Best Domain Reseller API

[bcurve]

What are the best domain reseller API's out there?
I only care about reselling domains, and would especially appreciate it if automated emails that get sent to customers aren't stupid.
I can't have the automated emails that get sent from the registrar on my behalf carry off-brand marketing or messages. I need it to be as generic as possible, or allow me to customize the text in emails that get sent out.
I've experimented with ResellerClub, and am not happy (see below). Is enom a good choice?? I've never used it but I hear they have a decent API. Are there others??
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For those curious for background info...
Here's the rub:
I'm working on a web 2.0ish saas-type app. A certain percentage of our customers want to register domains / whitelabel it, and it makes sense just integrating domain regs into our app as a feature so they can just point-and-click.
Our non-technical users shouldn't have to deal with the nonsense of registrars, dns records, etc. They are (and should remain) completely oblivious to this world. They just want to access our app via a new domain of their choosing. We code the rest and charge the cost to their account.
I was experimenting with ResellerClub (Directi/Logicboxes) and am frustrated to see that if you create a "ResellerClub Customer" via the API, it sends the customer an email.
While ResellerClub sticks my company/email/etc to make it appear it came from me, the IDIOTS couldn't resist throwing in all sorts of blurbs about other products that I supposedly have available (hosting, email, etc) in my "Supersite". Worse, it 'thanks them for becoming a customer' and all that nonsense. THEY ALREADY ARE OUR CUSTOMERS. All they did was choose to access our app via a custom domain, picked one, and registered it from within our webapp. They shouldn't see this crap copywriting in an email because it'll confuse the hell out of them and its absurdly out of place.
I've scoured around the reseller admin panel, and I don't think its possible to customize the email copywriting. You get what some inept marketing guy wrote (the copywriting is pretty bad), and you're stuck with it.
This completely violates my use case, and invalidates Directi/ResellerClub/LogicBoxes/Orderboxes as an option.
Before anyone suggests it, NO I cannot make my company the sole customer, and then just buy domains to my customer ID. These are business customers. They would not stand for not being the legal owner of a domain that they paid for.
So, now that you know my jam, can anyone help me?

[sshum]

I have been playing around with ResellerClub's API.
You can turn off the automatic emails (http://manage.resellerclub.com/kb/servlet/KBServlet/faq524.html)

[EU_CASSIUS]

Me too i use it ResellerClub and i like their system. I don`t have problems with them and their system.
Good Look in your business!

[bcurve]

sshum: Thanks for your reply. That's a huge help. Thanks to Cassius too: it helps to know someone out there is actually using this out in the wild.
For those reading, I checked it out and confirmed that you can switch off emails (you can even choose which ones), but there is no way to edit any part of the copywriting. Its a take it or leave it kind of deal.
Some emails are useful though (eg: pending domain expiry)... I guess I am going to have to maintain my own database and set up a cron job to auto-notify customers in situations like that.
I'm still curious if there are any other API players out there that WHT members have used. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

[rony]

Some emails are useful though (eg: pending domain expiry)... I guess I am going to have to maintain my own database and set up a cron job to auto-notify customers in situations like that.
If you want to be flexible that's the way to go. If you have a copy of the data you are always free and open to do what you want.
Go and have a look at triple.com, they use logicboxes as there backend (as a registrar, not reseller) but have a completely own website which looks quite nice.
I'm still curious if there are any other API players out there that WHT members have used. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
Did you have a look et enom and openSRS? I only worked with the openSRS API which is quite flexible.
For a simple API and fully customizable / templateable emails have a look at DistributeIT (www.distributeit.com.au). The API is kept small and simple but supports everything you need (I implemented half there API but didn't worked for a long time for them anymore).

[JFSG]

LogicBoxes system really suck IMO. The node always restart and giving all sorts of errors..

[EU_CASSIUS]

I look at OpenSRS and i find a good prices for some domains name.
Did you know about DistributeIT? Thay have have good prices for domains name because i don`t see any prices on their website.
Thank you rony!

[Masud]

We use ResellerClub and are pretty happy with it. I knew a friend who had used LogicBoxes with Tucows and it sucked big time.[ 2005/2006 ] Its been 2+ years so no idea how they are at the moment.
Good luck!

[EU_CASSIUS]

If you have any experiences with any Domains Name Resellers please don`t hesitate to tell as.
Tell as if you use a Good Domains Name Reseller with a good prices and many tld`s or any kind of that.
Thank you!

[JFSG]

If you have any experiences with any Domains Name Resellers please don`t hesitate to tell as.
Tell as if you use a Good Domains Name Reseller with a good prices and many tld`s or any kind of that.
Thank you!
reseller.netearthone.com
You will be happy with them.

[rony]

Did you know about DistributeIT? Thay have have good prices for domains name because i don`t see any prices on their website.
Just send them an email and ask for the pricing or sing up and you will get the price list.
Don't know if there were many changes in the last time but there pricing was quite reasonable.
reseller.netearthone.com
You will be happy with them.
If he is not happy with resellerclub's API he will not be happy with netearthone's API as well, both are exactly the same platform. If he wouldn't be happy with pricing, support or things like that then that would be an option.

[JFSG]

eNom will be next then.. I will suggest getting an eNom account through AWBS. You can sell domains via AWBS and their pricing is cheap.

[netearth]

bcurve,
Why not use AWBS or whmcs to handle that side of things you can change the emails to your hearts content and then turn them all off on rc/lb platform.
that way you are in total control. all for $150-$300 depending on license you buy. Hey presto

[JFSG]

But using AWBS/WHMCS will incur *additional* fees again.. :X

[netearth]

But using AWBS/WHMCS will incur *additional* fees again.. :X
Well "Fee" if you just buy it, the awbs domain edition for instance!

[JFSG]

Chris, I don't get what you mean here..

[netearth]

Chris, I don't get what you mean here..
Well LTF, OP buys domain only edition of awbs, integrates it into his current site, customizes the emails to how he wants them to be shown to his customers, then turn off all emails on RC panel.
Only RC email to customers will be transfer emails then, awbs can handle all other emails, new / renew etc. And best of all, OP can change those to be EXACTLY how he wants them to be.
Not a 100% workaround because of transfer emails, but a good 99% and OP doesnt have to get his hands dirty coding )

[JFSG]

Thanks for the clarification! I didn't check out the OP's post when replying, which got me confused

[EU_CASSIUS]

Like rony say`s reseller.netearthone.com have ResellerClub platform. I`m happy with ResellerClub but i want more tld`s extensions with great prices.
Thank you!

[bcurve]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Using AWBS, WHMCS, etc breaks my use-case. I'm an app developer, not a web host. These systems strike me as being for canned "host in a box"/reseller kind of companies. I already have my own (custom) billing system, payment integration, etc.
I think if I am going to stick on the Logicboxes platform, I'll do it via ResellerClub, since they are both really Directi brands (www.directi.com). I would imagine Directi would be able to run their own platform better than someone who bought it (eg: apparently Tucows based on an above comment).
I already have working code for ResellerClub, packaged up in a nice wrapper class. I just was pissed about those stupid emails. Thanks to sshum, I know how to turn those off. Its annoying that I now have to worry about notifying my customers about domain expiry and stuff, but if there's no better solution out there, then what can I do?
From some of the comments here, I'm starting to wonder how stable some of the available API solutions are. Is the ResellerClub API stable? Does it crash/go down a lot? Is it fast/slow?

[netearth]

There is actually a "Domain Only" version of AWBS which is cheaper, but not to worry as you already have your own billing app.
I think if I am going to stick on the Logicboxes platform, I'll do it via ResellerClub, since they are both really Directi brands (www.directi.com). I would imagine Directi would be able to run their own platform better than someone who bought it (eg: apparently Tucows based on an above comment).
Hmmm I'll pass on that without comment... But just to say "Don't you believe it"...
The RC API isn't too bad. Its a queue system so you might not always get a live response for an action, .UK is one I can think of off the top of my head.
RC support isnt the best in the world either, they have stopped using their own "Engage" live chat and now gone over to Kayako.
No 3rd Level support or developers work at weekends, not one on a shift even, so when something gets "stuck" that the support cant do when they get round to your ticket, it will be "We will forward this to our Development team" so if it is a Friday night, your s*** out of luck until Monday. That said nine times out of ten something getting stuck is because you dont have any money in your reseller account, or you used an unfamiliar character set with a customer or domain.
I didn't know TUCOWS used the LB platform, that is interesting to know.

[mcourtney_uk80]

I have used both resellerclub and opensrs. I would say that opensrs are significantly better. They have much better documentation and I find that I dont have to update our client code so often. I have had serious issues with resellerclub in the past. One example is not being able to use their website to register new domains or modify existing domains because they decided to render all my possible contacts (>10000) in a select box and their server would timeout (I believe this is fixed).
Basically it seems that resellerclub's API and site is just bot as well thought out as OpenSRS's

[saadsalman]

If he is not happy with resellerclub's API he will not be happy with netearthone's API as well, both are exactly the same platform. If he wouldn't be happy with pricing, support or things like that then that would be an option.
A new for you people, NEO is going to launch their own API in the 2nd/3rd quarter of this year, leaving the LogicBoxes one. So I don't think one can regret going with them!
I think if I am going to stick on the Logicboxes platform, I'll do it via ResellerClub, since they are both really Directi brands (www.directi.com). I would imagine Directi would be able to run their own platform better than someone who bought it (eg: apparently Tucows based on an above comment).
If they get a better API in the coming months then surely they would be the best!
I already have working code for ResellerClub, packaged up in a nice wrapper class. I just was pissed about those stupid emails. Thanks to sshum, I know how to turn those off. Its annoying that I now have to worry about notifying my customers about domain expiry and stuff, but if there's no better solution out there, then what can I do?
NEO works with the ResellerClub code. Just fill in the right details and you are done!

[tandem]

Well LTF, OP buys domain only edition of awbs, integrates it into his current site, customizes the emails to how he wants them to be shown to his customers, then turn off all emails on RC panel.
Only RC email to customers will be transfer emails then, awbs can handle all other emails, new / renew etc. And best of all, OP can change those to be EXACTLY how he wants them to be.
Not a 100% workaround because of transfer emails, but a good 99% and OP doesnt have to get his hands dirty coding )
Is there any way to change those transfer emails? Do your own resellers' customers get sent exactly the same email?
The first paragraph is the worst part of it:
RESELLERS_BUSINESS_NAME [Under Registrar: Directi Internet Solutions Pvt. Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com] has received a request from CUSTOMERS_NAME [CUSTOMERS_EMAIL] on Monday, Jan 12, 2009 for Directi Internet Solutions Pvt. Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com to become the new registrar of record, for DOMAIN_NAME.

[netearth]

THere is no way to change that, LB (LogicBoxes the platform provider, also DirectI) state it is a requirement of ICANN to do this.
ICANN when I asked them stated it is a very "grey" area open to "how you read the requirement" for instance, eNom doesnt have that have their registrar name plastered all over the email.
It is certainly something we will change.
Is there any way to change those transfer emails? Do your own resellers' customers get sent exactly the same email?
The first paragraph is the worst part of it:
RESELLERS_BUSINESS_NAME [Under Registrar: Directi Internet Solutions Pvt. Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com] has received a request from CUSTOMERS_NAME [CUSTOMERS_EMAIL] on Monday, Jan 12, 2009 for Directi Internet Solutions Pvt. Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com to become the new registrar of record, for DOMAIN_NAME.