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Nerds Conspiring To Hold You Hostage?

By Kasey Kase

Services for Real Estate Pros with API Network

September 27, 2007 01:33 AM

I must be an idiot! Ever muttered those words after a long wait on hold?

Ever spent days trying to move a domain name from one registrar to another?

How about blowing a full week trying to get a hosting company to stop charging your credit card for services you no longer want?

Can there be a better way to waste your day?

Maybe this will help...

It's not you, it's them.

This is more the rule than the exception and I half-believe it's designed that way.

Recently a client of mine was trying to move their domain from Network Solutions. (they were charging too much and their service ... wasn't so good) After a full month, they finally gave up, abandoned their domain name and purchased the .ORG -- hoping to grab their .COM after when it expires.

You will never talk to this person Hosting companies can be just as bad. You make a purchase online via a website loaded with happy looking help desk people wearing headsets, never realizing there is no phone number. They don't ever want you to call. That's not the business model of a high volume hosting company. (there are exceptions, not many)

Tip #1:

Don't host where you buy your domain names, and don't buy domain names where you host.

e.g., If you purchase a domain from GoDaddy or eNom, don't also purchase hosting from them -- even if you find a "good deal" that says, "Free with every account" don't do it! There will be strings attached.

Tip #2: If a registrar (the place where you buy names) offers it to you for less than ~ $8/yr then it's likely a come-on. e.g., I recall one promotion for 99 cent domain names, but after the first year, the real price kicked in (twice market value) AND if you didn't like that, there was a $20 "early departure fee" if you moved the name.

Trust nerds about nerdy topics. Where to buy names, where to host, what constitutes a good deal are all things known intimately by those in the business. Find a nerd you trust, one that you can reach via cell phone, and trust them to handle this part of your business for you. (In return, we'll call you when it's time to buy a house :)

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Simon Conway

Orlando Area Real Estate Services - Orlando, FL

I have found domain companies to be extremely helpful. After I buy a domain I park it with them till I figure out what I'm going to do with it. Moving it is never a problem or an issue - in fact I do the work myself right on their pages. I guess it just depends who you use.

Sep 27, 2007 01:37 AM

Phillip Cross

TBD - In transition... - Seal Beach, CA

ePRO Realtor - Relocation Spec

E. Kasey, I both agree and disagree with your statements above. I believe that some companies do offer both services at a reasonable price and as long as they provide you with a control panel for modifying or transferring your domain name conveniently and simply you shouldn't have any trouble. Some of these companies make it difficult on purpose but many do not.

Sep 27, 2007 01:56 AM

Victor DaGraca

Critical Home Inspections - Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach Home Inspections

I purchased my domain from Nameboy.com and parked it with Enom.com. Was I ever glad I didn't have it parked with my host company when they went belly up and forgot to tell ALL their clients.

The story is here

Sep 27, 2007 02:19 AM

Kasey Kase

API Network - Mequon, WI

I'm not really a pirate

Absolutely there are places where you can do both. GoDaddy is an example. If you plan to have them provide you with hosting services and the web design, then it makes sense -- but not really because that would be a third service you shouldn't combine. (GoDaddy charges $600/year for a 5 page website. That is NOT a good deal!)

My recommendation: Buy names at GoDaddy or eNom. For hosting, talk to your web group first. They're the ones that have to deal with the details of the account, so following their lead can reduce your overall support costs.

However... if you have had good experiences with registrars or hosters, share it!

Sep 29, 2007 03:01 AM

Here's a recent example. An agent needed to upload about a dozen images of a listing. Their software was giving some cryptic error message so they submitted a help ticket to their hosting company. After a few hours, this came back:

Help Desk not so helpful

So their answer was to upload one image at a time, while they admit there was a problem. "Thanks for your cooperation" -- I guess that means thanks for taking this really bad advice. (because uploading one at a time produced the same error message)

We dug into this and found that it was a permissions issue, one imposed by the server -- something out of the control of the agent -- something only the hosting company could modify. We informed them of what the real problem was and then received this:

"Thanks for reporting the issue. We are working on the issue and update you."

These guys are a fine cheap host. Their uptime is very acceptable and they always respond quickly to help requests, even if their responses are not all that helpful.

The point: Hosts generally don't understand or even care to learn what applications you're running. So when you're shopping for a new host, ask this question: "What number do I dial when it breaks?"

Oct 02, 2007 11:54 PM

Jim Thrower

Renewal Real Estate, Ltd - Grand Rapids, MI

Great Topic, Thanks for the insight about hosting and domain services. I learned something today

Oct 07, 2007 04:16 PM

Nerds Conspiring To Hold You Hostage?

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