Renewing a name at new reg prices

[Kuffy]

I'm trying to think of a way to renew a name without having to pay high renewal prices. Registrars seem to be offering new TLDs like .gold names for under $4, but renewal is currently $74. I don't think my names are worth paying that high price based on my current use. Wouldn't it be better for the registry to try to keep existing registrations and encouraging users to develop sites, rather than using the names as cheap throwaways for a few months use?

 

[Kate]

If the domain (or its revenue) isn't worth $74 why keep it ?

 

[usernamex]

Let them drop and buy them again.
If you dare : grin :

Personally, there are a handful of ngTLDs that I would have purchased if not for this exact factor. When I got started, I fell for cheap first year prices on ccTLDs not knowing they were promo prices and then the renewals were a shock and decided to let them go.

This is my new favorite advice:

In my opinion it's not a matter of past sales or money. If you don't think a domain is worthed 30$ it means you don't think it's worthed 23$ too because it's probably a mediocre domain (I've had and I have this kind of domain) so it's better to drop.
Some years ago a great domainer and even a greater person (@GoneWalkabout) told me "If you are registering a domain and you don't feel confident to register it for at least 5 years you should probably pass".
And I think about this every time I make a new reg.

 

[Asfas1000]

The registry needs either 1 customer @ $74 or 18 customers @4 to make the same revenue, I guess 1 customer is easier (and cheaper to service).

 

[Kuffy]

OK - two points.

1. An inexpensive domain can be useful to promote other sites. Why pay for one, when I can have 15 other ones for the same price. Domain investing isn't just about re-selling

2. 0 customers at $74 is worse than 1 customers at $4, and if renewals were priced sensibly, it would be more than 1 at $4.

 

[Asfas1000]

OK - two points.

1. An inexpensive domain can be useful to promote other sites. Why pay for one, when I can have 15 other ones for the same price. Domain investing isn't just about re-selling

2. 0 customers at $74 is worse than 1 customers at $4, and if renewals were priced sensibly, it would be more than 1 at $4.

My opinion :

1. They are caring about their business, not ours. Pricing is for end users.

2. Let's say the want to make $100k/year, it's either 1,352 customers at $74, or 25,000 customers at $4. I don't think I can find 25,000 menaingful .Gold strings, so $4/year is out of the question. If they drop the price to $37/year, they'll need 2,704 customers, is that more feasible ? Who knows. But it's clear that strings with limited scope will have to price high.

As a side note, what is easier for you as a domainer, sell 1 domain @ 1,500 or 10 domains @ $150 each ? I'd have a hard time finding 10 times more customers, despite the low price - just not enough demand.

 

[Kuffy]

Well that was my point. They aren't names to sell, they are names to use to promote other sites and names. I could register englishgilt.com ( which is available) and probably get as much benefit as I get from english.gold. How many end users are basing their businesses on new TLDs rather than using them as feeder sites?