Hello WHTers,

I'm hoping sombody can help me with this...
One of my domains that I had registered under Yahoo (for $9 per year) just expired.
I thought it was supposed to automatically renew, as all of my other domains renew automatically. However, this domain is still in REDEMPTIONPERIOD status.
So I contacted Melbourne IT regarding the domain, and here is their response: Thank you for contacting Melbourne IT.
Your domain has been tagged for deletion at the registry. The status of your domain name is now in REDEMPTIONPERIOD.

Explanation of REDEMPTIONPERIOD status:

Once a domain is tagged for deletion at the registry, it enters a 30 day "Redemption Period". Whilst a domain is in its Redemption Period we are able to recover the domain for you and restore the original license holder details and administrative contact details.

The cost involved in recovering a domain that is within its redemption period is $USD155.00 or $AUS310.00. This fee includes a 1 year renewal.

If the domain is not recovered during this period, it will be made publicly available for registration at which point you may attempt to register the domain again.

If you wish us to recover the domain for you, please fill out the attached form and fax it back to us alliteratively you can e-mail the form to (...)
Now does that sound like a rip-off to anyone?
It sure seems like it to me, but what can I do?

Thanks,
Highway of Life

It's pretty normal when you let it expire to be charged huge fees. 'Tis life and that's what happens so everyone pays similar (or higher) fees when they forget. The best you can do is move on and try not to forget again. Double check everything. If you want the domain then buy it. The price is high but if it's a good domain then the price is likely lower than what you'll pay if someone else buys it. You can try waiting for it to lapse completely but that's a gamble I'd not recommend.

KGIII

Well, mostly I agree with KGill's lack of sympathy. You should never assume anything and always ensure you renew domains before they expire. This is not a rip-off. It's SOP for a domain in redemption. If you don't want to pay the redemption fee to regain your domain. Forget about it and move on to another domain/registrar.

Now that I look at it - it did seem unsympathetic didn't it? I didn't mean for it to come out quite like that. ;)

KGIII

if registry charge companies 45 why registrars steal up to 200?

The problem in this case is that Yahoo does not let you initiate a renewal. There is no where in the control panel to renew a domain. Yahoo just automatically renews your domain a few weeks before expiry using your credit card on file. If this card is no longer valid or over-limit then you are out of luck. If you contact Yahoo and say that you want to renew they just say that it will happen automatically and cannot take your renewal order.

if registry charge companies 45 why registrars steal up to 200?

I don't know what the registry charges the registrar, but I do know that Verisign practically insist the the registrar charges $180+ to the customer. It's not entirely the registrar's fault. They are following Verisign policies.

I can't think of any better reason NOT to use Yahoo as your registrar, if it's as hit and miss as that. That's probably why we see so many complaints about Yahoo on these forums.

if registry charge companies 45 why registrars steal up to 200?

Because that is what the market will take.

KGIII

Yawn!! (I put 2 ! bcoz my post 2 short)

G'morning... The folks at the bottom of the mountain killed a pig so the bacon's frying and filling the house up with its scent. It's nice. 'Tis funny, they didn't come back and respond to my comment about Marketing 101. :D

Mmm... Coffee...

KGIII

who said the registry charges $45 ? , IIRC its $85 _COST_ , considering its manual process and many other procedures are done i believe its upto the registrar to charge the customer whatever they think it fit.

i believe there is a set between $85 - $200 for a registrar to charge the customer

some info at http://www.icann.org/registrars/redemption-supplement-20feb02.htm and few links inside too

if registry charge companies 45 why registrars steal up to 200?

Because registrars are within their rights to charge what they believe is fit to cover
their administrative costs, make a little money, etc.

Whether one sees it as shady or not depends on what side of the fence to be on.

The moral of the story is don't let your domain expire. Renew or transfer it 1 month before expiry to be on the safe side. Just in case a problem occurs.

Our Registry charge us $80.00 USD to get .com's out of the redemption period - but the domains don't go into that period until at least 40 days have passed from the expiry date. During this first "expired" period they can be renewed at the standard renewal cost.

Bst Rgds
Peter
TMS Internet

Welcom to WHT Peter. How much do you charge your client to get their domains out of redemption?

Hi stu2,

It depends upon the circumstances. We make every effort to ensure the customer is made fully aware of the consequences of allowing the domain to go from the "Grace" period into "Redemption".

If it is a case that the warnings have simply been ignored, we will charge the $85USD it costs us plus an administration fee of £ 25 or up to £50 if we have had to send numerous warnings and the renewal has not been authorised until (sometimes) the Redemption period is nearly expired.

In certain instances where the non-renewal has been a genuine oversight we have renewed it at cost.

We are a Business-only ISP and it frightens me how lax businesses are when it comes to the renewal of their domain names/services - particularly personnel in Accounts Depts who just don't appear to understand the consequences of not paying for renewals on time.

Bst Rgds
Peter
TMS Internet

You have my every sympathy :)

yes, redemption period fees are a rip off :(

yes, redemption period fees are a rip off :(

No, they aren't. Do you want your domain end it's existance the very moment it expires and being registered by those big domain sharks instead?

yes, redemption period fees are a rip off :(

It's easy to believe that's the case as a customer who doesn't know and probably
doesn't care how and why it's such. But registrars are within their rights to charge
any fee they see fit based on administrative costs and trying to make whatever
money they can.

While many would like to probably believe this is as easy as pulling up the domain
name out of limbo with just the push of a button, it's the administrative job that's
really tough. There's currently no automated process to accomplish this, although
I won't be surprised if one registrar's finally able to do this but at a cost.

But like I said, whether it's shady, ripoff, etc. depends on what side of the fence
you're on. So you're free to choose what you want to believe.

The registrars are all up front about these redemption fees. It's in their ToS which you agree to when you sign up. If you don't like the idea of redemption fees then don't sign up with a registrar which charge redemption fees. It's as simple as that. Crying about it later isn't productive. Renew your domains 1 month before they expire is good policy. Most registrars have an auto renew feature as well. So it beats me how a domain ever goes into redemption. Especially with all the emails you get from the registrars for renewals; 90/60/30/15 day notices and sometimes more.

If you don't like the idea of redemption fees then don't sign up with a registrar which charge redemption fees.

Most if not all registrars redeem. So the simpler solution is to renew it before that
happens, of course. :D

Then again, redemption is actually an option.

hehe Dave, it was said tongue-in-cheek. Perhaps I should have put a smiley ;)

Especially with all the emails you get from the registrars for renewals; 90/60/30/15 day notices and sometimes more.

Well, I've got 3 domains with RegFly which I decided to let expire. I am getting at least 2-3 emails *DAILY* about the renewal. Some registrars just LOVE to spam... :P

Hehe. Maybe you should report them to GoDaddy for spamming :)

Hehe. Maybe you should report them to GoDaddy for spamming :)

I would *LOVE* to, if registerfly.com was registered at GoDaddy. :P

Most if not all registrars redeem. So the simpler solution is to renew it before that
happens, of course. :D

Then again, redemption is actually an option.

yes, but peoples forget it seems

this is the adverage price but we only charge $70.00 but that's us