A year ago, I registered two domain names with Network Solutions. These names were set to expire on the 18th, so on the 17th, I put in a request to 000domains.com to have the domains transferred to them. I was informed then that if the transfer failed, I would still be charged by 000domains.com a processing fee for each domain.

Today (the 19th), I received an e-mail from NetSol saying that the transfer request had failied because my domain name was no longer in paid status.

Conversation with a representative from Network Solutions: A Verisign Company follows:

Me: (tells the guy my problem)
Him: Yes, Network Solutions cannot change a domain name or transfer it if it is not in paid status.
Me: You mean, so even if I don't want to have my name registered with you, I can't change it, even if I want to.
Him: -- silently typing --
Me: So, you mean even if I don't want to have my name registered with you, I can't change it, even if I want to.
Him: (pause). Yes, Network Solutions cannot change a domain name or transfer it if it is not in paid status.
Me: So basically what you're saying is that even though I don't want your product, I have to pay you to release it to me.
Him: -- silently typing --
Me: Are you writing all of this down?
Him: Yes, we have to document everything.
Me: -- hangs up --

What the hell is that all about? Why don't they just release the friggin' domain name? Now I'm stuck having to pay Network Solutions: a Verisign Company $70 to renew my domain names, just to transfer them to another registrar, who will also charge me for the transfer? This is frickin' ridiculous.

This is a lose-lose-lose situation. NetSol: Will lose a permanent customer in a year (when the domain expires again). Me: Out $70, plus the $ that I still have to pay 000domains.com since the transfer failed. 000domains.com: Out their registration fees.

You should transfer the domain at least 45 days before renewal is due - sucks but I guess that how they rely on making their money.

What I want to know is why network solutions keep the price so high when there are so many competing registrars killing their business:confused:

Posture, if they drop their prices now, they will be following everyone else. Of course a huge company like that would never admit it's pricing scheme was flawed so they will probably never lower prices and just continue their
"shady business practices".. <--- sue me please.

Originally posted by Orpheus1539
"shady business practices".. <--- sue me please. I think generally, in the real world, unless you OWE them something, they have no right to hold your property. In the real world, this is called extortion.

You're going to have to remember that Registrant and Owner do not mean the same thing.

From OpenSRS's End User FAQ:
Domain names are not truly owned -- they're leased out on a first-come, first-served basis, and remain with the initial lessee until either a) the lessee does not renew the name, or b) a business with a trademark of the same name demonstrates a greater claim to the name than the lessee can demonstrate

If they changed their policy/pricing now, then EVERYONE that had signed up with them would be calling/e'ing/complaing that they wanted the reduced prices also, I sure as he@@ wouldn't want to be a Customer Service rep there after that one.
Not that I am defending NS, as I believe they are a highly inefficient and grossly, overpriced pseudomonopoly.

:eek:
oh my gosh!!!

Thanks for the warnings! Even more reasons to give clients a warning to stay away from them

Its a simple case of economics! You are not going to buy a domain for $70 when you can get it from dozens of registrars for $22 or less (price for 2 years).

Unless you are :nuts:

What I want to know is why network solutions keep the price so high when there are so many competing registrars killing their business

1. There are several innocent/new users, who beleive that Net Sol is only the company to register the domain names. They are getting enough sale everyday... yes even at $35 per year.

2. They may be selling less domains but by charging higher prices (almost 3 times) they are making more money then many other registrars.

3. Less domains = less support = less expenses.

4. They have thousands and thousands of expired domains in thier database and the regitrant has to pay them $35 per year to re-register it and then transfer it. If they will reduce the price they will get less dollars for those domains, which by no means can be transferred without paying the registration fee. So they have monopoly.

What the hell is that all about? Why don't they just release the friggin' domain name? Now I'm stuck having to pay Network Solutions: a Verisign Company $70 to renew my domain names, just to transfer them to another registrar, who will also charge me for the transfer? This is frickin' ridiculous.

I know it is very painful. But in fact you don't buy domain name, and you only lease them for certain period.

All domain names are freely available to anyone on first come first serve basis. You have full right to choose an agent (registrar) of your choice to lease any available domain name. Once you choose the domain name and an agent, that agent takes over the domain and leases it to you for certain time. During that time you are the owner of the domain and have full right to change the agent. Your current agent can't object/deni the transfer becasue he/she aquired that domain for you. But once your agreed term is over and you didn't renew the lease you have no rights left on that domains. In this case you are no more owner of the domain and have no right to ask Net Sol to allow the transfer.

Your claim "Why don't they just release the friggin' domain name?" is very valid.

Please note that, before releasing domain publicly, an agent is allowed to hold that domain for certain period (30 to 60 days, I am not sure) to protect the interest of the previous owner. Once the domain is released anyone will be able to register it and the first person will get that domain. So if you missed the race you may end up loosing the domain name forever. So its up to you if you want to take a risk.

FYI: I heard that Net Sol expired domains are usually taken by companies (they might have some association with Net Sol) who sell those domain names to ineterested people on higher prices.

I had a domain set to expire in October of 2000, did not get our transfer request in on time. After about 1.7million phone calls and e-mails they finally released it on July 1st 2001.

I highly doubt my calling or e-mail had any effect on them either way.

Needless to say *I* will never use NetSol again, but you might be surprised at how many companies still do.

BTW don't you love how NetSol links directly to greatdomains.com?

I admit it. One of my domains has been registered with Netsol since early 98, and I still have it there. In fact, I've renewed it for 9 more years. I simply didn't want to risk the domain being lost in a transfer to another registrar, no thanks. I've seen it happen, I didn't want to risk it. Besides, with the percentage of discounts you can get with a 9 year renewal, it's not much more at all, than the other registrar's per year or per two-year prices anyway, if you do that for 9 years. Of course, that many years from now, it'll go down anyway, but for $180 for 9 years, maybe I ended up paying another $8 a year, but one thing networkSolutions is good at, is keeping you domain in their database, so I figure it'll be safer from the possibility of someone hijacking it anyway. Heh.

Really, with the 9 year renewal, it's not that much more than the other registrars, and I avoid all the hassles with Netsol with transfering it. I haven't seen anything better with other registrar's yet, other than the lower annual fee's. Otherwise, from my experience, they are almost pretty much the same. Granted, Netsol does probably still suck more than the other registrar's -- and I even got very close to suing them -- but, really, I know they'll hold onto my domain and I can always risk transfering to another registrar when I have another 2 months left.. but I think I'll be good for another 9 years and for $180, I'm not really that concerned about it, as long as they function on their end. I'd probably switch to register.com anyway, as the other one's are just too new for me to want to risk a long term registration like 9 years and hope they'll be around, because you never know -- and I'd prefer to just pay for 9 years and not have to worry about it each year or two.
Of course, Register.com (and I'm sure the other's too) also offer 9 year registrations, but I'd only trust register.com right now. A few years from now, maybe I'll try someone else instead, but I'm sure I won't go with Netsol, and definitely not for any new domains. However, for the few I have no, any valued one's, I don't care if I pay a small amount for securing it until mid 2010.. I don't plan to even be online that many more years... :-)

Not only is NetSol too expensive, they're also horribly bureaucratic and rather ineffective to boot. I only have one domain there, and the prospect of moving it makes me rather nervous because I don't want to lose it. But I'm rapidly reaching the point where if I ever see a Domain Name Agreement form again, I'll scream. Is it really necssary to make changing your nameservers that bloody complicated?

Yes, I think it is, for the sake of netsol's revenue. If you are referring to my last post, just in case, don't be too paranoid about it. Just one of my domains' is worth quite a bit to some people and I just don't want to risk it. it's not all that common, but I've seen it happen too. Anyway, I think netsol will hold onto domains any way they can, just to make people nervous and desperate enough to renew it with them. I think they'll do whatever they can to keep the money in their company, for something they never did or will own anyway.

What else can they do? They either drop their prices and still lose people from their policies and attitude anyway, or they keep the prices the same, hold domain's hostage and hold onto them up to a year or more after they expire in hopes that they'll be renewed at their register and not another one -- and if all else fails, greatdomains gets it and they try to auction it off. Pretty sweet deal, eh? I can't prove this outright, but pretty close. I believe I even had pissed off a rouge Netsol employee enough that he literally changed my NIC Handle's address record to not only invite, but DARE SPAMMER's to SPAM me. I joke you not. I don't know that I'd want to try and transfer the domains I have, just for the sake that if that is the case (It was, believe me), that I'm sure something "bad" will happen and his rare "mistake" will make my domain be sold or given to another person. No thanks.

Aloha
well funny about reading this
I have been in a 6 month battel with them to get my domains released to me
they have had a problem with my location and my email I am tired of faxing them info then they say it will be a month or so to check it out
argghhhhhhhhh

the price if you have one domain is not so big of a deal but if you own say a 100 domains that extra $25 per year ads up very fast

I want to go postal on them sometimes

hope they visit Maui and I am diving with them they say OH yeah I am the policy guy for networksolutions or netsol

I think HMMMM so down under the water I hold up a card that says I am turning off your air to get your air back on please fax me proof that you are who you say you are
I will then turn back on your air but will not give you the keys to the handcuffs to get off the anchor
thank you for diving with me ;)

Honu, this is terrible! I think you should fly my wife and I out to Maui right away, for at leats 4 months, so we can get this settled! I don't see any other alternative!

Actually, I do know what you mean and I agree. That can add up. Certainly, even the domains I have at Netsol, only one or two I am concerned about and the other's I will transfer, or register new one's at another registrar. Dealing with netsol proves impossible most of the time -- almost always. I've sat on the phone for 7 hours trying to get someone, hung up and waited another 2, just to wait more and give up. Of course, that was a couple of years ago when they had their massive database problems, so things might be different under normal circumstances, now. Good luck with that.

Aloha
Tim sure come on out ;)
can ya do a quick IKEA shop for us first though we need a few book cases
hehehehhehe

I can see if someone has a couple domains some things are not worth the hassle

a Maui Land company that is very huge (top 5 on Maui)
has a bunch of domains with networksolutions

the other day it was mentioned why not transfer all these domains to dotster so you can get them a bit cheaper and have a co that is easier to deal with
the head person said NAH to much of a hassle to transfer

I think there are a lof of companies like this who see it as a hassle and it is not there money anyway so why bother
( I was asked aabout this because someone knows about me doing web work I do not work for the co or anything just an observation of why they still charge that much)