Which domain register do you folks prefer, Network Solutions or Register.com? I have used both and prefer registers system for maintaining domains.

Marcus

Any reason you don't use a registrar that is less than $35/mo ? Maybe you prefer these two, but are you aware that cheaper registrars exist?

Although I dont have domains registered at register.com I do have some clients that registered there and I will admit the interface for maintaining is much better than at NS. We now register domains through BulkRegister and thats very easy as well. Over the past years Ive registered several domains through NS and I will NEVER recommend anyone to them again. This past year, they've especially went downhill, with *no* kind of support for their clients at all. Also they just do NOT update their database as frequently as they say.

Martie
HostCaters.Com http://www.hostcaters.com

The only thing I can offer is personal experience. We've registered and transfered so many domain names that I should have a degree in it by now!

If you want the best advice on the net ... "RUN" from Network Solutions - FAST! Those people are so weak it's amazing how they've made it this far! Their system is almost impossible for your client's to handle, which means more work for you!

Get yourself a domain provider that will answer the phone, allow control panel management access and handles your client's domain issues properly. Don't get all excited about the money you can see yourself making with domains ... "It's just a service you have to provide to keep things running smooth!

$35 is fair. It has a built in margin for your company as well. A good provider will charge the client and issue you a check upon completion. The main point is ... "make sure you're with a top notch provider!" Some of these cheap outfits cause more trouble than they're worth! Once you're doing 100 per month, you'll thank me!

Alex



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AV Host Support
http://www.atlantavirtual.com
Open your world ... Online!

Alex...LOL, that was exactly my point about
NS too...a recent experience a client had wasnt even the clients fault (BUT they NS do make it extrememly diffucult with all their forms, etc) this client ended up calling them several times, and had confirmations etc that everything was "DONE"....still took about 2 weeks to get fully transferred! Crazy!
Myself personally, did NOT have troubles with them, a FEW YEARS ago but this past year I HAVE as well. TERRIBLE!!
http://www.hostcaters.com

I agree about running from Network Solutions. You can do better with some of the other registrars, both on price and service. I have alerted my clients to the one I now use and that them any want to transfer.

I would suggest avoiding alldns.com They just aren't equipped to handle domain registrations properly. If there is any error at all in their system (and there is), they aren't notified about it and neither are you. I lost a week working with my new server waiting for them to register the name. I gave up on them. I have one domain with them I will transfer later on.

I've been very happy with 000domains.com They have a better system than NSI, are cheaper ($13.50 versus $35) and have free domain parking. Changes are faster and easier to make than with NSI. You can even change the registrant, and do it without paying extra, as you have to do with NSI.

I let my clients know about them, and suggested that they might want to transfer to them, along with offering to do it for them.

There are lots of other registrars now, and finding a good one is a bit like finding a good host.



[This message has been edited by Duster (edited 06-21-2000).]

Here's a few more reasons not to use NSI or Register.//

Register.com - http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/cn/20000616/tc/register_com_scrambles_to_close_security_hole_1.html

NSI - http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000619/wr/salon_dc_10.html


(Personally, I use either Joker.com or Weblaunching.net - both are cheap and are reliable and *quick*)...

I know other people who have had similar problems at NSI with reclaiming their domains. NSI is just too big and unresponsive.

I would suggest to anyone who still uses them, to at least change their verification system to "password" (or pgp) rather than "mail-from". At least that way, they will still have access to change their records even if hte e-mail address on file is no longer valid or accessible.

[This message has been edited by Duster (edited 06-21-2000).]

I must be missing something here. I registered my domain name with NS a few months ago, and had no problems at all -- and it was up and working in a couple days.

Shortly thereafter, I realized how bad HostingPlans.com was and transferred to VeoWeb.net (ahhh, much better!). Again, I had no problems with NS, and my domain name started going to the VeoWeb servers after only about 3 days.

I guess either I'm missing something, or possibly I'm an exception to the rule of late?

tk
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There goes another $.02!

Wow ... I'm not surprised at all the Pro's coming out against NS. In fact, this has the potential of becoming one of the longest threads in history! Agree?

tk,
Yeah! We hear what you're saying. But, the point is not about the 5 - 10 domains per year that NS gets right. It's about the millions of one's that go wrong and the loops you have to jump through to get them handled. Have you ever had to call NS Support? Take my advise ... don't!

The domain providers you are looking to use will have live phone support, immediate confirmation and web management access. When you say NS set you up in 2-3 day's, don't be impressed. Our provider can redirect a domain or allow "whois" changes in under 2 hours.

Hope this helps you avoid a problem one day!
Alex

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AV Host Support
http://www.atlantavirtual.com
Open your world ... Online!

I'll throw my hat in for bulkregister.com, who we use...we thought about moving to opensrs.com however my understanding is you must have the money in your account for them to register a domain. Bulkregister allows you to give a card and go. Updating is easy as well.

Chris Marks
http://www.netfronts.com

Atlanta Virtual,

You got everything right except for one inconsequential item. This isn;t even close to being a long discussion, much less the longest in history, or even the longest here. A certain hosting company with a terrible reputation (that continues to be talked about in some fashion or other) ahs generated the most dicussion here, not to mention spawning a few sequels and spilling over into unrelated discussions.

However, you nailed the problem with NSI

Duster,

I wouldn't want to start another hate thread, but you're right about one thing. There are a ton of hosting firms who mishandle their deals!

I'm sure everyone here works really hard to handle support issues for your client bases. It cracks me up to hear some of the BS that people get put through just to have a decent operational server to host their sites on. Some of this is caused by not charging enough per account to handle all of the work properly. Agree?

At AV, we'll never get the nickle and dime clients on our system, because we're a little higher than the "low-budget" host's for a valid reason. But, one thing's for sure, we never loose any over downtime or support either!

What gets me is how NS can be so profitable and so stupid at the same time! I hate to find out that a client is transfering a domain from NS when they come to us. I just know that someone here will have to battle that monster every time to get the job done!
That's a serious waste of time, too!

Later,
Alex



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AV Host Support
http://www.atlantavirtual.com
Open your world ... Online!

Good thread.

Someone asked way back up there why you'd want to go with one of the big names when registering a domain. Personally, I don't care if my registrar is big or small, but I do care if they're accredited with ICANN, the international agency charged with this stuff in the brave new world.

To tell you the truth, I have no specific reason at all to offer as to exactly WHY I cared about accreditation when I first got started, except probably that I'm an anal Virgo. But it led me in the direction of register.com, where I've bought 3 domains this year. I've been completely happy with the service so far...but I'm haven't really battle-tested them yet (i.e., my domains are all parked, until next month).

Fellow crossed-T and dotted-I junkies can find the list of ICANN-accredited registrars by throwing ICANN into Google or some other decent search engine. I'd provide the link, but I'm tired.

His Lazyass Newness

Bulkregister= alabanza

opensrs=tucows

Decisions, decisions.

000domains is by far the best choice. i've tried to update DNS for a friend of mine at NSI, and i swear to god i was lost for an hour trying to look for the damn form! at 000domains all i did was click 3 times, and there! plus, you can't beat the fact that you can get 3 domains at 000domains for the same price as 1 at NSI...

Originally posted by StarfoxZL:
000domains is by far the best choice.


There are lots of new registrars now, and some offer far better service at far more reasonable prices than NSI. I'm with Starfox on this one. I tried another registrar (alldns.com) and was not pleased. they were unprepared for handling the service and their system has too many problems. You could lose a domain waiting for confirmation from them.

I have been very pleased with 000domains and have recommended them to my customers. I find their system far superior to NSI's. Their rates are also much better.

Interestingly, though they are a reseller for TUCOWS (OpenSRS), their rates are cheaper than you can get directly from TUCOWS. However, there is nothing cheap about their service.

As with hosting companies, there are several good choices among registrars, as well as some to avoid. There are also some that are overpriced and unresponsive to customers.

Whichever we use (either host or registrar), it's good that we have a choice.

www.directnic.com (http://www.directnic.com)

Also a reseller of tucows and I have found them fast, reliable and inexpensive (15$). I transfered my domains from NS to them in one easy step. I couldn't believe how easy it was. I would definitely recommend them to anyone.

I'm off to check out 000domains.com

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"I AM!"

I have never cared for DirectNIC... They will not create nameservers for your domains. They also do not give you access to your true username and password to manage your domain directly with the ICANN registrar, OpenSRS.

Scott

I've used http://www.nominalia.net/.

With 000domains.com can you create your own nameservers? Which ones let you and are the cheapest? Thanks

I'm personally a Dotster(Dotster.com) fan. I have to transfer one of my domains soon from NSI to somewhere(anywhere) else. I must say NSI has been a royal pain in the *censored* to change anything with. I tried to change 1 little bit of info and it wouldn't accept the e-mail verification(though I had chosen password verification awhile ago and it said it had gotten changed to it). Right after it said my e-mail address wasn't one that was allowed to change the info I got another e-mail saying I was one of the people that could change the info and all I needed to do was reply. I replied (again) and as expected... it didn't work. You'd think they'd learn to make something easier to use by now. The place is becoming a maze to get anything changed.

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Justin K.
A pessimistic person sees the glass as half empty, optimistic half full... when in fact the glass is completely full. Partially with water and partially with air.

[This message has been edited by JustinK (edited 07-25-2000).]

I have used GANDI.net for domain registration.

12 Euros - approx 11$

U get site and e-mail forwarding for free.

Service is also very good and have answered all my questions.

Regards