Why do some registrars make it so difficult to do business with them?

There are registrars that make it easy for domain investors or any customer, for that matter, to do business with them, such as buying a domain name and managing it. In this category I put GoDaddy and NameSilo, which are my favorite, although some of you might not like GoDaddy. But the fact is that there are, in practice, zero obstacles when it comes to domain registration and pushing or even transfer.

Some other registrars make it extremely difficult to do business with them. Even the simple task of registering a domain name is a headache or at least a little inconvenient.

I have heard many of you complain about 1&1, and I see other registrars that do not seem to allow you to create an account with them unless you have purchased a product, such as Dotster and Fasthosts, among many others.

I just registered a domain name with Fasthosts and, although everything was done, from registration to payment. I will be unable to login until they contact me to confirm my details, which I guess will happen tomorrow, since today is Sunday. Really?

I am not sure if they are calculating correctly, because I think that type of behavior does not attract clients, especially not domain investors.

What do you think?

 

I think any registrar which puts blocks in the way of registering a domain is not a registrar I want to have an account at. OK. I understand security checks. But most go to extreme lengths.

I'd be interested to reverse this question. Whatever motivated you to want to register a domain at FastHosts? Surely not the difference between a $1 to $8 registration? What other services can they provide better than any other registrar? My guess, is none.

 

That's a good question, Stub. There are a couple of reason why I have opened accounts at some registrars I don't like. One of the reasons is if someone is selling domain names I like and they are registered there, but under transfer lock. So, if I really want the domains and don't want to miss the opportunity, I must open an account...

 

OK. I can understand that logic. I've thought about that question too. About the only domains I see being sold at FastHosts are here on NP. There have been a few which I would have bid on had I had an account at FastHosts. But I already have way too many accounts at odd registrars (Register/MyDomains/Dotster/NetFirms, to name but a few) which I will not even accept a push at. They have to be transfers away. I went down this path earlier in 2016. It was a nightmare, I wouldn't want to revisit. In fact in almost all circumstances, even when I have an account at a registrar. I ask for the authcode. I wish everyone would just use Dynadot as their registrar, and problem would be solved It does put a bit of pressure on cash flow though. I'll admit. But I feel it's the best policy for me, at least. Less headaches the better it is You are of course free to bid on newly registered domains at FastHosts without any competition from me

 

Thanks, lol.

Yes, I also like Dynadot. That would be my third favorite registrar.

 

Actually, @stub In the past 60 days I have sold 8 names I had registered at Fasthosts. They have each sold between $500 and $1,200 per name. These were names I regged on the drop and might not have taken the chance on them at $8 bucks a pop. I am playing the quick flip game with them. 3 users opened an account to get them. 5 were transferred (3 waited for the 60 lock period to end.) I have made a very nice return on these names

The one advantage is that being associated with Tucows, they are automatically in the Afternic Premium service. 2 of these 8 sold via that service to the ever-present "Apollo"

Would I use them without the $1.27 price (1 Pound)? heck no; my new regs would go to Epik.com. It works in the flip game, though.

 

@NamesMax - Congratulations. All I can say is you have an eye for dropping domains which DropCatch, or anybody else, doesn't want which can be turned around for cash in just a few short weeks. With those skills, I would not even bother saving $7 on registrations. But that's just me. I don't think the Afternic connection is such a great benefit, when it's free to list on Afternic anyway. But I presume it saves some time/effort. I presume they were all BIN prices?

I'm not exactly sure what it is that works in the flip game? the Afternic connection? but it's always good to hear about somebody's successes.

 

It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to become an official registrar. One of the requirements is to have a certain minimal level of infrastructure and the funds to support it.

My only guess as to why certain registrars are harder to deal with than others is probably lack of funds to make a more user friendlier infrastructure (aka fulfilling the minimal requirements.) But there is no excuse for companies who have been out for awhile (such as 1&1) and not upgrading their systems.

 

Some registrars position themselves as wholesale registrars, as the margins are so slim for simple registrations. They really only want clients with (say) 200+ names. Others don't want the costs and overheads associated with single name payments, so they require prefunded accounts. I prefer these restrictions to the tricks that some registrars get up to to scratch some extra income.

 

Some registrars are actually webhosts and domain names are a side business to them. They are not tailored to the needs of portfolio holders. 1&1 certainly is an example.

 

@stub Yes, they were all BIN. To me it is a numbers game, where I take a shot at 6 or 7 names instead of just 1 for the same $$$$. When you invest your $100 in 80 names instead of 8, the odds are that some are going to "hit" One that I sold for $950 probably would not have been on my radar otherwise. It was S/t/a/y/d/i/o (.com) sold 4 days after regging it.

Regarding Afternic, Tucows names are self veryfing, so yes, it is just a time and convenience thing.