[Hidden-tech] domain name acquisition

[Bruce Hooke]

Thanks Rich,
 
I basically agree, with the caveat that domains can get into more than just
renewing once a year. At the most basic level I've run into problems with
the website interface used to manage the domain, which meant calling on
support to handle what should be simple changes to things like the mailing
address for the domain owner, get the key necessary to transfer a domain,
and similar things. This is usually not that urgent so 24/7 support isn't
really necessary. However, things get more complicated when dealing with
advanced settings that allow the mail to be routed to, say, gmail, while the
website traffic is routed to the hosting company. Here easy-to-reach support
can be more important, especially if you are trying to roll out a change in
the overnight hours to minimize the disruption to the users of the website's
email. This is, however, getting into the more "techie" end of things and it
is probably true that many people will never need to call on support for the
domain name.
 
I very much agree that places that put their name on your domain should be
avoided at all costs! 
 
Thanks,
Bruce

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From: Rich Roth [mailto:webmaster at hidden-tech.net] 
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 10:19 AM
To: Bruce Hooke
Cc: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] domain name acquisition


Bruce,
You noted an interesting and important point that gets lost when not
clarifying the line between a hosting company
and a registrar, it also comes into play with many web 'development' firms -
who actually owns the domain.

I have seen all too many domains registered by the hosting company or web
development company in their name,
and NOT the web site real owners name -- when this happens it almost always
ends in a fight for the legitimate owner
to reclaim their rightful property.  A registrar can not do that - by legal
contract with ICANN.

I do have a subtle objection to the use of the word 'domain' in this
discussion because it blurs the line between domain 
support (which is almost none, basically renewal every year) and web site
support or email support, which can be pretty 
constant, and usually includes both web site, dns and email services.

There is no need for 24/7 support on a domain, so long as you keep it
renewed - there can be very much a need for it on a web site, 
more so for 15/7 - which is basically day time hours including w/e's, 24/7
needed more for busier, non-industrial sites.

Rich

On 4/10/2013 11:17 PM, Bruce Hooke wrote:


 

Thanks Rich,
 
I agree with everything you said.
 
In light of what you said I should clarify what I said.
 
To most people the "effective" registrar is the company you go to in order
to manage and renew your domain and get support related to your domain so
that is how I was using the term "registrar" to keep things simple. Yes, in
almost all cases that company is simply a reseller, but they are who you end
up dealing with for domain issues. Yes, if that company runs into problems
you can usually go "over their heads" to the real registrar. I've done that.
It does work but it can be a pain, and if for some reason the domain was
either registered in the name of the reseller or registered in the name of
someone who is no longer available or associated with your business it can
get to be a real hassle, or even a lost cause (if you can't demonstrate that
you are the person/business listed as the owner of the domain you can't get
control of it). So to me, in the end, leaving aside the technical details of
how it all works, the company you go to in order to register your domain is
who you want to feel confident about working with for your domain name
registration.
 
Thanks,
Bruce

  _____  

From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of Rich Roth
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 6:42 PM
Cc: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] domain name acquisition


I need to clarify something here:
There appears to be a confusing in this discussion between a registrar and a
hosting company.

There are NO small registrars - a registrar is certified by ICANN (the group
that 'runs' the internet structure) 
and you can't get certified without serious bucks and showing a major
investment in system infrastructure.
Similarly there are no 1-location registrars,
See http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars

What you will find is many small hosting companies are resellers (RSP for
many) of the registrars.
We an RSP of Opensrs.com (TNR Global has 2000 some domains we handle) - as
is Hover.com
The 'original registrar' is Network Solutions. (NetSol to many)

The key item to understand is that gTLD domains (.com, .net, .org) shouldn't
cost you more then $15/yr

As for support, that is a very different issue - many of the larger hosting
companies will provide a 'free domain'
as part of a hosting package.  Or first they will tell you is that you MUST
transfer your domain to them
if you already have one - this is patently not true.
Smaller hosting companies resell names (just like we do, only we do volume
accounts), and a smaller one
can be terrible or great -- talk to our own Matt Crocker (Crocker.com) for a
great local one.

The other warnings are good about making sure you know how to mange your
domain and to make sure the renewal get 
handled - automatic is good for any active domain.  For a critical domain,
renew for 5 or even 10 years.

Make sure any corporate domain is registered with a role email address and
company information: domreg at YOURCOMPANY.com
NOT sally_the_admins_home_email at gmail.com - although
mycompany_domreg at gmail.com is not a bad idea so it is detached from 
your domain email.

BACK TO THE QUESTION - what Kris asked was: "best, most ethical site to
obtain a domain name?"

I don't think anyone really answered that question -- I can second that
Hover.com (for retail domains, not large volumes),
as a division opensrs which is a branch of the long lived tech company:
TuCows.com that dates from 1994 online,
as far as ethical.  I vote against either GoDaddy or NetSol for that rating.



  _____  


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Rich Roth

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