $10 bid, plus the $8.95 renewal fee).

If you are outbid, you will be notified via email, at which point you may choose to increase your bid amount or move your backorder to another name of interest.

Back To Question

Q) Does my Back Order have any value?
Yes. Backorders are used as opening bids for names currently at auction at TDNAM. In addition, backorders also serve as a valuable tool for grabbing names from other registrars through the drop pool process.

For example, your backorder will be used as the opening bid at auction for any name registered through GoDaddy.com that has gone into auction at TDNAM. If there are no other bidders, you will be awarded the domain name, subject to the current registrant’s rights. The cost of the domain will be $18.95, which is the amount you paid for your backorder (your initial $10 bid, plus the $8.95 renewal fee). If you are outbid, you will be notified via email, at which point you may choose to increase your bid amount or move your backorder to another name of interest.

Your backorder can also help you capture names from other registrars through the drop pool process. If your backordered name is dropped by the registrar and we are successful in capturing it at the registry, we will assign the name to your account. The cost of the domain will be $18.95, which is the amount you paid for your backorder (your initial $10 bid, plus the $8.95 renewal fee).

Back To Question


https://www.tdnam.com/trpFAQ.aspx#BI3

-Allan :gl:

 

[-db-]

Allan did a great job answering in detail. Not much I can add.

...thieving con scam...

But it bothers me when people use words like this because of mistakes or misunderstandings.

 

[GoPC]

I'm sure that all this is printed somewhere on TDNAM all this is printed and it's nobodies fault but my own that I picked up the phone and called customer support to "Get the facts" about the process.

In fact, I was on the phone with a customer service rep right this moment as I'm typing and I just learned another interesting fact...

My $18.95 that I spent on the BackOrder is GONE FOREVER. That money sits as a bock order for this domain FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I never get it back no matter how many years the domain may be used by the slimeball that outbid me. The credit cannot be transferred, refunded are applied in any other way.

IF, someday, this very domain should ever become available again due to a failure to renew, then I'm right back into the middle of this bidding process again. Same freakin deal.

That would have been nice to know also.

What I don't know can't hurt me, right? Oh yeah... that was slick there GoDaddy.

GoPC

Allan did a great job answering in detail. Not much I can add.


But it bothers me when people use words like this because of mistakes or misunderstandings.

You left out misinformation.

GoPC

 

[greggish]

Allan did a great job answering in detail. Not much I can add.


But it bothers me when people use words like this because of mistakes or misunderstandings.

If the sales rep he spoke to actually told him the wrong info that he claims, then I think he has a right to be angry. From my very limited experience with godaddy it wouldn't surprise me at all if the rep didn't know the tdnam backorder process and just winged it to make a sale.

 

[-db-]

My $18.95 that I spent on the BackOrder is GONE FOREVER. That money sits as a bock order for this domain FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I never get it back no matter how many years the domain may be used by the slimeball that outbid me. The credit cannot be transferred, refunded are applied in any other way.

That's not true either. I don't know who you are talking to, but hang up the phone!

You are not stuck with a backorder for that domain. You can move the backorder to another domain, then another, as many times as you like, or until you catch something.

If the sales rep he spoke to actually told him the wrong info that he claims, then I think he has a right to be angry.

Sure, he has a right to be angry.

But a mistaken customer service rep doesn't equal - "scam" "con" "thief" company.

 

[GoPC]

That's not true either. I don't know who you are talking to, but hang up the phone!

You are not stuck with a backorder for that domain. You can move the backorder to another domain, then another, as many times as you like, or until you catch something.

Not according to the rep I just spoke with... I specifically asked him that question. He said that the money sits in wait for whenever that SPECIFIC domain expires again. I asked him if it is credited to me for use with any other backorder and he said "NO, it is only for this domain".

I continued and asked, again specifically, "at what point is that money refunded to me or able to be applied to another domain backorder?"

He said "never... at some point, when that domain expires, then you will be first in line for the backorder and then your $10 will be the first bid and the $8.95 is your reg". Then he added that some group has approved the increase of the .com fees and that NEXT year, my $18.95 might not be enough due to the new costs for .com registration so I should be prepared for that too.

So... to recap, that $18.95 sits on GoDaddy's books waiting for THAT ONE domain to expire for the rest of my natural life.

OR...

This is yet another GoDaddy service rep flapping his lip generating even more misinformation.

Which one is it?

Sidenote - Perhaps "theif", "con", "scam" might have been a bit hasty and nasty but I was upset and angry. I still feel I was led astray and made a purchase based on the representation of a service rep, regardless of whether or not he knew any better. Unfortunately, it is I that has to pay. I'm going to have to bid to save my domain, so not only did I get taken in some way to begin with, I have to bend over a little farther to get what I was sold in the first place.

Sure... I'm not happy about that. But I'll live. What I will do with my 61 other domains I have housed at GoDaddy is a conversation for a different time.

GoPC

 

[greggish]

The godaddy reps you're talking to don't know their rumps from their elbows. Just go into your godaddy account and move your backorder to another domain whenever you want.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Methinks your rep was wrong...

I often mis-remember things, but I just jumped over to GoDaddy to make sure nothing had changed in 24 hours, and I can still move all my backorders around between domain names.

-Allan :gl:

 

[fonzie_007]

Allan, rep added. Great post. Thanks for the info.

 

[greggish]

Sure, he has a right to be angry.

But a mistaken customer service rep doesn't equal - "scam" "con" "thief" company.

Very true. He probably should have said something along the lines of... "Are all of the Godaddy service reps "dumb" "incompetent" "idiots"?
:hehe:

 

[edwinfelix]

OMG, is GoDaddy phone support that bad?

I'm afraid since a lot of my domains are with GoDaddy/Wild West.

 

[bluearrow]

Allan said all. Nothing to add. Everyone like to earn little more even godaddy but that doent mean they are bad. I never had a prb with them. I dont know about godaddys phone reps i always use emails only onces had a prb.

 

[SpareDomains]

I haven't used godaddy backordering since they modified their rules to it, I do remember you could reassign the backorder as many times as you wan't within a 1 year period to a different domain. I have never had any problems with godaddy my only beef is the ads that they try to throw at you to get you to buy more stuff, I guess this is to be expected from a budget registrar, I like godaddy the best on the budget end but I do prefer enom or moniker on the premium end. nice post allan

 

[2knew]

OMG, is GoDaddy phone support that bad?

I'm afraid since a lot of my domains are with GoDaddy/Wild West.

Ed,

I have (not sure) something like 75 domains at GD and maybe 40 at WWD resellers ATM. I have needed the GD help desk a grand total of once, and it was smooth and professional. I have had to call helpdesk a couple of times for WWD resellers, which (tell me if I'm wrong) basically the same help desk. Always good support.

My only reservation so far is with the way-too-aggressive policy when it comes to changing the "last updated" stamp on my domains. Not sure about GD, because I have not transferred too many names away from them, but I do notice names at WWD resellers seem to bump the "last updated" stamp after _any_ account info change.

IMHO this will ultimately cost them in transfers out. (If you make me fight to transfer away, I sure won't transfer it to the parent company, just on principle.)

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From the department of WTF?

slimeball that outbid me

I'm sure the population of this forum, who regularly bid on and win domains will appreciate that...