A family member in the Midwest is starting a new business and as a surprise gift I want to design a beginner's web presence. The name of the company.com was available and I know budget will be a concern. I went to enom due to its popularity here.

I went to the "domain name" page and clicked on "5.99" which appeared in red. I got a pop-up window saying "Request not completed." When any web page from a web services company malfunctions (more than once, of course), Roman Catholic church bells clang a deafening sound in my ear.

To make another long story short...even though the site, at first glance, looks easy to follow, as I delved deeper, I found the site not very user-friendly. Domain name registration, in my opinion, should be a clean, uncluttered experience.

Reading through the terms and conditions was painful (but I got through it). They want your house, your pet, your husband's last tax return, pictures of you naked, fingerprints, and ownership of your domain. OK, I'm kidding, but that's how it read.

After I survived the TC deal, I went to sign-up as a member. When I came to the part of the form demanding the phone number assigned to the address that appears on my credit card, I threw my hands in the air and let out a scream. No other company (and I do much web-purchasing business) has ever asked for this phone number. I have no problem providing the mailing address of the card but the phone number is sacred information and I felt asking for it was insane.

Given the reckless, careless reputation of the web hosting/name reigistration business and the hysteria over contentious "Do Not Call" lists, why would any smart company goad the customer and take privacy concerns to this level? Why aren't ISP emails enough? If nobody wants to take responsibility for spamming then why must I provide everything that's sacred and private about my life?

Their site wasn't much easier to navigate but at least GoDaddy didn't ask for the phone number to the owner address of my credit card. I registered with GoDaddy.

If it reduces credit card fraud I'm all for it. Good thing you went with GoDaddy because the 5.99 at eNom is for parked domain names. Just make sure you dont have a free email address listed on the whois with your GoDaddy domain. If anyone ever hacks your email, requests a lost password from GoDaddy, then pushes your domain to another GoDaddy account, you will have a hard time getting it back. It doesn't matter if you catch it an hour after it is stolen, GoDaddy will tell you to file a UDRP case ($1,xxx).

Originally posted by MistyBreeze
. . . When I came to the part of the form demanding the phone number assigned to the address that appears on my credit card, I threw my hands in the air and let out a scream. No other company (and I do much web-purchasing business) has ever asked for this phone number. I have no problem providing the mailing address of the card but the phone number is sacred information and I felt asking for it was insane.

Given the reckless, careless reputation of the web hosting/name reigistration business and the hysteria over contentious "Do Not Call" lists, why would any smart company goad the customer and take privacy concerns to this level? Why aren't ISP emails enough? If nobody wants to take responsibility for spamming then why must I provide everything that's sacred and private about my life? . . . It's pretty common to use the telephone number associated with the card for verification purposes. Companies that do this are looking out for your interests. Someone may have your credit card, but they're not likely sitting next to your telephone.

Originally posted by acts837
If it reduces credit card fraud I'm all for it.

Armed with bank plastic that offers immediate access up to $50,000, nobody is more concerned about credit card fraud than me. There are numerous, less intrusive ways to avoid fraud than insisting on a phone number that's attached to the address of the credit card owner, and businesses that truly care about service and their customers utilize those methods.

Good thing you went with GoDaddy because the 5.99 at eNom is for parked domain names.

I didn't know this because I never got far enough to find out what enom's price really was. Thank you for reminding me that I couldn't easily find out the price and throughout their frustrating sign-up process, I was under the impression $5.99 was the price. I CAN'T TOLERATE OR CONDONE MISLEADING PROMOTIONS THAT TRY TO TRICK YOU. That spells COVERT, better known as SHADE, better known as NOT TRUSTWORTHY to me.

Just make sure you dont have a free email address listed on the whois with your GoDaddy domain. If anyone ever hacks your email, requests a lost password from GoDaddy, then pushes your domain to another GoDaddy account, you will have a hard time getting it back.

Here, I have a brain that's working. I provide an ISP address and endure the spam. What else can one do? My unlisted home phone number, attached to my credit cards, is far more precious to me than my ISP email.

Originally posted by SoftWareRevue
Companies that do this are looking out for your interests.

Yeah, right! Next thing you'll be telling me there IS a Santa Claus.

Considering you're a Community Leader, SoftWareRevue, I give you a D- for smarts and an A for gullibility.

My bank, who owns my credit cards, is the ONLY company looking out for my interests. They have every right to ask me anything for verification purposes and fraud protection. No other company, especially some domain name registrar who practices shady promotional gimmickry, deserves my trust (unless through time-worn proof of quality service).

It's pretty common to use the telephone number associated with the card for verification purposes.

Wrong. It's standard practice to provide the phone number used (home, office, whatever) to set up any account but asking for the phone number associated with the card has never before been asked of me.

Just because a practice has been embraced and/or accepted by a bunch of careless consumers (ie: common) doesn't mean the decision is intelligent, considerate, or safe.

I disagree with most of what you wrote. Thousands of people have no problems with eNom's website. To say that they practice misleading business tactics is almost laughable. It states right there that it is $5.99 for "Name only" so don't blame them if you don't know what your talking about.

My reply may seem a little harsh but I find your posts very condescending. You imply that I am a careless consumer because I don't mind having my phone number connected to my credit card when I purchase something. Opinions are great because we all have them and I think you are way off base.

Originally posted by acts837
I disagree with most of what you wrote.

God Bless Freedom of Speech! I'm not surprised you disagree. After all, my professional opinion won't likely help you. I understand your disagreement.

Thousands of people have no problems with eNom's website.

And millions of people don't seem to have problems with unwanted telephone solicitations at all hours in the privacy of their home. To each his own.

To say that they practice misleading business tactics is almost laughable. It states right there that it is $5.99 for "Name only" so don't blame them if you don't know what your talking about.

To me, a first-time customer to Enom, "Name only - $5.99," translates to "register new names here only for 5.99." I wasn't shopping for web hosting or any other service. The fact that this window took me nowhere was a bigger point with me. Quibbling between 6 or 8 dollars is what I call laughable.

I never said "...they practice misleading business tactics" and I don't appreciate being misquoted, especially when the forum offers a quote feature. Just because you can't fairly discern the experience and analysis which supports my opinion and writing, doesn't give you the right to put your own self-defensive spin on my words.

My reply may seem a little harsh but I find your posts very condescending.

I would hardly describe your reply as harsh. Unprofessional, over-sensitive, overtly personal (inappropriate), and self-serving are the words I would use. You are free to define my writing style any way you wish. But these comments reveal more about you than they do me.

I think you are way off base.

That's for the readers to decide.

Unless I'm blatant about writing directly to someone on this forum, my writing here is directed to anyone who wishes to read it. Nobody should take anything I say to the masses personally and I refuse to try to control how people feel about themselves and their own decisions. I could care less about popularity contests or what anyone thinks of me.

My 30-year-in-business opinion is just an opinion. Take it or leave it.

Notice "quote" feature enabled.

Originally posted by MistyBreeze
Just because you can't fairly discern the experience and analysis which supports my opinion and writing, doesn't give you the right to put your own self-defensive spin on my words.

Get off your high horse because I'm not impressed. You talk like you are the only one with experience around here.

Originally posted by MistyBreeze
Unprofessional, over-sensitive, overtly personal (inappropriate), and self-serving are the words I would use. You are free to define my writing style any way you wish. But these comments reveal more about you than they do me.


I don't claim to be eloquent with words. I'm a Jarhead and have been for many years. I speak with actions not key strokes and a thesaurus.

Back to the topic – I’m glad you found a successful transaction at GoDaddy.

I buy a lot of services and merchandise on the web (maybe too much :blush: ), and I find that about 50% of the order forms that I complete now ask for a telephone number.

All I can say, MistyBreeze, is that when GoDaddy has their next database glitch and your domain is missing from your account, then eNom's anal retentive ways are going to look mighty good. ;)

Originally posted by acts837
Get off your high horse because I'm not impressed.

I think the same was said of Seabiscuit, or something like that.


You talk like you are the only one with experience around here.

Again, that's your interpretation, which I happen to think is unfair. I wouldn't be here if I didn't know a good thing when I see it. (There, maybe we found some common ground.)

I don't claim to be eloquent with words. I'm a Jarhead and have been for many years. I speak with actions not key strokes and a thesaurus.

My brother is a career Air Force Sergeant and my uncle was a Marine and I love them both. But, I write better than they do and they come to me when it matters.

I wish somone would give me money to finance all my great ideas based solely on "actions." The fact is, key strokes and a thesaurus will give you the opportunity to write a better business plan, which could open some doors to people with money who think your idea is worth an investment consideration. I've written plenty and all but one got financed.

My parents were lower-middle-class from the Midwest and they couldn't afford to send me to the college of my choice. They spent all their savings on my older brother. Therefore, I worked my azz off to get where I wanted to be. (I'm lucky it's still shapely with no cellulite.)

Please forgive me if my years of blood, sweat, and tears from the trenches creep their pushy, pompous, opinionated way into my writing. Again, it's not personal, except to me.

Back to the topic – I’m glad you found a successful transaction at GoDaddy.

See how sweet you can be! If only WHT had a smiley that offered a big, juicy wet-kiss, I'd post it here. :love: This'll have to do.

Originally posted by 4solutions
I buy a lot of services and merchandise on the web (maybe too much :blush: ), and I find that about 50% of the order forms that I complete now ask for a telephone number.


I know many people don't have time to read thoroughly, even I'm guilty of that.

The issue was not providing a phone number. Of course you have to do that. Enom requires you to give the phone number of the address attached to your credit card. I use my office phone for web purchases and my credit cards are sent to my home. (My home address is more stable in my life. I own that real estate.) Therefore, if I want to do business with Enom, I would have to post my unlisted home phone number on the internet if I want to pay them by credit card, or, get a new card. I think this is bad policy and refuse to participate.