Hello, currently have over 100 domains with stargate.com (stargateinc.com) which uptil now i had been happy with, getting bulk price.

They recently under went an upgrade to site and domain control panel which included the withdrawl of many free services such as domain/email forwarding and dns, which they now charge for.

If i took these services along with price increase (ICANN fault !) then the price is no longer very good.


Can anyone recommend a good bulk domain service out there with resonable pricing?

cheers

I think Stargate wanted to have a reseller program like eNom, GoDaddy, etc, so they bought the LogicBoxes software interface (LogicBoxes is a division of Directi). So, if you can live with that system, Directi offers better pricing on low volumes like at 100 domain names - $6.75 + .35 for URL / Mail Frowarding & DNS. However, if you are selling domains with a retail site, Directi sometimes has server issues which makes their retail solution not the most reliable solution. See http://www.directi.com/resellers/pricing/

GoDaddy offers bulk pricing for about $7.00 after they add that nasty 25 cent ICANN fee: https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/registrar/bulkprices.asp?se=%2B&ci=145 But I'm not a big GoDaddy fan.

www.DomainSite.com is kind of the new kid on the block - no reseller plan. Initial pricing of $6.99 with $7.99 renewals. The $7.99 includes URL Forwarding and DNS I believe.

eNom is my favorite. I love how clean and simple their customer interface is. But, you would be paying $8.95 with an eNom reseller account at 100 domains. Pricing at eNom goes down to $6.95 with a 1,000 domain name deposit. But, pricing does include a lot of free bells and whistles like URL forwarding, Mail forwarding, Dynamic DNS, etc. etc. See: http://www.enom.com/resellers/default.asp

Many WHT regulars like Bashar, kohasi, othellotech, etc offer free enom reseller accounts where you could try out the system. An account directly with eNom would require more of a deposit.

You also might checkout www.NameZoom.net which has some kind of a rebate system which lowers the eNom price to $7.95... I don't really know about them much since they were recently sold.

Be aware in comparing these prices depending on how you pay for your domain names, too. Some registrars like Directi and eNom charge more for using PayPal or credit cards... so you have to factor that in, too.

I gave you a lot of options since I didn't understand whether you needed a retail domain registration website or not.

Good Luck! ;)

Thanks for reply, currently i don't need reseller features, just low price and reliability.

Price is not everything.

Why is $1 to $2 extra per domain such a big problem for so many people?

Originally posted by GordonH
Price is not everything.

Why is $1 to $2 extra per domain such a big problem for so many people?

I ponder the same question...

I don't understand how consumers expect a Registrar to provide the domain name, management interface, support services, infrastructure, url forwarding, dns management, email forwarding, reseller services and continue to develop new TLD's and services all for less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

-Tom

Yes, and the strange thing is that if my company shaved even $1 off the price we pay for domains we would save enough every year to buy a reasonable quality new car - but I still don't do it.

I can't be bothered with reliability problems and worries of that nature that i see othe rpeople have in order to pay less.

(not that I pay that much anyway bt its more than what most people round here are prepared to pay and more than some registrars retail price).

Originally posted by GordonH
Yes, and the strange thing is that if my company shaved even $1 off the price we pay for domains we would save enough every year to buy a reasonable quality new car - but I still don't do it.
But I like driving a new car every year! :D

Seriously, as an former accountant, it does not make sense to spend more for something if it has the same function and quality.

Now, if you only have a few domain names, then it wouldn't be cost effective to keep moving them from registrar to registrar simply from a time issue. But when you're dealing with thousands of domain names, it just doesn't make economic sense to spend thousands of dollars more every year than you have to.

At least it doesn't make sense to me.

"Opportunity Cost"

If I am spending hours every week sorting out registrar problems then I am not using that time to do money making activities.

Also, if you are registering domains for customers and something goes wrong you have possible litigation.
Then you have all the ill feeling when the registry system does not work properly.

Originally posted by GordonH
Price is not everything.

Why is $1 to $2 extra per domain such a big problem for so many people?

It is not so much the extra cost but the change, when i first started with stargate they offered these services included at nice price and seemed to have no issue with it, now they keep changing the goal posts.

Sure if icann sting them for extra few cents then pass it on but all of a sudden i am paying for a service that i got for free.

I am only a small operator and with 200+ domains, this little bit here and there adds up.

Take doman locking, one time it was a paid for service, then it was free!

Not sure what it is now with the changes and withdrawl of services unless i pay pay pay.


If i start with a service i expect to keep that level of service, of course there maybe a price movement but to all of a sudden without notification or consultation upgrade everything and charge for previously free services..

now that get my goat up.

Originally posted by carpman
It is not so much the extra cost but the change, when i first started with stargate they offered these services included at nice price and seemed to have no issue with it, now they keep changing the goal posts.

Sure if icann sting them for extra few cents then pass it on but all of a sudden i am paying for a service that i got for free.

I am only a small operator and with 200+ domains, this little bit here and there adds up.

Take doman locking, one time it was a paid for service, then it was free!

Not sure what it is now with the changes and withdrawl of services unless i pay pay pay.


If i start with a service i expect to keep that level of service, of course there maybe a price movement but to all of a sudden without notification or consultation upgrade everything and charge for previously free services..

now that get my goat up.

Carpman,

I agree on exisiting domain names.

Send me an email to tomc@stargate.com with your username and I can ensure the services are included on your existing domains.

-Tom

Originally posted by Stargate.com
Carpman,

I agree on exisiting domain names.

Send me an email to tomc@stargate.com with your username and I can ensure the services are included on your existing domains.

-Tom

Hello Tom, unexpected offer but more like the service i have come to expect from stargate, will email you.

Many thanks

PS thanks for removing thet annoying flash sound on main website :)

Originally posted by Stargate.com
Carpman,

I agree on exisiting domain names.

Send me an email to tomc@stargate.com with your username and I can ensure the services are included on your existing domains.

-Tom

only people who email you get free services?

what about thousands of customers who dont come to WHT? pay extra and lose money?! :crazy:

Originally posted by D4C
only people who email you get free services?

what about thousands of customers who dont come to WHT? pay extra and lose money?! :crazy:

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

-Tom

Originally posted by Stargate.com
Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

-Tom


Very true, but as i found out as customer you have responsibility to air your complaints or look elsewhere, the end result for me is good.

Take the positive, stargate quickly responded to issue and made offer to amend situtation.

Originally posted by Stargate.com
Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

-Tom

Heh, exactly what I was thinking. Can't please them all.

Hate to say it, But I am here looking for an alternative too. Up to now I was EXTREMELY happy with http://www.stargate.com but ever since the change, I am getting more and more frustrated there.


BEFORE

1. Free Services like Domain Forwarding
2. Had the small company, take care of the customer feel
3. Good prices (Unlike the unreal Net-sol)
4. I didn't get swamped with Ad's forced in my face like godaddy does (they even flood you in emails, where you have to read the ads of go-daddys, before you get to teh answers to your question. A sign the customer doesn't come first. For that, and other reasons, I hate go-daddy and left them).
5. Simple interface, with a spreadsheet. Some quirks, but requests were added quickly.


SINCE CHANGE.

1. I feel far more isolated.
2. Items that were free, are now charged for (Forwarding)
3. They park you on an ad page if you don't use it right away, and don't share revenues.
4. Lousy interface
4a. Have to click a ton of things to get what you want.
4b. No spreadsheet view easily printable anymore.
4c. Poor flow of functions
4d. Not clickable selections, you have to know order ids and type in.
4e. can't easily mass unlock then change name servers.

All in all, it's a terrible, very unfreindly system now. TO me anyways. I hate it and am very dissapointed in their change. And, it doesn't look like they are doing anything to make it more user freindly. I MISS the old interface. It was simple and functional with few clicks.

I wish stargate would have let the old set up stay as an option at least. I liked them and the people there use to be VERY helpful. Now I feel they are gone. I wonder if they got taken over?

Anyone have suggestions? I have about 60 domains and usually manage then all at once. I don't want a place witht he same interface and I don't really want godaddy but may chose their ads over the poor interface.


Thanks in advance.

They are using the directi/logic boxes interface so factor that in your next decision if you do not like their interface

I took a long time to evaluate and pick before I decided to move to stargate. All was good til they went to that POS interface.

Thanks for that info on directi/logic boxes, I guess I will ask stargate and them if there's an upgrade to it coming before I start looking for puppies to kick :)

They were great in many other ways, I may try to fight it out and stay hoping they will change it or fix it, grrrrrr.

Thanks again!

Originally posted by ChicksHateMe
I took a long time to evaluate and pick before I decided to move to stargate. All was good til they went to that POS interface.

Thanks for that info on directi/logic boxes, I guess I will ask stargate and them if there's an upgrade to it coming before I start looking for puppies to kick :)

They were great in many other ways, I may try to fight it out and stay hoping they will change it or fix it, grrrrrr.

Thanks again!

While I certainly do not agree with your assessment, I would be happy to hear your thoughts.

1. Your welcome to send me your concerns.
2. Contrary to popular belief, the services Registrars offer have a cost,and value, associated with them.
3. Parking is not required. It is a service we offer as a convenience.
4. The new interface, while different, provides many more features than the previous interface. The new interface has been online for about 3 months. New updates and features are scheduled for release in the next few weeks that I hope will address your concerns.

We have the same staff and management today as we did earlier in the year.

Again, you are welcome to contact me directly at tomc@stargate.com or through a PM.

-Tom

Hi Tom,

1. I have sent in my concerns and I am hopeful.
2. I am not Popular belief, so no need to be wise. I DID have Free Parking and other features I don't have now. Thats what I stated.
3. Parking use to be a blank page I believe, or a place holder, It's a smart business move on stargate's part, I just do not like something I paid for being used for someone elses profit without my consent. I wouldn't like you opening a lemonade stand on my front lawn either if you didn't ask first.
4. The new interface is disorganized and difficult for the most basic features. I don't care if it CAN do more, I want it to do it more efficiently.

Regards,

Bill

Originally posted by ChicksHateMe
I start looking for puppies to kick :)






Why would you kick a puppy?

:eek:

Well, IF I said I was looking for a kitty to kick. Kitty's being sorta feminine, I would have made all the chicks hate me...

Oh wait a minute lol....

Well, after a long sleep, I feel better. I STILL stand by what I said about the difficulties with Stargates control panel. AND, Didn't agree with Toms replies and attitude.

That said, Stargate has;

1. Reasonable prices

2. It's OK dealing with one or a few sites at a time.

3. They don't flood you with ads.

I STILL prefer them to NetSol and GoDaddy.

If they;

1. Fixed that control panel to make it easier to work with bulk.
2. Gave back the domain forwarding.
3. Keep the ads down as they have.
4. Teach their poster reps to have a better attitude, it affects biz.

I think they would blow everyone away.

My only TRUE wish is them making bulk display and manipulation easier (more intuitive and user friendly). But as someone said, it's probably the directi interface and they don't have that control.

I am sticking with them, I trust them a lot, and had too many problems with others I tried.

I really recommend them to those new, or with a few names, or who don't have to do a LOT of changes in bulk.

Just my opinion.

Originally posted by ChicksHateMe
Well, IF I said I was looking for a kitty to kick. Kitty's being sorta feminine, I would have made all the chicks hate me...

Oh wait a minute lol....

Well, after a long sleep, I feel better. I STILL stand by what I said about the difficulties with Stargates control panel. AND, Didn't agree with Toms replies and attitude.

That said, Stargate has;

1. Reasonable prices

2. It's OK dealing with one or a few sites at a time.

3. They don't flood you with ads.

I STILL prefer them to NetSol and GoDaddy.

If they;

1. Fixed that control panel to make it easier to work with bulk.
2. Gave back the domain forwarding.
3. Keep the ads down as they have.
4. Teach their poster reps to have a better attitude, it affects biz.

I think they would blow everyone away.

My only TRUE wish is them making bulk display and manipulation easier (more intuitive and user friendly). But as someone said, it's probably the directi interface and they don't have that control.

I am sticking with them, I trust them a lot, and had too many problems with others I tried.

I really recommend them to those new, or with a few names, or who don't have to do a LOT of changes in bulk.

Just my opinion.

I'm sorry if you took my responses wrong. I did not intend to come across with an "attitude". I hope my presence here reflects Stargate's concern.

Many of the features added with the new interface were implemented to address "bulk" changes. The OLD interface did not allow bulk name server updates, bulk locking, bulk contact updates, bulk transfers, reseller API's or invoice reporting. The NEW interface does provide these services. If you feel the interface provides the right services, but is clumsy, I will address that with developers.

-Tom

Thank you Tom,

You guys ARE good. And I am sorry I took you the wrong way. I apologize. It could be just me, and my incapability with that type system. I write software myself, so I may have an attitude.

I'd just like to see a spreadsheet style, with a sorting of names like you have under DOMAINS-DOMAIN REGISTRATION - SEARCH, that would allow me to click on select domains and then do a function to all the ones selected.

1. Unlock/unlock
2. Change Name Servers

All with a confirm pop up.

Things like that. It will get there I'm sure.

You guys are the best though that I've dealt with. Fix a few things, and you will RULE the WORLD hehe.

Good luck!!!!