Don’t search for a domain name at Network Solutions
When we are setting up some business, we try to find the best domain name and if the budget for a small business is not much, we try to find the best registrar who let us search for domains and register at some good price.
But what if a registrar tries to use phishing techniques to steal the domain name or front run on the whois searches?
Yea i am talking about one of the well known and one of the best registrars known(others are godaddy, domainsite, namecheap etc.), Network Solutions which registers the domain that is searched in its site, and thus the registrant is not allowed to buy the domain anywhere else. And in the whois data, it shows that the domain is available at network Solutions.
This is a pretty old story, but there are people who report the same thing. One of the the registrant filed a complaint at ICANN and they just stated -
“We agree that it’s an unethical business practice, but we can’t do anything to stop this practice. It is legal for Network Solutions to hijack the domain for some ransom, when searched on their site.”
It’s a real unethical practice by them, and people can sometime end paying $35 for registration with them if they have registered it, and the domain is the one which we want really. So be sure to forget Network Solutions to search for domain names. There are many other good registrars for domain searches, suggestions and registrations.
You can still try this out if you want to confirm, search for a good domain name in NS, and after some time check for the same domain name in any other registrar, it would show as unavailable, and whois showing that it is available in Network Solutions! how bad..
I have told many guys about this but still they keep searching for domain name availability and lose their domain names for a week’s time.
Amit Bhawani’s last blog post..Increasing Pro-suicide sites on how to commit suicide
At first, i didn’t think it could be true, but when there is one time, i try to search the avalability domain for my customer, and the result is not found. After the next day, i try to register it, and it says, domain already registered, weird is, the registered date is the exact date when i search. Coincidence maybe, i don’t think so.
david cheong’s last blog post..Unofficial Blogger Appreciation Day a day to remember
They just register every search keyword domain and then put it available after a week. just search for davidcheongsucks.com and within moments it will be shown as registered.
Amit Bhawani’s last blog post..Increasing Pro-suicide sites on how to commit suicide
I think it’s sad that companies do this, but as long as it’s perfectly legal, I guess there’s not a whole lot I can say about it. I certainly don’t approve, though.
Jessi’s last blog post..Meet me (and all the other bloggers) at Bloggeries
Hi,
I work for Network Solutions. Just wanted to point out that the reservation is now a opt-in feature. If you want the name to be reserved you have to click the “OK” button when you get a prompt window. Even if you choose to reserve the name, you can call customer service to get the reservation removed and buy it from anywhere else if you so choose.
Thanks,
Shashi
Shashi Bellamkonda’s last blog post..From the world of a C-Level Executive to a Small Business Owner
Yeah I have advised many people not to use them also. It just piss me off when I loose the domain like that.
Syed Balkhi’s last blog post..How to determine the price of ads on your website?
Whether you are not sure or not the domain already been taken, i advice, better write down the domain’s name that you wish to register. Write it down at least 10 options, and then try register it straight, when you are sure that you are ready for the domain. If 1st option already taken then use 2nd and so on.
david cheong’s last blog post..Unofficial Blogger Appreciation Day a day to remember
Whats the need of a option where in you need to again call up and cancel the reservation of the domain name.
Amit Bhawani’s last blog post..Increasing Pro-suicide sites on how to commit suicide
Amit,
Just to clarify you need to call only if you said “Ok” to the reservation and then changed your mind.
Shashi
That’s very unethical practice, which is the case for a lot of internet companies now a days. The only thing we can do is to blog about it and let the public become aware!
Crystal’s last blog post..Why Use Firefox?
Haha that’s hilarious! Now there’s a way to creatively use the practice to our advantage!
Crystal’s last blog post..Why Use Firefox?
That’s a good idea, David, but often times I only have a general idea of what I’m looking for and through searching around, a new idea is sometimes sparked. I don’t always have a clear cut set of ideas that I want to go with, so writing down 10 wouldn’t help me much.
Jessi’s last blog post..Meet me (and all the other bloggers) at Bloggeries
I recommend namecheap or godaddy for domain names. Nothing else.
Meethere’s last blog post..Earn from Un-used Domains